Grow Guide | Jan 22, 2023

The Great Teacher 

Matthew 5:1-12

Connecting Questions

·      Do you enjoy winter? What helps you cope with (or even enjoy!) the winter months?

·      What does the word “blessing” mean to you? If someone outside the Christian faith asked you to describe a “blessing,” what would you tell them?

Context

We’re in the third week of our worship series called “The Great Teacher.” Each week we will focus on what we learn from Jesus through stories in the book of Matthew. We’re also in the liturgical season of Epiphany, which emphasizes how Jesus is revealed to us as the Messiah through scripture. The color of Epiphany is green, which symbolizes life and growth. How does this connect to Easter Lutheran Church’s mission statement, “To grow in faith and carry on the work of Jesus Christ?” What does Easter need to do as a community to keep learning, growing, serving, and living as our Teacher shows us?  

This week we focus on the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7), one of the most well-known sections of the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus emerges as a great and authoritative teacher in this section, giving wisdom and direction about life in the kingdom of heaven. The Sermon on the Mount includes (among other famous sayings of Jesus) the Lord’s Prayer, the “golden rule,” references to salt and light, and today’s focus—the Beatitudes.

Look at the Book

• Skim chapters 5-7 of Matthew to get an overview of the Sermon on the Mount.

  • Make a quick list of the sayings it includes. Are any familiar to you? Did you know they are all part of the Sermon on the Mount?

  • What does the content of the Sermon on the Mount tell you about Jesus’ focus in the Gospel of Matthew? What does Jesus choose to teach about in these chapters?

  • Which part of the Sermon on the Mount speaks powerfully to you today?

•  Read Matthew 5:1-12.

  • Make a list of the people who are considered blessed in these verses. What do they have in common?

    • Now write down each of their promises (listed in the second parts of vs. 3-11). How do their promises connect with their current circumstances/state of being? Which connections confuse you? Which make sense to you?

  • Which type of blessed person do you connect with most today?

  • Do any of the blessed people in vs 3-11 need faith or knowledge of Jesus to receive their promises? What does this say to you?

• God’s Word creates what it speaks. What would it mean if Jesus’ statements in 5:3-11 were true? How would your life change? How would the world change?

  • Have you seen the Beatitudes come true in your life?

• The Beatitudes show us what the kingdom of heaven looks like.

  • How is their vision different than what we see and experience in the world today? Who does our society consider blessed?

  • What does it mean that Jesus tells us who is blessed, rather than how to be blessed or seek out blessing?

Taking it Home

Reflect on the Beatitudes this week. Read them each day and pay attention to how God is making them true in your life and in the world.

In what ways can you participate in making the Beatitudes come true in your life and in the world?