Embracing the Beatitudes: Actions Toward Spiritual Growth
Summary
The sermon focused on the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, specifically the Beatitudes in Matthew Chapter 5. The speaker emphasized that these teachings were not just general principles, but specific attitudes that Christians should adopt. The Beatitudes, according to the speaker, are not just about general states of being, but about specific attitudes towards God and towards life. For instance, the speaker explained that the Beatitude "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" is not just about humility, but about a specific kind of meekness before God.
The speaker also discussed the concept of spiritual maturity and how it often follows action, not the other way around. He suggested that Christians should not feel crippled by their inability to measure up to the lofty attitudes described in the Beatitudes. Instead, they should embrace repentance by taking action towards these attitudes, even if they don't feel like it. The speaker emphasized that this is not about lying or being deceptive, but about walking in opposition to how one may feel, with the prayerful hope that God will change how one feels in the end.
Key Takeaways:
- The Beatitudes are not just general principles, but specific attitudes that Christians should adopt. ([04:27])
- The Beatitude "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" is not just about humility, but about a specific kind of meekness before God. ([20:43])
- Spiritual maturity often follows action, not the other way around. ([36:50])
- Christians should embrace repentance by taking action towards the attitudes described in the Beatitudes, even if they don't feel like it. ([37:34])
- Walking in opposition to how one may feel, with the prayerful hope that God will change how one feels in the end, is a form of repentance. ([38:15])
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. Actions promote purity and peace. Deliberately removing impure elements from our lives and insisting on peace, not seeking or rising to a fight, promotes us becoming men and women of peace and purity. Our hearts will follow our actions. [41:25]
2. God desires us to fully repent and embrace the attitudes of Kingdom-minded people. We may never be perfect, but our hearts will follow our actions. We should strive to be men and women of action, and thus become blessed, happy, and fortunate because of our heart attitudes and our hope for the future. [42:11]
3. Spiritual maturity often follows action. Generous giving, prayer, and Bible reading are actions that can lead to spiritual maturity. Our hearts follow our treasure. [33:09]
4. Walking in opposition to how we feel, with a prayerful hope that God will change how we feel, is a form of repentance. This is our hearts following where we have decided to place our treasure. [36:50]
5. Actions that promote attitudes of mercy include finding those we tend to be least charitable towards and deliberately giving them mercy. These actions promote attitudes of mercy. [40:36]
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. Matthew 5-7 (The Sermon on the Mount)
2. Luke 6 (The Beatitudes)
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. What actions does the sermon suggest promote purity and peace?
2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between action and spiritual maturity?
3. What actions are suggested to promote an attitude of mercy?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) relate to the idea that our hearts follow our actions?
2. How does Luke 6 (The Beatitudes) illustrate the concept of spiritual maturity following action?
3. How can walking in opposition to how we feel be a form of repentance?
Application Questions:
1. What are some specific actions you can take to promote purity and peace in your life?
2. How can you apply the concept of spiritual maturity following action in your own spiritual journey?
3. Can you think of a time when you acted in mercy towards someone you were least charitable towards? How did that action affect your attitude?
Devotional
Day 1: Action Precedes Spiritual Maturity
Spiritual maturity often follows action, not the other way around. This concept, though simple, is profoundly true. By embracing repentance through action towards the attitudes of the Beatitudes, we can experience a change in our feelings and spiritual growth. This is not about deception, but about walking in opposition to our feelings with a prayerful hope that God will change how we feel. [36:50]
Matthew 6:21 - "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent time when your actions led to a change in your feelings or attitudes. How can you apply this concept to your spiritual growth?
Day 2: Generous Giving Leads to Spiritual Maturity
Generous giving is less a result of spiritual maturity than spiritual maturity is a result of generous giving. By choosing to act with generosity, our hearts can become more generous as a result. Our hearts follow our treasure, not the other way around. [33:09]
Proverbs 11:25 - "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."
Reflection: How can you practice generous giving in your daily life? What steps can you take to make generosity a habit?
Day 3: Actions Promote Attitudes
Actions can promote attitudes of mercy, peace, and purity. By deliberately choosing actions that promote these attitudes, we can become more like Jesus. We should not expect the attitude to come before the action. [41:25]
James 2:17 - "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Reflection: What actions can you take today to promote attitudes of mercy, peace, and purity in your life?
Day 4: The Importance of Repentance
God wants us to fully repent and embrace the attitudes of Kingdom-minded people. Our hearts will follow action, so let's be men and women of action and become blessed, happy, and fortunate because of our heart attitudes and our hope for the future. [42:11]
Acts 3:19 - "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
Reflection: How can you practice repentance in your daily life? What actions can you take to align your heart with God's will?
Day 5: The Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount is a lengthy teaching by Jesus that provides guidance on how to live a Kingdom-minded life. By understanding and applying these teachings, we can grow spiritually and become more like Jesus. [04:27]
Matthew 5:3-10 - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth..."
Reflection: How can you apply the teachings from the Sermon on the Mount in your daily life? What steps can you take to live a Kingdom-minded life?
Quotes
1. "Do you want to have purity in your heart? Deliberately removing those things from your life that are impure promotes purity. Don't expect the attitude to come before the action." - 41:25
2. "God wants to mold our hearts. He wants us to become more like Jesus. We may never be perfect, but scripture itself shows us that our hearts will follow action." - 42:11
3. "Spiritual maturity and right spiritual attitude follows the action, not the other way around. Embrace repentance by walking out action towards these attitudes even if we don't feel like it." - 37:34
4. "The faking it that I'm suggesting is simply walking in opposition to how you may happen to feel, with a prayerful hope that by taking that action, God will change how we actually feel in the end." - 39:03
5. "Giving generously is less a result of spiritual maturity than spiritual maturity is a result of generous giving. If you and I want to grow spiritually in spiritual generosity, we shouldn't expect that we're suddenly going to just become generous in our hearts and minds." - 35:22
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