Sample Lesson: The Beatitudes

1. Beatitudes. Matthew 5:1-12

Activity: Begin by administering the Beatitude Examen (Linked Here). Someone should “score” the students’ pages during the talking points so that the results (and descriptors, following) can be discussed as a class.

Talking points:

A disciple is a follower and student of Jesus. We study his life and lessons as guides to creating our own lives.
The primary sources for knowing about Jesus are the four Gospels. Gospel – evangelion (Greek) – means good news. The Good News is the announcement that God loves us, cares deeply about our lives, and has revealed himself in Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John offer four different perspectives on who Jesus was, what he said and did and what this means for us. Taken together, they give us a complete portrait of Jesus.
Matthew was the second Gospel to be written and it was addressed to a Jewish audience. Just as Moses gave the Law, Jesus is presented as the new Moses, giving the New Law, the fulfilment of all that God intended at creation.
This section of teaching is known as the Beatitudes. The 8 statements all start with “Blessed are …” Beatitude: a Greek teaching tool, an expression of an ideal. Something to strive for.
Poor in spirit: to be poor in spirit means knowing that nothing of this world is more valuable than a spiritual life.
Mourn: people who mourn are actively trying to heal after feeling any kind of pain or loss. They also feel the pain of others as if it were their own, empathizing with everyone they meet.
Meek: people who are meek are patient, quiet, gentle. Meek does not mean weak, but instead a spirit of humility.
Hunger and thirst for righteousness: righteousness is being in the right relationship with God and others.
Merciful: to show mercy is to bring forgiveness and compassion to a situation because one realizes their own sin.
Pure in Heart: to be pure in heart is to be aware of your inner thoughts and motivation, not just your actions
Peacemakers: are those who are willing to speak the truth, acknowledge pain, and bring others to a place of healing and harmony
Persecuted because of Righteousness: people who are treated poorly because they are in right relationship with God, and this puts them at odds with a world that is so “upside down.”