Beatitudes - Those Who are Persecuted
When Jesus says it is blessed to be persecuted, he isn't referring to bringing on persecution in your own righteousness. That is simply being a hypocrite or being obnoxious. He says blessed are thos...
6 Sep 201540min
Beatitudes - The Peacemakers (Part 2)
Those who have received God's peace are naturally and intuitively peacemakers, calling others to peace with God and cultivating peace with people around them. A peacekeeper is someone who sees others ...
30 Aug 201538min
Beatitudes - The Peacemakers (Part 1)
In order to be a peacemaker, we must first receive peace. This is what it means to be called children of God. The gospel is the wonderful news that a God who we have made war against our entire life...
23 Aug 201546min
Beatitudes - The Pure in Heart
To be pure in heart is to be free from sin. But to be able to see God we need to be pure in heart. Therein lies the central human problem - the very thing we were created to do and be we cannot do a...
16 Aug 201544min
Beatitudes - The Merciful
Our mercifulness does not earn God's mercy for us. Rather our mercifulness is evidence that we have received God's mercy. So, just as God's mercy is driven by his covenant faithfulness and costly fo...
9 Aug 201546min
Beatitudes - Those Who Hunger and Thirst
To hunger and thirst for righteousness at its core is to seek acceptance and approval. This is a universal human reality. Far too often, we seek this through worldly affirmation or religious achieve...
2 Aug 201541min
Beatitudes - The Meek
At first glance the word meek is so lackluster - who wants to be meek? But a closer look helps us see a person who remains powerful, but now under the influence of the Spirit and deeply formed by the...
26 Jul 201545min
Beatitudes - Those who Mourn
Blessed are those who mourn...really? Definitely! When Jesus speaks these words he is not referring to a constant state of doom or negativity, but to a sorrowful awareness of sin. The presence of s...
19 Jul 201548min
