‘You are the salt of the earth…’ – Matthew 5:13 ‘Do not be like them…’ – Matthew 6:8 ‘The gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life…’ – Matthew 7:14 With every beatitude the gulf is widened between the disciples and the people (of this world), and their call to come forth from the people becomes increasingly manifest. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship Both the Reformers and the Puritans used to summarize that the law sends us to Christ to be justified, and Christ sends us back to the law to be sanctified. John Stott, Christian Counter-Culture Introduction: The Setting of the Sermon The Kingdom Attitude toward God (5: 1- 6) Poor in spirit (vs. 3) Those who mourn (vs. 4) The meek (vs. 5) Those who hunger and thirst (vs. 6) The Kingdom Attitude toward Others (5:7 – 12) The merciful (vs. 7) The pure in heart (vs. 8) The peacemakers (vs. 9) The persecuted (vs. 10 – 12) Discussion Questions: The ‘blessed’ way of God’s rule is upside-down to the human inclination to want to be in control. Jesus announces that when He is allowed to be in charge, those who follow Him will live out His values in the here and now… beginning with their need (‘poor in spirit’ -5:3). o How do we consciously adopt His kingdom attitudes & values, and how do we encourage others to do so? o Do you see the progression of the beatitudes? Which of the eight do you wrestle with most? What can you do to take the next step in your own discipleship? Challenge: Pray to Jesus about one beatitude and share with a Christian friend how you are going to live it out this week, by God’s grace.