MODGNIK Discussion Notes Know God’s Heart The Crossing Church Shane Philip June 9, 2019 Las Vegas, Nevada

OPENING We are concluding our series called MODGNIK. It has been a study about God’s Kingdom values compared to the way our world works. It is amazing to discover how different and even backward and upside down His thoughts are compared to ours. Our God doesn’t think or function or relate to us as we humans think, function or relate. His thoughts are counter-cultural and counter-intuitive. This week we are on focusing on Matthew’s Gospel where we find the on the Mount and discover the eight which embody the characteristics God values in His Kingdom.

SCRIPTURE1 Matthew 4:23-25 went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. :1-12a Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him and he began to teach them. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”

OBSERVATION During Jesus’ three year ministry, He traveled all over Israel, but He spent most of his time teaching in a the region called Galilee. This was an area in the Northeastern part of Israel, 78 miles from Jerusalem, the center of governmental and religious activity in the country. He had much to say to the common people of that time and He didn’t want to be hindered by the upper echelons of power and seats of controversy. The eyes and ears of the religious elite and the prosperous people, with few exceptions, were closed to His truth. He wanted to reach the humble, needy, and open-hearted ones. And the people came – the poor, the diseased, those with torturing demons, the depressed, discouraged, and the uneducated. They came to hear Jesus teach and to be healed. – physically and spiritually. People just like us. Jesus told them how to be blessed and live peaceful lives.

1 All scripture is NIV unless otherwise indicated APPLICATION The word blessed means to be fortunate or happy and when Jesus uses it in these scriptures, He says we are happy when we are poor in spirit or when we mourn. These were foreign thoughts to the people and they surely are to us also because the reasoning seems backward to our way of thinking. Why are we surprised? Question: As we are concluding Modgnik we understand why we call God’s perspective of His Kingdom backward. In what other teachings does Jesus seem to be saying the opposite of what the world values? The first people Jesus speaks to are the poor in spirit. These are the poor and broken – those who feel spiritually bankrupt. They don’t know the Bible, they aren’t religious or perfect nor do they have their lives together. They have nothing to offer God yet they have His Kingdom. Question: When have you considered yourself to be poor in spirit or unworthy of God’s blessing? What has happened to rescue you from that state of mind? The next group is made up of the mourners. We want to avoid grief and not think about death. We want to move on with our lives, but God sees the people who have incredible challenges and tragedies come out on the other side and discover comfort for their souls. Question: When have you been in mourning for someone dearly loved and felt incredibly challenged by that circumstance? In what ways did God come to comfort you? Then there are the meek. This is almost a negative word and many think of meek people as weak, but not God. He defines it as strength under control. It is turning the other cheek, and keeping our anger under control - it brings about a mighty inheritance. Question: Under what circumstances have you been unable to control your anger? What have you done to change that response? What does this phase mean? “The meek will inherit the earth.” The righteous people are committed to doing the right thing, have no guilt or regret, and will live satisfied lives. These are people who do the right thing even when it costs them because they have a passion for righteousness. Question: When do you think your life changed from unrighteous to righteous? What caused this to happen? How was this change demonstrated in your behavior? How has your life been fulfilled? The merciful ones are relationally generous as they give others what they don’t deserve. They don’t look for revenge – they forgive. Question: Give us an example of a time when you were especially merciful to someone else. How did you feel? When have you received mercy? How did that feel? The pure in heart see God because they have moral and spiritual clarity. We have so much sexual impurity in our society that takes the form of pornography, sex trafficking, adultery and sexual lusting, that we need the helmet of salvation to defend against it and scripture to renew our minds. Then we will see God. Question: When have you fought against impurity in your life? How have you been able to make the transition from impure to pure? How is this different from righteousness? What do you think it will be like to see God? The peacemakers are quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. These are humble people who move toward reconciliation – they behave as little children and will see God. Question: When have you been an instrument of reconciliation in your family or among your friends? Ae you one? And then there are those who are persecuted and insulted because they speak up for Christ. We have all been mistreated, mocked or slandered under various circumstances, but when we are victims of those behaviors because we are Christians, there are rewards waiting for us in heaven. Question: Under what circumstances have you been persecuted or insulted for your faith? How did you respond? So the common denominator of all of these blessings Jesus is speaking about is happiness. It is the result of living a different kind of life. This happiness comes from deciding to live by God’s Kingdom values. Jesus is telling us that no matter how little we have to offer or how bad our choices have been or how long we have been regretting or grieving, or how spiritually empty we are, the Kingdom has come for us. We have only to surrender and accept all that Christ is and offers – forgiveness, mercy, grace and salvation. The Kingdom is ours as we determine to live a different kind of life! Question: How many of these blessings Jesus speaks about are you eligible to receive?

PRAYER Heavenly Father, help us to live by Kingdom values and not those of the world. We want every blessing You have prepared for us as we continue on our journey to be more like Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.