Our final beatitude talks about those who are persecuted. Paul tells us that: 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived[1] Now remember two things here. First, that the blessing is for those who are persecuted for… Continue reading Happy People – The persecuted
Category: Bible Study
Being Salty – share the Gospel
Over the years I’ve listened to sermons, read books and articles and had conversations with people about Matthew 5:13-16 and its meaning. The big emphasis seems to have been about living lives that are distinctive from the world around us, which of course is the very essence of saltiness but that then moves into an… Continue reading Being Salty – share the Gospel
Happy People – The Peacemakers
What is a peacemaker? We actually have an award for people whom we recognise as peacemakers, the Noble Peace prize. I am not sure however that the prize fully functions effectively. How do we decide who is a peacemaker? For example, should President Trump be considered a peacemaker? After all he went to meet the… Continue reading Happy People – The Peacemakers
Happy people The pure in heart
One of the good things about lockdown easing has been that we can start to see people face to face again. Facebook and Zoom calls have helped us stay in touch but even they are not the same as actually getting to see and spend time with people and in some cases we have not… Continue reading Happy people The pure in heart
Wisdom’s offer (Proverbs 9)
Do you like getting invited out for dinner? It’s great isn’t it to know that you won’t have to cook for yourself – and no worrying about clearing up and washing up afterwards. Even better still is the invite to a party with lots to eat and plenty of good company. Here wisdom sends out… Continue reading Wisdom’s offer (Proverbs 9)
Happy People – The merciful
There’s a man and he is well and truly in debt, not just a few thousand pounds, not even a couple of hundred thousand on a mortgage. Rather, he is in the red to the tune of billions. We’re talking the sort of deficit that governments ran up in the Credit Crunch and are doing… Continue reading Happy People – The merciful
Wisdom’s True Identity (Proverbs 8)
Do you like a good riddle? Remember in the Lord of the Rings when Bilbo first meets Gollum. They get into a riddle contest. Each gives the other a clue and they have to work out who or what the other is talking about. Finally, Bilbo stumps Gollum with an accidental riddle “What have I… Continue reading Wisdom’s True Identity (Proverbs 8)
Happy people – the hungry and thirsty
Have you ever lost your appetite? I don’t just mean being off your food for a few days because you are a bit under the weather or snacking all day so that you are not hungry at mealtime. I’m talking about significant loss of appetite over a sustained period of time. In such a case,… Continue reading Happy people – the hungry and thirsty
Seduced (Proverbs 7)
“You want business?” It was a persistent question walking back to my flat after work. I’d managed to rent a place in one of the less desirably parts of town and along the road I had to walk along was where the local prostitutes operated. I have to say they hadn’t made much of an… Continue reading Seduced (Proverbs 7)
Happy people – those who mourn
Our second beatitude promises blessing or happiness for those who mourn. In Matthew, the reason that they are happy, or blessed is because they will be comforted. Luke 6:21 sets an even strong contrast “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” Jesus here is picking up on an important Old Testament theme… Continue reading Happy people – those who mourn
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