Real Life: an exploration of the Beatitudes

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we began a new series “Becoming Real” which will explore the Sermon on the Mount by looking at the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. The Beatitudes are a very familiar portion of Scripture, so it can be difficult to hear them afresh, but I did my best to help us see both how shocking and how life-giving these statements by Jesus about the flourishing life really are.

You can view the message video and outline below. You can also view the entire “Becoming Real” series here, as well as the devotional that accompanies the series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

“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.” (Matthew 5:1-2)

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew’s Gospel organized around 5 discourses:
- Matthew 5-7
- Matthew 10
- Matthew 13
- Matthew 18
- Matthew 24-25
The disciples as the focus, but the crowd listening
The Sermon on the Mount as the Discipleship Handbook for living in God’s kingdom

The Beatitudes and What it Means to be “Blessed”

The meaning of μακάριος – blessed, happy, it will go well with, fortunate, flourishing
The flourishing life in the kingdom of heaven
The unexpected

Exploring the Beatitudes

Exploring them one at a time
Seeing the “two tables” of the Beatitudes

Living the Good Life in God’s Kingdom

Knowing and following Jesus
Responding to Jesus’ invitation to enter God’s kingdom
Considering what it means to be blessed or to flourish
Living with God now in light of the end

Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper into the Beatitudes in one or more of the following ways:

Consider memorizing one or all of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12.
Read and meditate upon the Beatitudes one per day on your own or with a friend. Write down one thing you learned each day and share with another person.
Consider watching Tim Mackie of The Bible Project discuss the Beatitudes
Explore parallels to the Beatitudes in other parts of Scripture:
- Psalm 1:1; 32:1-2; 40:4; 119:1-2; 128:1
- Isaiah 61
- Matthew 11:6; 13:16; 16:17; 24:45
- Luke 1:45; 10:23; 11:27-28