“Blessed are those who are persecuted” – Matthew 5:10-12 What does it mean to be persecuted? What does it mean to be systematically oppressed or harassed for “righteousness sake?” How should we consider other’s reactions to our foolish and sinful lifestyles as believers? Is this persecution too? What rewards await those who truly live like...
“Blessed are the pure in heart” – Matthew 5:8 What does it mean to be pure in heart? How are we to interpret the role of the “heart” in our lives? Can our own hearts really deceive us and cause us to become hardened? What can we learn from the science of purification? If we...
“Blessed are the merciful” – Matthew 5:7 In Victor Hugo’s classic, Les Miserables, Jean Valjean first act of thievery was met with harsh cruel justice. However, his second attempt to take something that was not his was met with life-changing mercy. What does it mean to be merciful? How are to understand mercy from the...
