Going Deeper… (Matthew 5:10-12)

Posted on January 25, 2022 by Eric Costa

Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Matthew 5:10-12), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

  • “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake… Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad…” Jesus thinks and says some pretty strange things. His vision of the blessed life of the kingdom of heaven is quite contrary to our instincts. Why does his teaching come into direct opposition with our ideas of how things should work in this world? When you feel yourself opposed to what Jesus teaches, what do you do about that? Does this Beatitude strike you as good news? How would you communicate the meaning of this Beatitude to someone who doesn’t follow Jesus?
  • “Blessed… for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed… for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Being persecuted as Christians puts us in very good company with the prophets, the martyrs, and with Jesus himself. And the company is the reward—fellowship with Jesus is the blessing. Are you glad for your association with Jesus? What do you think about the gracious privilege that it is to be able to be with him, to experience things similar to what he has experienced, to follow him wherever he leads?
  • Have you suffered persecution on account of your relationship with Jesus? What has that been like? Even though it is painful, have you been able to rejoice in your relationship with Jesus through it? Do you sometimes wonder whether you will remain faithful during more severe persecution? What resource(s) do you have for that day, if it comes?
  • FOR THE CHILDREN: Many people don’t like Jesus, and they also don’t like his friends in the church. Jesus said to his people, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). Has someone ever been mean to you because you are a friend of Jesus? What is it about Jesus that makes you feel better at times like that?