INTRODUCTION

JESUS GIVES THE BEATITUDES

Bible Point:

It is a blessing to live out God’s love.

Key Verse:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).

Big Picture:

Follow God’s loving ways that Jesus taught in the Beatitudes.

Jesus Gives the Beatitudes

Matthew 5:1-12

You’re growing and changing fast—physically, emotionally, and in the way you think about life. Some days it can feel like everything is shifting at once. Your emotions can swing quickly, and it’s easy to feel tired or unsure of what choices to make. This week, you’ll discover that even when everything around you feels uncertain, God stays the same. You’ll learn how to focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable— things that help you stay grounded and at peace no matter what changes come your way.

PLANTING THE SEED

Jesus’ introduction to his Sermon on the Mount must have come as a surprise to his listeners. After all, many thought the wealthy and powerful were the ones who were fully enjoying God’s rich blessings. I mean, hey, they were the ones with all the breaks in life. Didn’t that mean God liked them best? They must have been doing something right! Jesus’ words turned this idea upside down. He spoke God’s blessings on those who were meek, poor, and humble. Jesus taught about how living out God’s love leads to a blessed life. (Matthew 5:1-12)

• What do you think of Jesus’ “reversed” values?

• How can these values apply to your life today?

• What does it mean to be “blessed”?

FAMILY FUN

As you watch TV and movies, listen to music, or read this week, look for examples of people who might be blessed according to the Beatitudes. Keep track of your findings by creating a Beatitude wall chart. Make one column for each Beatitude, and put some fun stickers near the chart. Each time a family member sees a Beatitude in action, have that person put a sticker on the corresponding column on the chart and write a brief note explaining what he or she saw.

READY, SET, GROW!

Instead of a Daily Challenge this week, commit to follow through on the three ways you’ll demonstrate the Beatitude that you wrote in Take 2 on your activity page in Sabbath School.