““Don’t Hide Your Don’t Hide Your Happiness”Happiness”
Religion vs. Spirituality” – p.1Religion vs. Spirituality” – p.1
Matthew 5:1-16Matthew 5:1-16
Kludge noun \klüj\Kludge noun \klüj\
something inelegant, inefficient, clumsy, something inelegant, inefficient, clumsy,
or patched together, that nonetheless or patched together, that nonetheless
succeeds in solving a specific problem or succeeds in solving a specific problem or
performing a particular task. performing a particular task. That sounds That sounds
like like religionreligion. .
Fog noun \fog\Fog noun \fog\
you can recognize it but you can’t you can recognize it but you can’t
catch it. catch it. That sounds like That sounds like spiritualityspirituality. .
Matthew 5:1 Matthew 5:1
• Now when he saw the crowds, he went Now when he saw the crowds, he went
up on a mountainside and sat down. up on a mountainside and sat down.
His disciples came to himHis disciples came to him
Matthew 5:1 Matthew 5:1
• The word “blessed” refers to those who The word “blessed” refers to those who
are and/or will be are and/or will be happyhappy, , fortunatefortunate, ,
because of God’s response to their because of God’s response to their
behaviorbehavior or or situationsituation..
Blessed are the Blessed are the brokebroke and the and the brokenbroken (vv.3-4) (vv.3-4)
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted. for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the Blessed are the brokebroke and the and the brokenbroken (vv.3-4) (vv.3-4)
• The poor in their spirit are The poor in their spirit are solelysolely
dependentdependent upon God. upon God.
• The broken “know The broken “know godlygodly sorrowsorrow for sin, for sin,
and are deeply concerned about the and are deeply concerned about the
evilevil in the in the worldworld..
Blessed are the Blessed are the disciplineddisciplined and and the the desperatedesperate (v.5-6) (v.5-6)
Blessed are the meek, Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth. for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness, thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled. for they will be filled.
Blessed are the Blessed are the disciplineddisciplined and and the the desperatedesperate (v.5-6) (v.5-6)
• Meek means “Meek means “disciplineddisciplined or or controlledcontrolled
spirit”. spirit”.
• Hunger and thirst: desire to see Hunger and thirst: desire to see God’sGod’s
standardsstandards established established
Blessed are the Blessed are the softsoft heartedhearted and and purepure heartedhearted (vv.7-8) (vv.7-8)
• Blessed are the merciful, Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy. for they will be shown mercy.
• Mercy meansMercy means ““generousgenerous, , forgivingforgiving
others having others having compassioncompassion for the for the
suffering, suffering,
Blessed are the Blessed are the softsoft heartedhearted and and purepure heartedhearted (vv.7-8) (vv.7-8)
The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it; the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters. and established it upon the waters.
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ? Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
Who may stand in his holy place? Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,…He who has clean hands and a pure heart,…
(Ps. 24:3-4) (Ps. 24:3-4)
Blessed are the Blessed are the softsoft heartedhearted and and purepure heartedhearted (vv.7-8) (vv.7-8)
• Blessed are the pure in heart, Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God. for they will see God.
• ““Purity in heart refers to Purity in heart refers to moralmoral
uprightness:uprightness: it deals with the it deals with the intentionsintentions
or the or the willwill of a person. of a person.
Blessed are the Blessed are the peacemakerspeacemakers and and persecutedpersecuted (vv.9-12) (vv.9-12)
Blessed are the peacemakers, Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God. for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted Blessed are those who are persecuted
because of righteousness, because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the Blessed are the peacemakerspeacemakers and and persecutedpersecuted (vv.9-12) (vv.9-12)
Blessed are the Blessed are the peacemakerspeacemakers and and persecutedpersecuted (vv.9-12) (vv.9-12)
"Blessed are you when people insult "Blessed are you when people insult
you, persecute you and falsely say all you, persecute you and falsely say all
kinds of evil against you because of kinds of evil against you because of
me. me.
Blessed are the Blessed are the peacemakerspeacemakers and and persecutedpersecuted (vv.9-12) (vv.9-12)
Rejoice and be glad, because great is Rejoice and be glad, because great is
your reward in heaven, for in the same your reward in heaven, for in the same
way they persecuted the prophets who way they persecuted the prophets who
were before you. were before you.
Blessed are the Blessed are the peacemakerspeacemakers and and persecutedpersecuted (vv.9-12) (vv.9-12)
• The blessing is not for The blessing is not for peacepeace--loverslovers, ,
but for those who but for those who makemake peacepeace. .
• The persecution “must be the result of The persecution “must be the result of
righteousrighteous . .
• Joyful is not an Joyful is not an emotionemotion but an but an attitudeattitude
Bottom Line:Bottom Line:
• We exist to make God famous and we We exist to make God famous and we
do that when we live a Jesus-centered do that when we live a Jesus-centered
life!life!
Matthew 5:13-16Matthew 5:13-16
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the "You are the salt of the earth. But if the
salt loses its saltiness, how can it be salt loses its saltiness, how can it be
made salty again? It is no longer good made salty again? It is no longer good
for anything, except to be thrown out for anything, except to be thrown out
and trampled by men. and trampled by men.
Matthew 5:13-16Matthew 5:13-16
"You are the light of the world. A city "You are the light of the world. A city
on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do
people light a lamp and put it under a people light a lamp and put it under a
bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, bowl. Instead they put it on its stand,
and it gives light to everyone in the and it gives light to everyone in the
house. house.
Matthew 5:13-16Matthew 5:13-16
In the same way, let your light shine In the same way, let your light shine
before men, that they may see your before men, that they may see your
good deeds and praise your Father in good deeds and praise your Father in
heaven.heaven.
Myth #1:Myth #1:
• Religious people live by countercultural Religious people live by countercultural
standards and should standards and should separateseparate
themselves from the themselves from the worldworld..
Myth #1:Myth #1:
• Jesus teaching is that spiritual people Jesus teaching is that spiritual people
live by countercultural standards and live by countercultural standards and
they should “they should “arrestarrest corruption and corruption and
preventprevent moral decay in their world”. moral decay in their world”.
Myth #2:Myth #2:
• The Christian life is a bunch of The Christian life is a bunch of
religious religious rulesrules and and standardsstandards..
• Jesus says: Jesus says: let your light shine before let your light shine before
men, that they may see your good men, that they may see your good
deeds and praise your deeds and praise your FatherFather in heaven in heaven
Embrace Embrace povertypoverty and and brokennessbrokenness
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise. O God, you will not despise.
Psalm Psalm
51:1751:17