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The Beatitudes are often treated as a collection of hopeful sayings disconnected from the eyebrow-raising things Jesus says in the verses that follow. The reality is they serve as the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount and are just as radical as anything else Jesus offers. What are they about and why are they radical? I’m so glad you asked! That’s what we’re talking about today.

  • The Beatitudes take their name (no big surprise here) from the Latin word for “a state of blessedness.” What does it mean for you to be blessed or to be in a state of blessedness? When you wish God’s blessings on someone, what are you wishing for that person?

  • What do you think: Do the Beatitudes describe the ones who are now favored and their guaranteed reward or do they invite us to become what we aren’t yet and the reward that results? Both? Neither? In what ways might they describe who Jesus is?

  • Which of the Beatitudes is your favorite? Which poses the greatest challenge to you? Why do you suppose that is?

Next Step: The Beatitudes are not wishes or aspirations or fond hopes—they’re marching orders for the transformation of the world. Pick one and do your best to live it out this week. See what happens.

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