Matthew 5:1-13

"Dear Beloved, Many mortals chase after so many things thinking that a fulfilling life will be found in those things... those pursuits... those..."

God promises us a sacred blessing and a sacred delight in these words of Jesus! Max Lucado reminds us that while the Beatitudes are demanding, they are also life-giving and a privilege to live as an answer to God's call in our lives.

Do you want to be lucky or blessed? Luck has many definitions depending upon those with whom you visit; but Christians are blessed!

Does it matter if we don't do some things that are hard Imagine that we all approached life with the attitude of, "If it's not on the test then I'm not going to learn it."

When's the last time you felt the joy of being truly thankful? We need to recover the lost art of giving thanks and there are some steps we can take to do just that.

"[Jesus continued:] "God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. "God blesses you when people mock..."

Are you lucky or just blessed? We don't like being passive, so we have a hard time recognizing that we have what we have because we are blessed.

A simple reminder of grace from one in a difficult place. Phil Ware shares the sweet prayer request from one of the translators in a predominantly Muslim nation wracked with violence and bloodshed: "Please pray for the terrorists that they know Jesus Christ like Saul who became Paul :)"

The power of grace, the gift of life in marriage. Phil Ware continues his series called 50 shades of grace that focuses on the intimacy between a husband and wife in marriage.

A King headed to a cross, the foal of a donkey, and a formerly blind man who followed along the way. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that many were blind to Jesus as the Messiah because he refused to be the kind of Messiah they expected; he was the upside down Messiah.

"One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them."

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your..."

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 5:11-12 -- Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they perse

Are you willing to suffer if it spreads the Gospel? We must be ready to suffer; our brothers and sisters all around the world are and have!

Our groups and our churches must be the arenas where Jesus' upside-down kingdom comes to life. Phil Ware shares Jesus' teaching that is upside-down to the world around us in terms of status, wealth, power, position, achievement, and importance.

"[Jesus continued:] "God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.""

"[Jesus continued:] "God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.""

"[Jesus taught:] "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.""

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me."

""You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out...."

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."

"[Jesus continued:] "God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.""

"[Jesus continued:] "God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.""

"[Jesus continued:] "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out..."

"This is the seventh of the beatitudes: and seven was the number of perfection among the Hebrews. It may be that the Saviour placed the peacemaker the...."

"[Jesus continued:] "God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.""

"[Jesus continued:] "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.""

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 5:13 -- "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

Hopefully remembering the horrors can help us prevent them. Phil Ware uses Memorial Day to think about the cost of war and the ultimate sacrifice of a friend named Roy who lived through World War II, the assault on Normandy Beach and the Battle of the Bulge.

Prayer becomes a tuning fork that helps us sing the song of God's magnificence with both holy praise as well as genuine concern for the people in our world. Phil Ware continues his series of thoughts on living as a disciple that is JesuShaped and focuses on how the Lord's Prayer tunes our hearts to living the JesuShaped life.

Can you think about nothing but God? Can we spend any special, focused, time thinking about nothing but God? It is hard, but we must learn to do so.

Will technology be the difference? David Capes uses The Voice translation to drive home the point that technology is not going to save us from ourselves, but only gracious trust that Jesus is Lord and our following Jesus into the world of forgiveness.

Is there a place to start making the world a better place? To start making things better, begin with yourself!

What do you do when you don't feel like you have anything to offer? Tom Norvell reminds us to listen to God when we feel like we have nothing to offer, and if we do, we will realize that is enough.

What blessing can there be in powerlessness? Life is full of events that make us feel and actually be powerless, but that is exactly where God can work in our life the most.

They laugh because they have given up hope, and hope born anew is always funny before it is real.

Do you know peace in your life? Do you know peace in your life? Or, do you find your days filled with conflict? Are you often belligerent and contentious with those around you? Find real peace in Jesus.

With the genuine seeker, the struggling follower longing to be more godly, and those broken by life, the Lord used tender language filled with grace and mercy. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to be salt to a world of decay, flavorlessness, and bland hope.

What do your ears want to hear? Some folks only want to hear the cheery stuff from God, not the hard stuff, too.

Is the interconnectedness of our world really such bad news? The interconnectedness of our world isn't bad, but really an opportunity to do good and bring redemptive influence.

Can anything change our decaying culture for the better? Paul Faulkner cites a recent Wallstreet Journal report on domestic violence and observes that change happens one man and one family at a time.

So who really made Bill Clinton President? Who has the greatest influence, you on the world or the world on you?

What do we do in the face of evil and meanness? Phil Ware continues his series of messages related to "The Story" curriculum, using Abraham's call to be a blessing to be a reminder to us as well.

I'm not sure I'm that trusting: are you? Patrick Odum talks about a strange occurrence involving trust, a New York ad agency worker, a homeless man, and an American Express Card, which reminds us that God trusts us.

Do you really want to fill your sponge with grey water? Teresa Bell Kindred compares seeing Fifty Shades of Grey to a dirty mop bucket and a sponge.

He was nitroglycerin; if you bumped him the wrong way, he blew up. Max Lucado reminds of what is necessary when we have failed publicly and why it is necessary.

"Dear Disciple, While I was in the world, I was the "Light of the world" (John 9:5). I AM still the Light of the world (John 1:4-5; John 8:12), but..."

Is there still time? We must use all the time we have and not waste it because we can make a difference in the time we are given.

Are you a situation complainer or an environment changer? We can be situation complainers -- thermostats -- or situation changers -- thermometers; Jesus' will, however, is that we be salt, light, and examples who display the fruit of the Spirit.

What would happen if your church were on Larry Davies had a dream about being on Shark Tank and being offered 1 million dollars to invest in a church.

Our ToGather time today focuses on God's great promises to bless us, but also challenges each of us to ask: What is the true source of my delight? Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to recognize God's greatness and his desire to bless us with every good thing we need.

Jesus didn't pray for unity just so Christians could sit in a happy circle, hold hands, and sing Kum Ba Yah around the campfire at church camp. Phil Ware reflects on the words of Jesus, the actions of the apostle Paul, and the example of a couple of men in his life, all focused on the theme of reconciliation.

I was taught to appreciate the beauty of the world and to see in that beauty glimpses of its Creator. Patrick Odum challenges us to look at sin, community involvement, engagement in the problems of our world, and what it means to be a citizen of the world in which we live.

Surely Jesus is talking about something other than evangelism? Phil Ware continues his LifeWORDS series and shares Jesus' Great Commission as a call to incarnational ministry and not just evangelism.

Is there any message we can take from our dark night of the human soul? Phil Ware adds some beginning thoughts and Phillip Morrison writes beautifully about a messenger to mankind and The Messenger to humankind.

Give thanks for this? Phil Ware finishes his November series of giving thanks and focuses on our mission or call from God.