By Steven Parker:
For the Kids
Enter:
Has anything been fun about this time of shelter-at-home? Not fun?
Have you learned anything about faith during these odd weeks?
Hear:
Read the passage together:
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“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, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12)
Pause:
Sit for a few moments and reflect on this passage. Re-read the focal verse for this week: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (vs. 7).
For Everyone:
Before we found ourselves in this shelter-in-place mode, we had started a series on The Beatitudes that we were calling Your Blessed Life Now; we’re planning to pick this series back up on Sunday morning with the fifth Beatitude: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (vs. 7). If you’d like to play catch up on this series, the first four installments examining the blessing of spiritual poverty, brokenness, meekness, and hungering and thirsting for righteousness on our YouTube channel by clicking here.
As we head toward the weekend and look forward to our online worship service on Sunday, let’s spend some time reflecting on this verse and discussing it with our families. Mercy is a big part of God’s nature and is the foundation for the forgiveness He shows us.
Wonder:
What do you think Jesus is teaching in this verse?
How did Jesus show us God’s mercy?
In what way is the mercy we show others connected to the mercy we receive from God through Jesus?
What does it look like to be merciful in our everyday lives?
Bless:
Affirm what everyone has shared.
Commit together to dwell in God’s mercy in how you relate to each other and your neighbors.
Pray together:
Thank God for His mercy and ask him to help you show others His mercy.
Example:
Father in heaven, thank you for the mercy you have shown us in Jesus who died on the cross and rose again for our sake. Forgive us for the ways in which we have failed at showing others Your mercy. Open our eyes that we might see opportunities to be merciful and open our hearts that we might be moved to seize those opportunities. In Jesus’ name, amen.