The Poor in Spirit (Matthew 5:3) | Pastor Hayden Thomas

Title: Kingdom Happiness - Poor in Spirit       

Preaching Point: Kingdom happiness belongs to those who own up to their spiritual poverty and give themselves over to the riches of Christ.

Main Text: Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Teaching Points:

1. Expect Kingdom Happiness v3
2. Admit Your Spiritual Bankruptcy v3
3. Set Your Mind on the Kingdom of Heaven v3

Application Questions:

1. What is one observation you found particularly helpful from this week’s sermon?
2. Read Psalm 144:15 & Proverbs 16:19–20. Happiness in God’s economy looks quite different than its worldly counterpart. That being said, how should your thought life change when you consider God’s desire for his children to have genuine happiness in their new spiritual status in the Kingdom of Heaven?
3. How can your hyperfocus on happiness derived from circumstantial situations hinder the genuine happiness God desires for every Christian?
4. Read Isaiah 61:1–2. These people knew the bad news of their desperate situation and gladly looked forward to the freedom that would eventually be fulfilled through Jesus. In the same way, why is a sincere announcement of the bad news of everyone's destitute position before God necessary to effectively guide lost souls to gladly look to Jesus as the answer to their spiritual poverty?
5. Read Ephesians 2:4–5. How does the lie of self-sufficiency hinder someone’s ability to see their great need for God?
6. A). How does this same lie hinder your ability to look to God, except perhaps in times of great distress?
7. Read Matthew 6:19–21 & 1 Timothy 6:17–19. What does a person’s life look like that has their mind focused on the Kingdom of Heaven?
8. What are a few things you can do this week to help you shift your focus away from the world and toward the Kingdom of Heaven and the happiness it promises?

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