Jesus offers a vision of life that is unsettling for many in Matthew 5. He tells us that blessed are those who are poor in spirit, meek, and powerless. Does Jesus want His followers to be poor and unimportant? How do we reconcile this kind of language with the popular sentiment that following God will bring material wealth and blessings? What should the life of a follower of Jesus look like? 

Questions: 

1. Does God want his followers to be poor? 

2. What does Jesus mean when He calls the poor in spirit, meek, and powerless “blessed”?

3. Does Jesus ever promise material blessing or does He consistently redefine blessing?

4. What do you do if you happen to be poor?

5. What do you do if you happen to find yourself with abundance?