God is the Happy Finder of lost people - Luke 15:8-10

God pursues us because He treasures us. He never gives up on us! All we have to do is accept His love - Luke 15:1-7

Righteousness = becoming what God intended us to be. Am I persecuted for being Christ-like (gracious, compassionate) or am I persecuted because I *don't* live like Christ? - Matthew 5:11​-12

True peace with others comes from peace within, and that comes from reconciliation in our relationship with God - Matthew 5:9

Purity involves the transformation of our hearts - Matthew 5:8

Mercy is an invitation to a life of freedom - Matthew 5:7

Is it possible to impress God? If so, it's not with our obedience, religious practices, or knowledge; it's with a humble spirit that yields to Him - Matthew 5:5

When Jesus says, "Blessed are those who mourn," it is not meant to diminish the pain or loss we are feeling. Instead it's meant to assure us of God's comfort and promises and provide hope - Matthew 5:4

In this new series we explore the Beatitudes as lessons in character development, not a to-do list to attain favor with God. We begin with "Blessed our the poor in spirit" and what that means - Matthew 5:3-7

For instructions on prayer, Jesus gives us the Lord's prayer as a "how-to" guide and also tells us to pray without ceasing. The Latin phrase "coram Deo" gives some insight on what praying without ceasing might look like - Matthew 6:1-13