““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 ‭5‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

True peacemaking is a prophetic act, and yet Jesus links peacemakers with persecution and that is to be expected bc they “persecuted the prophets who were before you”

Peacemaking is not pacifism. When the United States first entered World War I, the president of Columbia University in New York City sent a questionnaire to the entire faculty asking them what they proposed to do to help with the war effort. One member of the faculty, a pacifist, sent it back with this answer: "Mind my own business."

That may be what a pacifist does. But it is not what a peacemaker does. A peacemaker knows that dealing with the conflict is his business. Peacemaking is not a passive characteristic. The language Jesus uses is active; a peacemaker is one who attacks the situation, who confronts it head on.

Pastor Jeff and the group finish up The Chronicles of Narnia.

Pastor Jeff and the group continue their discussion.

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

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed - happy are you, to be congratulated. Why? Because anytime you want more of God or things of God, you will receive. God’s supply is limitless. So, that’s a good reason to be happy.

Happy are you anytime you act like a citizen of heaven. Again, Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount is not about life after death, but the life before life after death.

You should feel happy when you desire more of God, when you show mercy, when you seek purity of heart. Why? Because it means you are being led by God. it is God helping you love God. God is the object, and also the enabler. On THIS side of heaven.

The group talks about the next four chapters of The Chronicles of Narnia.

When Jesus says, "blessed are you...." how do you define a blessing? Jesus words in Matthew 5:1-6 teach us the priorities of God's Kingdom: Blessing Invites the Least, Blessing is to Be in God's Kingdom, Blessing is to Receive God's grace.

Blessed are the broken. Matthew 5:1-12

The group talks about Luke 22-23.