Welcome to the assembly of the Vegas Drive Church of Christ!

1. Welcome to the assembly of the Vegas Drive Church of Christ! Please silence electronic devices

2. Attitudes and actions that garner God’s blessings

3. What is this series about? • An examination of 21 attitudes and behaviors identified in the New Testament as “blessed” • A look at Christian conduct and characteristics that will enrich our lives with lasting joy • A look at the condition of those who lack these qualities

4. Outline (Matthew 5:7) • “Blessed are the merciful” • “For they shall receive mercy” • The cursed life

5. Blessed are the merciful (Matt. 5:7) • Mercy (definitions) • Webster: “kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly” • Easton’s Bible Dictionary: “compassion for the miserable” • Vine’s Dictionary: “the outward manifestation of pity” • Mercy is the demonstration of compassion • Helping the helpless, forgiving the sinner • Examples of how we are to be merciful • 2 Kings 6:21-23 – feeding the enemy • Luke 10:30-37 – as the good Samaritan who aided a Jew • Matt. 18:33 – as a king forgave his servant’s debts

6. For they shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7) • God has been extremely merciful to mankind • “His mercy isupon generation after generation Toward those who fear Him” (Luke 1:50) • God offers mercy to all (Rom. 11:30-32) • God is “rich in mercy” (Eph. 2:4) • God saves us “according to His mercy” (Titus 3:4-6) • We have a sympathetic high priest (Heb. 4:15-16) • God’s promise: “merciful to their iniquities” (Heb. 8:12) • “Be merciful, as your Father is merciful” • (Lk. 6:36)

7. The cursed life: Cursed are the merciless… • “The merciful man does himself good, but the cruel man does himself harm” (Prov. 11:17) • Matt. 18:33-34 – punishment on the slave who did not mercifully forgive • Matt. 23:23 – Woe upon those who neglect mercy • “Judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy” (Jms. 2:13)

8. Summary • To be blessed with mercy from God, we must be merciful to others • The active demonstration of compassion and forgiveness, just as God has demonstrated compassion and extended forgiveness to us • The unmerciful should not expect mercy from God • Blessed are the merciful, • for they shall receive mercy!

9. Believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:1; Acts 16:30-34) • That He died for your sins and was resurrected (1 Cor. 15:3-4) • Repent of your past sins (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9) • Commit yourself to holy conduct (Acts 26:30; Titus 2:11-12) • Confess your faith (Matthew 10:32) • Declare your belief that Jesus is God’s Son (Acts 8:37) • Receive Baptism (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12) • Baptism puts you into Christ (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27) • Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16) • Baptism saves you (1 Peter 3:21) • Be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10) • Trust His grace and obey His commands (Hebrews 5:9) • Or face the retribution due to those who do not obey • 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 2:8; John 3:36

10. Pray without ceasing…Practice what Jesus preached…Prepare for our next assembly