The Christian Life(Practical Christianity)

2. The Christian Life(Practical Christianity) • Summer Quarter June 3rd thru August 26th • Teacher- Wilburn Ivy • Ph: (480) 369-8952 – cell • Email: wivy1@aol.com

3. Last Week Re-Cap • We talked about some of the things that people today are need or are looking for( I got feedback from the class last week expressing the need for more discussion on this topic) we will do that shortly. • We reviewed the class goals • We read the entire account of Jesus’s sermon on the mount. • A challenge was issued to the class to pick at least one of the Blessings that Jesus states in the Matt 5:1 - 11?? and see we might dedicate ourselves that this past week.

4. The Practical Christian Life Goals Our Goals are as follows: • To deepen your personal relationship with God. • To apply the instructions we received from our Lord through his Word, the Bible. • To put in to practice the Lordship of Christ in our lives. • To demonstrate Love and deepen our relationships to our Christian brothers and sisters and those we come in contact with. • To become a light that draws people all over our community to Jesus Christ our Saviour for the Glory of God.

5. Last Week’s Challenge Challenge: Examine your life and pick at least one of the blessings that we find in Matt5: 3 -11 that you want to demonstrate in your life. Be prepared to share your success or struggle next Sunday Morning with the class.

6. Sharing Time!!! • Q? Who has something to share about the blessings that Jesus spoke of in Matt 5:1-11 and how it was demonstrated in your life this week?

7. Sermon on the Mount Reflections • What are people in the world today hungry for? In other words what are the fish biting?, Craving?? • Answers • Truth • Love • To Belong • Security • Hope • To be understood • Acceptance • Comforting • And the like…etc…

8. Reflections • I have heard it said that people today don’t want any of those things all they want is to be entertained or to do what they want to do..to be left alone” • Is this really the case? Or is it rather than find a solution to meet their needs we are looking for excuses why we can’t meet their needs? Just wondering…what do you think..let’s discuss this. • What kind of people fit the descriptors that we discuss in the list last week?..here they are again for reference.. • Do you know anyone that is : (fill in the blank) • How would you go about trying to help (their name) or to meet his or her need?

9. Sermon On the Mount • Let’ re- read the first part of the sermon. • Matt 5:1 –12, • Luke 17:1-26

10. Matt 5: 1 - 12 • Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount • 5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. • The Beatitudes • He said: • 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn,    for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek,    for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,    for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful,    for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart,     for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers,     for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. • 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

11. Luke 6: 17 -26 • Blessings and Woes • 17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. • 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: • “Blessed are you who are poor,    for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now,    for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now,    for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you,    when they exclude you and insult you     and reject your name as evil,        because of the Son of Man. • 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. • 24 “But woe to you who are rich,     for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now,    for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now,    for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

12. The Blessings • Matthew • 5:3 - Poor in Spirit • 5:4 - Those who Mourn • 5:5 - The Meek • 5:6 –Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness • 5:7 – The merciful • 5:8 – The Pure in Heart • 5:9 – The Peacemakers • 5:10 – The Persecuted • 5:11 – The Insulted, persecuted and Falsely accused

13. Loving Enemies and Serving Others • Love for Enemies • 27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. • 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

14. Reflections • Did anyone see or read about the girl this week that went from homeless to Havard? • If so, what inspired you about her story? • What needs do you think she had? Read excerpts from her story. • We can easily see the needs in her life can’t we? • What about people that are not as lovable? Can we see their needs??. Discuss..

15. Summary and Weekly Life Challenge • Loving and Serving Others is a way that God uses us for spreading his message • When we humbly submit ourselves to God then he can use us reach others • There are many opportunities around all of us to serve those who don’t yet know God.. • We when leave our comfort zone it increases our faith Challenge: Commit to looking around you to see people that you know work with or even that you just happen to meet find a way to meet a need that that they have. Be prepared to share your success or struggle next Sunday Morning with the class.