A Pocket Guide to the Kingdom (Matthew 5:1-10)

OUTLINE:

Main Point: The Disciples of Jesus living for the Kingdom expect God’s promised blessing.

Intro to the Fortunate Followers 1-2

P. Kingdom of Heaven belongs to the Poor 3

FP. Conform for the Mourners 4

FT. Inheritance for the Meek 5

FP. Satisfaction for the Famished 6

FP. Mercy for the Merciful 7

FT. Relationship for the Heartfelt 8

FP. Connection for the Peacemakers 9

P. Kingdom of Heaven belongs to the Persecuted 10

Explanation of the Persecuted 11-12

Weekly Reading:

Day 1 – Poor in Spirit & Those Who Mourn

Matthew 5:3–4

Characteristic:

• Where do you see poverty of spirit in your own life? Where do you resist admitting your need?

• What do you truly mourn—sin, brokenness, or only personal losses?

Promise:

• How do you picture the “kingdom of heaven” belonging to the poor in spirit? (Isaiah 57:15; Luke 18:13–14)

• When have you tasted God’s comfort in seasons of grief? (Isaiah 61:1–3; Revelation 21:4)

Counter-Culture:

• How does our world usually view weakness and dependence? Do you feel pressured to hide yours?

• What does it cost you to honestly acknowledge your need before others?

Gospel:

• How does the cross of Christ reveal both our poverty and our comfort? (2 Corinthians 8:9)

• In what ways do you see Jesus Himself embodying poverty of spirit and mourning over sin? (Luke 19:41–42)

Day 2 – The Meek & Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Matthew 5:5–6

Characteristic:

• Do others experience you as meek—gentle and restrained—or more forceful and self-assertive?

• What are you hungering for most right now?

Promise:

• What does it mean to you that the meek will “inherit the earth”? (Psalm 37:11; Romans 8:17)

• When has God surprisingly satisfied your longing for righteousness? (Isaiah 55:1–2; John 6:35)

Counter-Culture:

• How does our culture reward bold self-assertion over meekness? How are you tempted to conform to that pattern?

• Where are you tempted to “fill” yourself with things that never satisfy?

Gospel:

• How does Jesus’ meekness before His accusers show us the way of true strength? (1 Peter 2:23)

• How does His righteousness become your satisfaction and your hope? (Philippians 3:9)

Day 3 – The Merciful & The Pure in Heart

Matthew 5:7–8

Characteristic:

• Who needs your mercy today, even if they don’t deserve it?

• What fills your heart when it is most unguarded—devotion to God, or something else?

Promise:

• When you picture receiving mercy from God, how does it change how you treat others? (James 2:13; Luke 6:36)

• What do you think it will mean to “see God”? (1 John 3:2; Revelation 22:4)

Counter-Culture:

• Where do you see hardness, revenge, or cynicism shaping the world around you? How hard is it for you to resist that spirit?

• How does a “divided heart” show up in daily life, and what might it cost to pursue purity instead?

Gospel:

• How has God’s mercy in Christ reshaped the way you view forgiveness? (Ephesians 2:4–5)

• How does Jesus, the perfectly pure in heart, open the way for us to see God? (Hebrews 12:14)

Day 4 – The Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9

Characteristic:

• Do you tend to avoid conflict or stir it up? What would true peacemaking look like for you this week?

Promise:

• How does it change your sense of identity to know that peacemakers will be called children of God? (Romans 8:14; Galatians 3:26)

Counter-Culture:

• How does the world usually pursue peace—through power, avoidance, or compromise? How is the way of Christ different?

Gospel:

• How has Christ made peace with you through His blood? (Colossians 1:19–20; Ephesians 2:14–16)

• How can His reconciling work become the pattern for how you pursue peace in your relationships?

Day 5 – The Persecuted for Righteousness’ Sake

Matthew 5:10–12

Characteristic:

• When obedience to Christ costs you something, how do you usually respond—fear, compromise, or faithfulness?

Promise:

• What does it mean to you that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the persecuted? (2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:14)

• How might joy actually grow in the midst of trials? (Acts 5:41; James 1:2–4)

Counter-Culture:

• Where do you feel tension between following Christ and fitting into the world around you?

• How does the call to rejoice in suffering contrast with the world’s instinct to avoid all pain?

Gospel:

• How does Jesus’ own suffering and rejection give you courage in your trials? (Hebrews 12:2–3)

• How does His resurrection secure the promise that your endurance is not in vain? (1 Corinthians 15:58)