Weekly Playlist | February 19-25
Sermon on the Mount - The Beatitudes
The Hard Path of Peacemaking
Listen to the Scripture reading below, and then learn more from related resources. As you listen and reflect, think about this question: What does it cost a person to live like Jesus?
Consider While Reading
The first hearers of these words were mostly low-status, powerless Israelites on the fringes of mainstream society.
Matthew 5:3-16
Kingdom Identity
Reflect
What would it have felt like to be in the crowd and hear these words?
We'll be adding more translations here in the future, but in the meantime, you can find more translations now on the BibleProject app.
Highlight
“When God’s Kingdom arrives in full one day, it will bring peace between all people. And so anyone entering God’s Kingdom now is called to work as a peacemaker. That means entering into conflicts and working creatively to open up a just and generous path forward for others.”
Chapter from Sermon on the Mount E7
Why Peacemaking Leads to Persecution
Highlight
“Jesus is saying, ‘Listen, the way the world is right now–when God's Kingdom comes on Earth as it is in Heaven–it will result in you getting caught in the crossfire of a lot of angry people, and you're going to get hurt.’ And that doesn't mean that you're doing the wrong thing. In fact, you should expect it. The good life belongs to those who are doing the Jesus thing, doing the Jesus ethic of doing what is right by God and others.”
The Hard Path of Peacemaking
Choosing to live in alignment with Jesus’ teachings will lead to joy on Earth and a great reward in God’s Kingdom in the age to come. But there is also a cost. As we actively make peace where there is conflict, we will encounter painful resistance from many sides. But Jesus encourages us to celebrate when we experience mistreatment as a result of peacemaking because we are doing what is right.
