Why Do the Beatitudes Matter for the Overworked and Hopeless?

Episode Chapters

1. A Conversation on The Nine Good Life Sayings
   0:00 - 1:01
2. Why Do We Not Find the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospels of Mark or John?
   1:02 - 1:04
3. "Blaine from Alberta, Canada If the Sermon on the Mount is some of Jesus' most important teachings, then why do we not find them in the Gospels of Mark or John?"
   1:05 - 9:39
4. Why is “Blessed" Not a Good Translation of Makarios?
   9:40 - 9:42
5. "Tre from Hawaii In your discussion about makarios you said that “blessed” isn’t a good translation and that you prefer to translate it as "having reference to the good life." However, you also said that the good life is actually defined by God’s blessing. So I'm not very clear on why exactly you don't think “blessed” is a good translation. Thanks for all you do, and, well, God bless."
   9:43 - 19:20
6. Why Does Matthew 5:3 Matter to People Who Feel Overworked, Crushed, Oppressed, Domesticated, Complacent, Powerless, and Hopeless?
   19:21 - 19:24
7. "Collin from Colorado My question is about Matthew 5:3, “blessed are the poor in spirit.” I recently had a long conversation with a very close friend of mine who told me that he’s feeling overworked, crushed, oppressed, domesticated, complacent, powerless, and hopeless by the powers and the current system of the world. That it’s impossible to experience “the good life.” Why does this verse, and the Sermon on the Mount as a whole, matter to people who feel and think this way?"
   19:25 - 27:10
8. Should We Pursue Mourning, Powerlessness, and Poverty if That Is the Good Life? / Is There Something I Should Be Doing To Attain the Blessings in the Beatitudes?
   27:11 - 27:33
9. "Talia from Tennessee It's easy to interpret the beatitudes as instructions for how to get the good life. Should we therefore pursue mourning, powerlessness, and poverty? If Jesus says the poor and powerless have the good life, why shouldn't we desire to be those people? How are people with health, wealth, and power called to practically respond to this teaching from Jesus?"
   27:34 - 27:57
10. Is There Something I Should Be Doing to Attain the Blessings in the Beatitudes?
    27:58 - 37:17
11. "Sophia from Virginia My question is related to the triad of blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, and the meek. I can’t help but think there is something I should be doing to attain those states of being. Like I should be trying to be in a state of mourning to receive blessing. Is there supposed to be action on our end when reading this or is that not the point? Further, Is this what has led groups in the past to make vows of poverty in church history?"
    27:58 - 37:17
12. How Can We "Bless the Lord"?
    37:18 - 37:26
13. "Judy from North Carolina I have a question about the word "bless." In Psalm 103 verse 1 it says "Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name." And I have wondered about that for a while. If God is the God of blessing and God is the one who blesses, how can we, as people (humans) bless the Lord?? What does that word mean in this context?"
    37:27 - 46:12
14. Isn’t There More to Righteousness Than Right Relationships With Others?
    46:13 - 46:17
15. "Patrick from Georgia At one point in previous talks you said that righteousness is being in right relationship with God and others. However, in these talks that definition seems to be simply right relationship with others making a better world “the good life.” I had understood it was a three-way rightness that makes a better world and allows you to experience the “it’s so good” part of the Kingdom now. Can you help me see the difference?"
    46:18 - 52:18
16. Is the Meekness Jesus Describes the Same as Moses’ Meekness in Numbers 12:3?
    52:19 - 52:23
17. My question is about "the meek." What does the Bible mean when it also describes Moses as meek in Numbers 12:3 (KJV)? Is it the same as what Jesus talks about in the Sermon on the Mount?
    52:24 - 60:10
18. Are There Techniques Early Christians Used That Could Help Us Today to Remember and Reflect on the Sermon?
    60:11 - 60:16
19. "Dominic from California Jonathan Pennington, a scholar and guest on your podcast, says that Jesus' sermon is meant to be memorized. Are there techniques early Christians used that could help us today remember and reflect on the sermon?"
    60:17 - 65:33
20. Show Credits
    65:34 - 68:07