2. Blessed – happy, statement of fact by a 3 rd party Spiritual Poverty – recognizing our need for God Mourning our Spiritual Poverty: grieving our inability to do anything about our sin Meek: responding to others without malice or a vengeful spirit because we acknowledge all we have is from God.

3. Read the passage multiple times, emphasizing a different word each time. Write down observations and/or questions you have about the passage.

4. What does it mean to “hunger and thirst”? Why is it that “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed”? What is “righteousness”? Meaning of “will be filled”?

5. Conscious of your great need Desperate

6. Why not seek blessings or happiness instead? Instead of making us happy: Always want more Obsess on how to keep or not lose Ultimately, not satisfying. Doesn’t fill us up.

7. 10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

8. 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

9. Not just justification, but also sanctification

10. 21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

11. Not just justification, but also sanctification Definition: Desire to be free from sin in all is forms and in its every manifestation Desire to be right with God Desire to be free from the power of sin Desire to be free from the very desire to sin Longing to be positively holy

12. What does filled mean? Who will be filled? What will they be filled with? When will they be filled? Where will they be filled? How will they be filled? Why will they be filled?

13. 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36 "But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.

14. Now Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to you, and your sins are forgiven Christ through the Holy Spirit indwells you Sense of being in right relationship with God Not Yet Becoming more and more like Jesus… Transformed life Fruit of the Spirit

15. It bugs us when we sin We refrain from doing things that are opposed to it. Obvious Subtle, less obvious We put ourselves in the way of getting it.

16. 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.