1. The Beatitudes of Jesus… Blessed Are YOU
The Beatitudes of Jesus… Blessed Are YOU!! Session #1 September 20th, 2016

2. Agenda… Introductions (Fr. Dave)
A Mini Lecture on the background of the Beatitudes (Pr. Bob)
Exploring the Scriptures (Fr. Dave)
Closing Devotion (Pr. Bob

3. Introduction…
Each class member will introduce themselves by answering the following questions:
#1. How long have you been a Sat. Andrew’s (if you are not a member, would you be interested in joining!!)
#2. Why did you decide to sign-up for this class?
#3. What do you expect to learn over the next six weeks?

4. Mini Lecture…a brief background of the Beatitudes of Jesus
The Beatitudes in Luke and in Matthew
The Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount (differences and similarities)
What does it mean to be BLESSED?
a. Greek word which is translated BLESSED in NT is MAKARIOS (appears 49 times in NT-13 times in Matthew and 14 times in Luke)

5. MAKARIOS…Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (NRSV)
“Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs” (Common English Bible)
“God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven!” (Contemporary English Version)
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.” (The Message)
“Happy the poor in spirit -- because theirs is the reign of the heavens”. (Young’s Literal Translation)

6. Exploring the Scripture…
Divide class into four groups: Group #1…Read I Kings 17:8-24 and discuss the circumstances that the widow faced. Group #2…Read I Kings 17:8-24 and discuss and describe the Widow’s eventual BLESSEDNESS. Group #3…Read Matthew 19:16-22 and discuss/describe the Rich Young Man’s BLESSEDNESS. Group #4… 3…Read Matthew 19:16-22 and discuss/describe the things which made the RYM UNBLESSED!

7. I Kings 17:8-24…
1 Kings 17:8-24
8Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9“Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.” 11As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” 13Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. 14For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.” 15She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. 16The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.
17After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18She then said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!” 19But he said to her, “Give me your son.” He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. 20He cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?” 21Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” 22The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.” 24So the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”

8. Matthew 19: 16-22…
16Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20The young man said to him, “I have kept all these; what do I still lack?” 21Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

9. Closing…
Assignment for next week: read Session #1 and #2 in Resource Book (pages. 9-22)
Think about the Reflection Questions on pg. #22.

10. Closing devotion…
Psalm 25 (Men will read ODD verses and Women will read the EVEN verses)… 1To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. 3Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 4Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. 6Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord! 8Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. 11For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. 12Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose. 13They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land. 14The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them. 15My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. 16Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress. 18Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. 19Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. 20O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. 22Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.