1. Q --- Would you rather be poor, hungry, sorrowful and rejected? -OR- Q --- Would you rather be rich, well-fed, happy and accepted?

2. -As long as we are seeking to live our Christian lives “at arms length”, without embracing the hard teachings of Christ, willing to be influenced by Jesus but not defined by Him...... Individually... we will fail to impact the lives of friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, fellow students... For the Kingdom of God... Corporately... we will fail to impact our world with the Gospel and “turn our world upside down” for the Kingdom of God

3. Hard Teachings of Jesus: The Sermon on the Mount I. Poor v. 20 -He is speaking about someone who looks at themselves and says... “I am spiritually poor”, “I am spiritually lost”, “I am spiritually in poverty”. -“Total Depravity”

4. II. Hungry v. 21 -He is focusing upon being spiritually hungry. MATTHEW 5:4 --- “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness” Hard Teachings of Jesus: The Sermon on the Mount

5. III. Sorrowful v. 21b -When Jesus tells us to “weep” and be “sorrowful”, He is challenging us as His disciples to be brokenhearted over the things that break the heart of God. Q --- What breaks God’s heart? SIN Hard Teachings of Jesus: The Sermon on the Mount

6. IV. Rejected v. 22 -John... in 1 JOHN 3 -Paul... in 2 TIMOTHY -Cheryl Harvey Hard Teachings of Jesus: The Sermon on the Mount

7. Cheryl Harvey – IMB Missionary