Oct. 13th 2013-Life in the Kingdom-Happy are the merciful

October 14, 2013/Kasey Crawford

Are you a “Mercy First” or a “Judgment First” person? Does the radical mercy that God has toward you flow through you out to others? In this teaching we explore Jesus’ kingdom perspective on mercy and our life.

If you want a study tool to go along with the podcast, see Lift Notes here:

Life in the Kingdom: Happy are the merciful

October 13^th, 2013 by Kasey Crawford

Today’s Passages: Matthew 4:17-5:8, 20:29-34, 18:21-35; James 2:13; Matthew 9:12-13

Review

The Sermon on the Mount is where Jesus sets forth a ___________ for a whole new way of _________ that is possible through following him- a life lived in God’s kingdom.

The “kingdom” is when God’s will is done on _________ as it is in ____________.

We “grab hold” of the kingdom through ___________ and ________.

The two most important questions in the life of a follower of Jesus:

What is ________ _____________ to me? (Repentance)

What am _____ going ______ about it? (Faith)

A Disciple is a “student, ___________ or _______________.”

New

Happy are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7

What is mercy?

There are 2 aspects of mercy described by Jesus in the book of Matthew.

One aspect…Matthew 20:29-34

“Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” ³² Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. ³³ “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” ³⁴ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. (20:31-34)

1. One aspect of mercy is: to be greatly concerned about someone in _________; to have a ______-__________reaction that produces action.

A second aspect…Matthew 18:21-35

I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ (18:32-33)

2. A 2^nd aspect of mercy is: not giving people the ________________ they _____________.

When you put those 2 aspects of mercy together….mercy is not giving people the judgment they deserve, rather compassionately meet their need.

Are there certain actions or attitudes that stir you up with annoyed feelings of “they need to _______ what they deserve”, or “they don’t deserve ________”?

Jesus teaches and models that when God’s will is done on earth, God’s people will be filled with ________ ____________ so much that the gut level reaction is not a ________________of what people deserve but a compassionate _________ to help the hurting needs.

Jesus teaches that the root of this mercy toward _____________ is experiencing God’s heart of mercy towards _______.

We are the ones who have racked up 100 millions days of _________ with God but he has not given us the judgment we ____________ , rather he has had a compassionate care to help our hurting needs.

Jesus is turning upside down the status quo of the world, which operates in a mindset of judgment ___________.

In the kingdom of God, its _________ ___________!

Mercy triumphs over judgment James 2:13

Living as a Disciple in the Kingdom…

What is God saying to you?

What are you going to do about it?