Week 1 Study Questions

Group Discussion: This is my recommended outline and questions. Please feel free to add questions that best fit your group.

Start with this short video from the Bible Project.

Matthew 5:1-16

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

  for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

  for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

  for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

  for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

  for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

  for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Questions:

• For this section of Scripture, we have used the phrase “How good is life for” instead of the more common “Blessed are you when.” How does this change impact your understanding of Jesus’ words?

• According to Matthew 5:3-5, what reasons does Jesus give for concluding that the powerless, grieving, and unimportant are experiencing the good life?

• In Matthew 5:6-8, Jesus declares that the good life belongs to those who long for right relationships, are full of mercy, and have pure motives. What do these characteristics tell us about the way human beings will live in Jesus’ Kingdom?

• What does it mean to be a peacemaker, according to Jesus, and why should peacemakers expect to be persecuted in this world?

• What would these images of salt, light, and a city on a hill have meant to Jesus and his listeners as ancient Israelites?

• How are Jesus’ followers similar to Israel’s prophets? What kinds of attitudes and actions do they share?

• Which verse in this passage seems to be speaking most directly to you right now? Why?

• Who is one person you could impact this week by living out something from this passage?
  

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