Take Time - Part 1 [Notes]

The past few years have been challenging for us all. When the pandemic hit, the entire world was swept up into a new reality that included mask mandates, closed businesses, postponed weddings and honeymoons, and online classes and graduation ceremonies. We've experienced many losses, and we have grown weary. But what have we learned through this trial? Have we stopped to grieve? Are we better prepared for the trials we may face in the future?

Join us as we address some of these questions in a series of talks titled “Take Time.”  This encouraging series will help us slow down and learn what God may be wanting to teach us as we move forward.

Today's Takeaway // Take time to see things differently.

“Our culture routinely interprets our losses as alien invasions that interrupt our “normal” lives. We numb our pain through denial, blaming, rationalizations,  addictions, and avoidance.”
– Pete Scazzero

When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. Then He began to teach them, saying: “The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted. The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled. The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy. The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God. The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God. Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.¹
– Matthew 5:1-10 (HCSB)
_{¹ The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (Mt 5:1–10). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.}

When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. Then He began to teach them, saying: “The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
– Matthew 5:1-3 (HCSB)

Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted.
– Matthew 5:4 (HCSB)

The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn.
– Isaiah 61:1-2 (HCSB)

The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth.
– Matthew 5:5 (HCSB)

As toward God, therefore, meekness accepts his dealings without murmur or resistance as absolutely good and wise. As toward man, it accepts opposition, insult, and provocation, as God’s permitted ministers...²
– Dr. M. R. Vincent
_{² Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 1, pp. 37–38). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.}

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled.
– Matthew 5:6 (HCSB)

The word “filled” in this verse is a very strong and graphic word, originally applied to the feeding and fattening of animals in a stall.³
– Dr. M. R. Vincent
_{³ Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 38). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.}

You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than your companions.
– Psalm 45:7 (HCSB)

The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy.
– Matthew 5:7 (HCSB)

Mercy: to have compassion, pity, deep empathy. Expresses having deep compassion. This verb is similar to what is expressed in modern language as a feeling in one’s “gut” or “heart” of deep empathy for another person.⁴
– J. Frederick
_{⁴ Frederick, J. (2014). Mercy and Compassion. In D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R.Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Lexham Press.}

The adjective for merciful means those whose bent is to show mercy, not those who engage in an occasional merciful impulse.⁵
– Dr. L. Morris
_{⁵ Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel According to Matthew (p. 100). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.}

The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God.
– Matthew 5:8 (HCSB)

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has•clean hands and a pure heart, who has not set his mind on what is false...
– Psalm 24:3-4
_{^• When something is clean, it is holy or acceptable to God. When it is unclean, it is unholy (such as an unclean spirit). The term can be used in a ritual sense to apply to moral standards for living.}

Lord, who can dwell in Your tent? Who can live on Your holy mountain? The one who lives honestly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart.
– Psalm 15:1-2 (HCSB)

The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God.
– Matthew 5:9 (HCSB)

Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.¹
– Matthew 5:10 (HCSB)
_{¹ The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (Mt 5:1–10). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.}

1. What are some of the things that have changed in our world since the pandemic hit a couple of years ago? How do you think most people have responded to the pandemic?
2. What has been most challenging for you over the past couple of years? How has your faith in Christ made a difference?
3. Read Matthew 5:1-10. Which of the “beatitudes” listed here might have been viewed as the most radical to Jesus’s listeners and why? Why is it important we adopt a “kingdom of God mentality?”
4. Which of these beatitudes might be most difficult for you to put into practice?
5. Matthew 5, verses 4 and 9, talk about being meek and being a peacemaker. What can we do to promote peace when it seems our culture is at war?
6. How might you apply today’s lesson to your life?

He Lives / Where I'm Standing Now / Evidence / It is Well

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