Emily Babiak - Sermon On The Mount - Mercy
/Seeking God First: A Study on the Sermon
of the Mount
Blessed are the Merciful Matthew 5:7
May 13, 2018 Mother’s Day
Emily Babiak
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expresses His desire for us to live for Him in an upside down world. This greatest sermon ever given, is uplifting, yet challenges us to live a life with Jesus that is far better than any other! It is our prayer that you will be amazed and challenged by studying and applying this great sermon to your life. Small groups are also available throughout the week to further discuss and put into practice the lessons taught from the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 4. God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
Mercy: having compassion or pity for the miserable; putting forth effort to meet a need.
Big Idea: We all need mercy – from God and our communities. Every relationship would be healthier if we learned to give and receive mercy more fully.
I. God’s _____________ came first:
Part of God’s character is mercy/lovingkindness. He will forgive you and
not forsake you. This is a promise in scripture.
“For it is the very character of God which cements our faith.”
Exodus 34:6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
Psalm 86:5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Lamentations 3: 22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
II. Jesus’ teaching on ______________ and __________________ mercy:
a) The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant—Matthew 18: 21-35
“I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?”
If we take notice of how much mercy has been extended to us already, we should be more willing (even eager) to show mercy to someone else.
b) The Parable of the Good Samaritan-–Luke 10:30-37
“The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
There are four steps we can follow in showing mercy to others:
1. See ______________.
2. Have _____________________________.
3. Enter into another’s __________________________.
4. Offer __________.
How can you apply these steps to one of your relationships?
III. Jesus tells us the merciful will be blessed and will receive mercy. The mercy we receive now/not yet from our Heavenly Father is the best gift of mercy there is, but we will also receive mercy now in our earthly relationships.
IV. Mercy seen in Motherhood:
Whether you are a parent, a supervisor, a co-worker, a friend or a child, you have opportunities to practice giving and receiving mercy right where you are. Giving mercy will open the gates for a softer heart, better connections, deeper relationships with those around you.
V. How have you received mercy from others?
A comment made?
A need met?
A service provided?
Other:_____________________________
VI. Conclusion
Mercy is part of God’s character, we are called to be merciful as our Father in Heaven is merciful. We can give mercy to others because we have first received such a great mercy (eternal life) from our Father through His Son, Jesus. The good Samaritan shows us a great example of giving mercy to those around us. Jesus ends that parable with the command “Go and do likewise.”
Go and be merciful.
Growth Group Questions for May 13th
1. Read Matthew 5:3-7. Discuss how the five beatitudes build on each other. Which beatitude so far would produce a merciful soul? From the world’s point of view, why is it surprising that the merciful shall find happiness? What do you think of this translation? “Because they have already obtained mercy, therefore they are merciful.”
2. Read Matthew 5:7. Discuss this quote by E. Stanley Jones: “The thirst for righteousness needs the correction of mercy, then vice versa, mercy needs the correction of righteousness. Mercy without righteousness is mushy. To be merciful toward the failings and sins of others without a moral protest at the heart of the mercy ends in looseness and libertinism. Either righteousness or mercy taken alone offends the senses, but put together there is the breath of a heavenly scent upon them.” Why do you think this balance is so important?
3. Read Luke 10:29-37 Discuss what this passage teaches you about God’s mercy. Why is mercy more than just a thought but an action? Consider the thought that mercy helps relieve a person in their misery.
4. Read Psalm 103:8,10-13, Psalm 130:3. Describe how you see God’s mercy reflected in these verses. How do these verses encourage us to be merciful?
5. Read Luke 18:9-14. What is the difference between the two people mentioned in this passage? What difference do you see an experience of God’s mercy making in someone’s life?
6. Read Hebrews 2:17-18, Luke 6:36. How can Jesus be merciful to those who call on Him? Why does being merciful reflect Jesus? Think of someone you can display mercy to this week. Pray for this person and an opportunity to express this mercy.
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy!