House Church Bible Study: To Be Like Jesus
May 26, 2019
Introduction
A.
On May 2, 1977 I confessed Jesus as Lord and was baptized into Christ.
1.
I went from being an avowed and committed atheist to being a follower of
Jesus. I’m often asked “why” and/or “how” that happened.
a.
How? That’s complicated and complex but bottom line is that it the
transition took place over a fairly short period of time where I went from
believing God did not exist to believing the Jesus is God’s son – about six
months in total.
b.
Why? That’s pretty straight forward – By actually reading the Gospel
accounts, starting with Matthew’s, I was drawn to the person of Jesus, his life
and his teachings.
i.
As I got to know him better, I realized this is someone I could follow
and commit my life to.
ii.
As I got to understand his teachings, I realized that if this is what
Christianity is about, then this is what I need and what the world needs.
2.
And it’s the same reason I’ve chosen to remain a Christian for the last
42 years – I love Jesus, his deeds and his words.
a.
He has never called his followers to be and/or do anything that he
himself wasn’t or didn’t do.
b.
Jesus doesn’t just tell his followers how they should live, he has shown
us what such a life involves and looks like.
c.
When Jesus calls us to follow him, he calls us to imitate his example
and by doing so we are obeying his teachings.
i.
Matt 4:19; 8:22; 9:9; 10:38; 16:24; 19:21
ii.
Mark 1:17; 2:14; 8:34; 10:21
iii.
Luke 5:27; 9:23, 59; 14:27; 18:22
iv.
John 1:43; 10:27; 12:26; 13:36; 21:19, 22
d.
This is the essence of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, a
Christian – it is about actively, consistently and persistently fixing your
mind on Jesus and striving daily to follow in his footsteps (See Hebrews 3:1;
12:2; 1 Peter 2:21)
B.
One of the most important (i.e., central, foundational) teachings of
Jesus is found in Matt 5–7, popularly known as “the Sermon on the Mount.”
1.
Was it actually a sermon that Jesus preached in its entirety to a crowd
of people gathered around him? It may have been, but it also may be a series of
Jesus’ teachings that Matthew brought together in one place.
2.
Either way, this is not what Jesus taught, it is how he lived. He
exemplified the beatitudes in his own life; he was the salt of the earth and
the light of the world. People saw his good deeds.
3.
So, what I would like us to do today is this…
a.
I’m going to go through a quick explanation of each of the beatitudes
means/involves.
b.
As I do so, I want you to think of examples of how each beatitude
demonstrated itself in Jesus’ life. Try to think of specific examples (e.g.,
“the Samaritan woman at the well” or “the woman caught in adultery” or “eating
in the homes of Pharisees,” etc.)
c.
If you can’t think of an example for each beatitude, don’t worry…just do
you best.
d.
OK? Any questions?
Blessed are the
poor in spirit…
A.
Word = πτωχός: literally, of one dependent on others for support poor,
destitute; figuratively, in a negative sense of little value, worthless,
powerless.
B.
Examples of the use of the word
1.
Literally: Mark 12:42 (the poor widow who had only two small copper
coins; i.e., all she had to live on).
2.
Figuratively: Revelation 3:17—"For you say, ‘I am rich, I have
prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched,
pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”
Blessed are those
who mourn…
A.
Word = πενθέω. To mourn, grieve, be sad, lament.
B.
Uses of the word
1.
1 Cor 5:2 – “And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned…”
2.
James 5:8–9, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse
your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and
mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into
dejections.
Blessed are the
meek…
A.
Word = πραύς. mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness.
B.
Uses of the word
1.
Matt 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle
and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.”
2.
Matt 21:5, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey.”
Blessed are those
who hunger and thirst for righteousness…
A.
Words = πεινάω (hunger) – to hunger, be hungry, suffer want, be needy,
to crave ardently, to seek with eager desire. And διψάω (thirst) – to suffer
thirst; to painfully feel their want of and eagerly long for.
B.
Uses of these words
a.
Hunger: Matt 4:2
b.
Thirst: John 4:13–15.
Blessed are the
merciful…
A.
Word = ἐλεήμων; kindness or good will towards the miserable and the
afflicted, joined with a desire to help them.
B.
Uses of the words. Hebrews 2:17–18, “Therefore he had to become like his
brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and
faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement
for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.”
Blessed are the
pure in heart…
A.
Word = καθαρός; free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt, free from
every admixture of what is false, sincere, genuine
B.
Uses of the word. Mattew 23:25–26, ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside
they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the
inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.”
Blessed are the
peacemakers…
A.
Word = εἰρηνοποιός; a compound word made from two common words -- εἰρήνη,
meaning “peace, harmony, concord, reconciliation” and ποιέω, meaning, “to do,
make, provide.”
B.
Uses of the word (only here), but closely related is James 5:17–18, “But
the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield,
full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And
a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.”
Blessed are those
who are persecuted for righteousness…
A.
Word = διώκω; to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away, to run
swiftly in order to catch a person.
B.
Uses of the word.
1.
Matt 5:44, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you…”
2.
John 15:20, “Remember the word that I said to you, Servants are not
greater than their master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you…”
Conclusion/Discussion
– As we share in the communion
A.
Now that you understand these beatitudes better (or were reminded of
their meaning), can you think of specific examples of one or more of beatitudes
demonstrated in the life of Jesus?
1.
Pass the bread and the fruit of the vine as we share with each other.
2.
Luke 6:40, “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is
fully trained will be like his teacher.”
3.
I John calls us to live and love as Jesus did by…
a.
Walking in the light (1:7)
b.
Walking as Jesus did (2:6) – peripateo = to walk around
c.
Purity (3:3)
d.
Love as Jesus loved and commanded us (3:23)
B.
One simple song sums up, for me, what it means practically to be a
follower of Jesus:
To be like Jesus, to
be like Jesus,
All I ask, is to be like him.
All through life’s journey, from birth to glory,
All I ask, is to be like him.
To love like Jesus, to
love like Jesus,
All I ask is to love like him…(“to share,” “to give,”
“to pray,” “to serve,” etc.)
