The Kingdom of God & the Beatitudes by j viser

1.1) The main thing! Becoming Salt and Light , The Beatitudes and the Kingdom of God.

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:01:29 UTC

What Are the Beatitudes?

The short lines we call the Beatitudes are a kind of blueprint for becoming more fully human — a template for inner change and for a new kind of life. As the promised king (or Messiah), Jesus used these one-liners to show what his kind of leadership and his kind of world would look like.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SWrAMmM-EbAGiluu5MWegDWkdBU1-GJfADrwyJWtTD0/edit?usp=sharing

2.1) Makarios: Understanding the Structure and Language of the Beatitudes

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:01:52 UTC

3.1) The Poor and the Kingdom

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:02:07 UTC

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3)

“Poor in spirit:” What’s so great about that?

First, let’s clarify what Jesus does not mean by “poor in spirit.” He is not talking about being small-minded, naive, foolish, a loser, or outdated. Why? Because Jesus himself is anything but that. To be “poor in spirit” does not exclude being a winner in sports, a tough negotiator, a visionary entrepreneur, a passionate researcher, a courageous risk-taker, or a devoted parent who cheers their kids on to excellence.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fk-VTuqedDsiDMih3h93etzcZp3ARh-JsbZKXSDXoUo/edit?usp=sharing

4.1) From Mourning to Comfort

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:02:29 UTC

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4)

Loss, Mourning and Suffering

Mourning—or lamenting—comes in the wake of loss. It is the expression of the pain we feel when something valuable is taken from us. Pain is a universal human experience. Even though we try to avoid it, fix it, numb it, or push it away, it eventually reaches all of us.

continue reading:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_cNyYf6Ogb3JQTeXyzWz3ZpSUz585MImV_sVCkjXEzM/edit?usp=sharing

5.1) The Meek Inherit the Earth

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:02:47 UTC

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5)

Jesus and Meekness

Jesus says that the meek will inherit the earth. But just as “poor in spirit” doesn’t mean being foolish, and mourning isn’t about being gloomy, meekness is not weakness. Jesus himself is meek, yet there is nothing weak about him. His authority doesn’t come through force, threats, or manipulation. Instead, he changes people from the inside out—through truth, grace, and love. His Kingdom operates with the opposite tools of the world: not raw power and lies that crush people, but the inner conviction brought by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8).

continue reading:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dgsnOdpDE3_cjfs5b5AJMd48Xtc7jkcXsMWL2qI7COY/edit?usp=sharing

6.1) Intermezzo - reading: the Cross and the Beatitudes

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:03:04 UTC

Intermezzo: Where is the Cross of Jesus in the Beatitudes?

As we reach the middle of the Beatitudes curve, an important question naturally arises. How are the one-liners of Jesus related to his death on a Roman cross and his resurrection?

If I take a step back and try to think of the crucifixion of Jesus, without the pre-conditioning of christian dogma, it seems at first sight a cynical display of a wasted life.

How can the excruciating torture and bloody death of a young religious teacher mean any good at all to anybody? Let alone, bring any sort of redemption to humanity on a cosmic scale?

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yF_NA7hu18782gCTdqhSpnNwf49w8PQ-Y9RTFz8sqI8/edit?usp=sharing

7.1) Righteousness and Justice

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:03:18 UTC

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness/justice, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6)

The first three Beatitudes deal with humility, grief, and the controlled strength of meekness. Jesus descends into human brokenness and prepares us for transformation from the inside out. Now, at the heart of the Beatitudes, Jesus awakens a deep longing — a hunger and thirst — for justice: for things to be made right again in every sphere of life. This fourth Beatitude is the turning point where inner transformation becomes a passion for a restored world.

continue reading:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uVkU69O-kaVdX3w8t2l9q7KVRfHSvfMazqfO60FHjXA/edit?usp=sharing

8.1) Mercy Multiplies Mercy

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:03:31 UTC

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7)

Blessed are the Merciful

Mercy is the great “reset button.” However deeply the acid of evil has eroded righteousness, mercy finds a way to redeem, restore, and heal with love...

continue reading:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t67XIh1wMFdG4tD5HztlQkHjPX-H_9w88LozWsTsCo0/edit?usp=sharing

9.1) Pure to See God

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:03:45 UTC

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8)

Pure Motivations and Servant Leadership

In order to become a transformational force in this world, the community of Jesus takes the lowest place as a servant of all.

continue reading:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u8GKxGjltDp4eTBbB8qyP3yqjxF-UjYsHSAA6-SDpLo/edit?usp=sharing

10.1) Peacemakers--Sons and Daughters of God

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:04:09 UTC

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons and daughters of God” (Matthew 5:9)

Peacemakers see conflict as an opportunity..!

continue reading:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ncydiFhed0cT47fwbzT8ZCjgZXKevRh7lyakUHQG-ww/edit?usp=sharing

12.1) The City of the Future

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:04:29 UTC

Salt and Light that Transforms

“You are the salt of the earth…
You are the light of the world…
In the same way, let your light shine before others so they may see your good work and recognize the goodness behind it.”
(Matthew 5:13–16, adapted)

The Beatitudes Are About Transformation

Amelia thought the Beatitudes were just a list of rules you have to follow. JP believed they were intense spiritual experiences reserved for deeply religious people. But it’s neither.

Jesus offers a different kind of leadership — one that includes people who would normally never qualify. Those who would be ignored or underestimated by society become key players in this Kingdom. His style is counter-cultural and unexpected — and it’s the way the future world will actually work. It’s sustainable, life-giving leadership for eternity.

Imagining the City of God

The story of the Bible begins in a garden — a world that is beautiful, good, but unfinished. Creation needs development: languages, cultures, cities, technology, arts, communities. Human beings are invited as co-creators to cultivate this potential, caring for creation while expanding it.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oMeBU1-VHUtWNJKmQfBiHImNlGlDZL5gDDT61ZNRQRU/edit?usp=sharing

11.1) Persecution - Seal of the Kingdom Quality

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:05:44 UTC

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)

Humility and Persecution

Suggested Reading: Matthew 24:9-14, Luke 21: 12 - 19

Just as humility and being real about ourselves are the door openers to discipleship with Jesus, persecution is the seal of Kingdom quality on our discipleship...

continue reading:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eWFAjx7kMe40KHT4V80ulWpvol10-sxIIE_PGy--370/edit?usp=sharing

1.2) Amelia: "From Annoyance to Adoration: How the Beatitudes Transformed My Faith"

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:08:51 UTC

"I used to secretly hate the Beatitudes...

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O9yTjr0xWOE7_U1ymkNfa5U3Kh66TWvxHglw9zfw0u0/edit?usp=sharing

1.3) The New Testament's vision on Heaven and Earth - Tom Wright

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:09:12 UTC

N. T. Wright is the Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews, a Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University and the author of over 80 books, including 'The New Testament in Its World'.

One of the central stories of the Bible, many people believe, is that there is a heaven and an earth and that human souls have been exiled from heaven and are serving out time here on earth until they can return. Indeed, for most modern Christians, the idea of “going to heaven when you die” is not simply one belief among others, but the one that seems to give a point to it all.

But the people who believed in that kind of “heaven” when the New Testament was written were not the early Christians. They were the “Middle Platonists” — people like Plutarch (a younger contemporary of St Paul who was a philosopher, biographer, essayist and pagan priest in Delphi). To understand what the first followers of Jesus believed about what happens after death, we need to read the New Testament in its own world — the world of Jewish hope, of Roman imperialism and of Greek thought...

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HQbVUYuJjut3iDoiBaFX410Zo9Zw0bneF9BIQKPWyew/edit?usp=sharing

Source: TIME: https://time.com/5743505/new-testament-heaven/

2.2) JP's mind map as and example.

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:09:36 UTC

Proud Farmers

I look back on my childhood with great fondness. I grew up on an old farm, on a peninsula where my ancestors had been farmers for generations in a small village...

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OUZPqjGofuDcjzUJAESMrcvKGuNzMECp4FVbX8wDbGU/edit?usp=sharing

5.2) JESUS’ THIRD WAY - by Walter Wink

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:10:03 UTC

JESUS’ THIRD WAY

by Walter Wink

The following text is taken from pages 98-111 of The Powers that Be: Theology for a New Millennium, Walter Wink, 1998.

Many otherwise devout Christians simply dismiss Jesus’ teachings about nonviolence out of hand as impractical idealism. And with good reason. “Turn the other cheek” has come to imply a passive, doormat-like quality that has made the Christian way seem cowardly and complicit in the face of injustice. “Resist not evil” seems to break the back of all opposition to evil and to counsel submission. “Going the second mile” has become a platitude meaning nothing more than “extend yourself” and appears to encourage collaboration with the oppressor. Jesus’ teaching, viewed this way, is impractical, masochistic, and even suicidal—an invitation to bullies and spouse-batterers to wipe up the floor with their supine Christian victims.

Jesus never displayed that kind of passivity...

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wBB7l3htKk0TiUJ7XbwJ4bb5QSy4oawqJIyupxCavhs/edit?usp=sharing

Cassius Soares responded to Walter Wink's article, making some important nuances...

"...I am familiar with Walter Wink and affirm his presentation of Jesus’ teaching on non-violent resistance in the Beatitudes.

I am also familiar with Augustine’s ‘just war’ theory and I feel what Walter Wink says in this article misunderstands and misrepresents Augustine....

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dSbg_TT7JTMqkj0s2CIESNsA1bI1hO70sHV2vw3LINM/edit?usp=sharing

8.2) From compassion to mercy.

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:17:55 UTC

Defining and Understanding the Meaning of Mercy

Mercy is the compassionate treatment of those in distress. It is the fruit of compassion, and it is a noun in action.

10.2) Who won the Peace in Europe?

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:18:27 UTC

Who on the Peace?

Jeff Fountain

Europe at the end of the Second World War was a mess.

We have all seen the pictures of Allied soldiers being met by flag-waving crowds as they drove through the liberated towns of France, Belgium and the Netherlands, giving out chocolate and kissing the girls. Yet these euphoric scenes quickly gave way to the daunting reality of rebuilding a devastated and divided Europe.

Yes, we all know who won the war. But who won the peace?

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HF8HBcYWhQqpY2u_lSSjZpmtyBiEnmCZgTsBGhcAaDo/edit?usp=sharing

11.2) Blood of the Martyrs, Seed of the Church??

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:18:45 UTC

Is the Blood of the Martyrs Really the Seed of the Church?

By Glenn 🤬

One of the most beautiful songs I have heard in recent years is Steve Green’s song “The Faithful”, which he dedicated to the persecuted Church. The first time I heard it, a tingle went up my spine and I confess that I still am touched by it whenever I view the music video that The Voice of the Martyrs produced together with Steve in 1998. The chorus of the song concludes with the familiar words, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

Some have mistakenly believed that these words can be found in the New Testament.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B_HrCOK5HFsFayniB8wOweC22yGznv9-6v3Zl-RLlW4/edit?usp=sharing

From: https://www.vomcanada.com/download/seed.pdf

Care for Creation - the 4th quadrant

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:19:16 UTC

Summary: Most pastors, evangelists and missionaries have been trained to share about Jesus’s atoning sacrifice on the cross, the cleansing of every believer from their sin, and the imputed righteousness of Christ on the believer. But what about the transformational work of the Holy Spirit on all aspects of life? Shouldn’t a whole gospel message include a green gospel that leads to a believer’s changed relationship with God’s creation?

By Erik Hyatt

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11qBtuSh2xJhCXEGadLMM_u1zyc9WnCb0GxVz0MPjIv8/edit?usp=sharing

2.4) Four relational dimensions

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:21:17 UTC

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GqrSGW6n7GYoDMsdWQf0Ya-0qODI4AgQty21Tb7IH4g/edit?usp=drive_web&authuser=0

3.2) A different look at poverty: we're all poor!

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:21:30 UTC

Go to settings for subtitles in english. You can also slow the speed.

3.3) Interesting to learn about humility from a Muslim teacher!

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:21:45 UTC

4.3) Toni reaching out to migrants

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:22:11 UTC

I have made it a point to visit the migrants. Wherever they may be, I try to go to them where they are at, focus on them for that moment, and bring with me the care & concern that I know our Father has for each one of them individually. Sometimes, this takes me to far-off towns, and into the countryside- places lost or forgotten by the majority. I try to show-up for them in their lonely settings and bring friendship and encouragement. Many times, all I need to do is to sit and listen to the guys talk.

Their stories overflow with anxiousness, fear, doubt, stress, and hopelessness. In the midst of trying to cope with the present, they still haven’t been able to process the horrors they witnessed and/or personally endured during their trip across the continent of Africa, thru the deadly desert, in the midst of the treacherous Libya, and upon the terrifying Mediterranean Sea. Often, two listening ears are all they need to decompress, feel validated, experience love and care, and unpack a bit of the heaviness they carry around with them daily. Joining them in this way, I have seen their countenances lift, their eyes twinkle with joy again, and smiles glow anew upon their faces.

One boy from Guinea said to me, “I can’t believe you would come all this way just to see me… This means more to me than I can ever express…”

Another guy from Senegal said, “In my nation, we have an old proverb that says: ‘The One who goes the distance for you, is the One who is greater.’ By taking your time and going the distance for me, I see the greatness you carry.”
And that greatness is the agape love of Jesus Christ! He is the Greatest!

5.4) 'I was prepared to die': Nun protects protesters in Myanmar's 'Tiananmen moment'

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:22:25 UTC

During the recent protests in Myanmar, this courageous sister took a stand that is humble and courageous. Do you see the 'Christ-figure' in her?

5.6) Anger: It's All in How You Think

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:22:39 UTC

Read the article from Prison fellowship to better understand anger and how to channel it. Try to be as concrete and honest with yourself as possible to 'listen' to your anger and take responsibility for your emotions.

5.7) The Power Of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Anger

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:22:56 UTC

You may also want to read about the struggle that Martin Luther King had with his anger, to channel it positively.

5.8) Story on the Power of Meekness

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:23:08 UTC

"...As we listened, I was preparing an argument or defense against each accusation...!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17AElaVN_TPHXm7zPNyntj3FpusxqxdOfVDlT-cea7SU/edit?usp=sharing

6.2) The Cross - N T Wright

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:23:25 UTC

There are many metaphors in the New Testament that give away some aspect of how the death of Jesus affects our relationship with God, ourselves, our neighbor and creation. Tom Wright takes a step back to help us see how the Cross fits in the big picture of the biblical narrative, and especially in understanding the dynamics of the Kingdom of God and the Beatitudes. This might be quite challenging to our traditional way of understanding the Cross - enjoy!
(Start the video at minute 5)

7.3) Bible project on Justice and Righteousness

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:23:37 UTC

7.5) Justice and Care for Creation

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:24:04 UTC

We humans live in four relational dimensions in which justice plays a crucial role: with God, with ourselves, with other people and with creation. Learn how justice is at the heart of the Beatitudes by reading one of the case studies below, or watch the TEDX talk or the video. When it comes to hungering and thirsting for righteousness and justice, you will see that all 4 dimensions are interlinked. Often we don't think about the justice issue pertaining to Care for Creation and Reaching the people who never heard about Jesus...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpjL_otLq6Y

7.6) Another example of Righteousness and Justice in 4 dimensions

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:24:22 UTC

7.7) Justice in Girl's Education.

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:24:33 UTC

My name is Samantha and I am from America! I work long term in the eastern hills of Nepal! Here we have the privilege of working with many kids from ages 4-16. We do ministry in a pretty developed city but also do many short term trips to villages in the mountains 1-3 days hike away.

The city where we live has many schools where children from all over the region are sent for a quality education. However we have noticed a great inequality between the boys who are sent for education and the girls. Many more boys are sent to school then girls because boys will take care of their family and their parents in the future and need a good job to provide. Girls will simply be married off to another family to do house work and therefore don’t need to be educated. This worldview comes from the major religion in Nepal, Hinduism. Hinduism views men at the top of the hierarchy and women classified just above animals. Because of this world view, we see a large gap between men and women in society. A gap of not just education but social standing, means to be independent, and ability to travel overseas.

This is an incredible injustice, not just in Nepal but all over the world. Many organizations in Nepal and world wide are working relentlessly to address this inequality. And we hope and pray that someday soon girls will be treated just as valuably as boys.

8.3) Father Damian and Mother Marian

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:24:44 UTC

Be challenged by Father Damian and Mother Marian's mercy, courage and sacrifice...

8.4) Two Stories of Redemptive Mercy.

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:24:52 UTC

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14i5-ysUtl83hFXtprIWmABUS4lsA37Zd_Mr81ErSP9s/edit

10.3) Eirene/Shalom word study

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:25:02 UTC

Peace Word Study from Bible Project.

10.4) Peacemakers: The Imam and the Pastor

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:25:11 UTC

Peacemaking requires to take all the steps of the beatitudes that come before. Watch this example of the imam and the pastor.

10.5) Contemporary Peacemaker

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:25:22 UTC

On what levels do you see in Francis Collins a peacemaker?

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:25:37 UTC

How does the Spirit of God inspire your imagination for the coming renewed heaven-earth? Enjoy this world famous painting from 600 years ago, still loaded with meaning and glorious beauty...

1.5) Reflection - what is your emotional response to the Beatitudes?

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:28:39 UTC

Describe what comes to your mind or what you feel when you think about the Beatitudes today (or in the past, if it has changed over time). What seems or feels shocking or annoying to you about them?
Please keep answers fairly short in Padle, (+/- 20 words) if you want to write longer answers please use the whatsapp group)

1.6) Read and Imagine the Scene: Jesus Teaches the Beatitudes

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:28:49 UTC

1) Read Matthew 4:23-5:16. Read the section several times, maybe aloud or together with friends.
2) Try to imagine the scene: the mountainside, the crowds and Jesus's disciples gathered there, Jesus sitting down to talk with his friends. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you "enter in" to the scene, or to give you fresh eyes and ears to see, hear, and experience the story in a new way. Imagine you never heard about or met Jesus, all this was new and strange...
3) Respond to the story. You can: draw a picture of the scene, write a description of what you imagined when you read the passage (what does the mountain look like? What is the atmosphere?), tell a friend about your impressions of the passage, journal about what Holy Spirit highlighted or revealed to you, etc. For some, it might be helpful to read the text again and imagine yourself in the scene. Are you sitting in the crowd, trying to hear what Jesus is saying? Are you one of the disciples, listening eagerly and then repeating what you heard, to people in the crowds?

2.5) Exercise Family Mind Map

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:29:08 UTC

The family, in whatever form or shape, is the microcosm in which we learn all the basics of life -- identity, relationships, authority and leadership, negotiation and conflict resolution, sexuality and healthy boundaries, handling money and stewardship, worldview and religion, recreation and much more. So obviously family life is very much a place for discipleship.

The family we are born into, however caring and safe it might have been, is affected also by human mistakes, sin, cultural flaws. Families can be a place of loneliness, suffering and rejection.

The good news of the gospel is that we can cherish the positive wholesome things of our upbringing whilst we don't need to remain victims of past hurt, bound by injustice or rejection done to us. The Beatitudes outline the 'Jesus way' to respond to our past, a way to healing and to becoming a healing person to others.

In this assignment throughout the course, you make the relationship dynamics in your birth family visible, by drawing a 'mind map' with circles, lines and colors etc. (be creative!) The idea is to create a mental image of how relationships worked in your family. Whom were you close to? Where was conflict? Which relationships were nourishing, and which ones were 'cold'? How did you respond to rejection, were you a 'fighter' or did you withdraw? You may want to decide on a certain age range, eg. 10 - 12.

With every Beatitude we will stop for a moment and try to think/feel/pray how it speaks to the family we grew up in. But this exercise is really personal, so some of you may want to share with others in the group but others will want to keep this to yourself, which is completely OK!!

If you find that this Family Mind Map exercise opens up areas in your life that need pastoral care you may consider talking this over with someone you trust in your community, or feel free to ask for help of the facilitator in your small group.

3.4) Discussion topic: Jesus poor in spirit

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:29:44 UTC

How was Jesus "poor in spirit"?

Please think of your own examples from Scripture about how Jesus came as a '"learner" and a "listener." Where do you discern Jesus' humility?

3.5) Reflection: Superiority and Inferiority

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:29:53 UTC

What signs/symbols/language/attitudes of superiority or inferiority does my culture show? My religion? My ethnic group? My profession? Education?

Religion, culture and our devotion to Jesus theoretically could all be rolled into one. But in reality, religions are man made and embedded in cultures tainted by the dark side of human evil. Although religions can have beautiful rituals and traditions that are redeemable, they can never save mankind or save me as a person, in the sense of making us whole, bringing about our full potential--that only happens through knowing and obeying and becoming like Jesus. For this reason, it is important to be aware of the dark side of our religion and culture and let the words of Jesus continually challenge, purify and transform us.

Write a prayer for revelation from God’s Spirit to open your spiritual eyes to the blind spots you have about your religion and culture. Spend some time reflecting, alone or with a trusted friend, about the reflection questions written above.

3.6) Personal reflection - re-visit the family mind map with 'blessed are the poor...'

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:30:10 UTC

In what ways did your family teach humility? Who would you say taught you most about humility, can you think of specific moments that a family member demonstrated transparent authenticity about himself/herself?
There is good pride (in a job well done, being a respected family) and there is bad pride in which we compare ourselves to others to feel better about ourselves, it is really a form of inferiority we try to compensate for. Can you think of examples for both?

4.4) In what way did Jesus come as a 'mourning person'?

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:30:28 UTC

Think of your own examples in the Gospels of when and how Jesus mourned, grieved or lamented. (When seeing the crowds, the view of the city of Jerusalem, the unbelief of his people, at the death of his friend Lazarus, in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross) How did mourning play a crucial role in his mission if you think of lamenting and mourning as a way of connecting with people in their pain?

4.5) Reflection: Re-visit the Family "Mind Map" with 'mourning...' in mind.

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:30:39 UTC

How did your family process pain? Were you able to share pain?
How has your upbringing influenced your basic outlook on life, concerning pain?
How did your family respond to loss of any kind e.g. losing jobs or health?
Were you as a family involved in reaching out to people in need in the community?
Can you describe a typical memory of loss or fear of losing something precious? How would you formulate an adult response to that now?
Do you remember specific moments when comfort was flowing thru you to other people?

5.9) Reflection: Re-visit the Family "Mind Map" with 'meekness...' in mind

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:30:56 UTC

Ask yourself some questions about anger.
We can be very creative in dressing over our anger. Ask yourself the question: How does my anger manifest? Competitiveness, rage, self destructiveness, gossip, self degradation, jealousy etc..
What injustice or pain is it rooted in?
Revisit the family mind map and try to understand how you have learnt to deal with anger in your family setting. How was anger expressed in your family? Was it in the form of a response or reaction?
Do you harbour anger in however mild form, towards people you don't know personally - other race, gender, denomination, nationality, or...??
Try to formulate a prayer (even write it down) that gives recognition to your anger and helps you formulate a response.

7.8) Does my society treat every person equally?

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:31:07 UTC

Does my society treat every person equally? Men/women? blue collar/white collar? Native/foreigner? etc?
Numbers 15:15 The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the LORD: 16 The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing among you.

Compare also with:
Deuteronomy 10:19 Therefore love the foreigner; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 23:7 Do not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. Do not abhor an Egyptian, because you lived as an alien in his country.
Deuteronomy 24:14 You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he be of your brothers, or of your foreigners who are in your land within your gates
Deuteronomy 24:17-22 Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. 18 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this. 19 When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. 21 When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. 22 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.
Deuteronomy 27:19 "Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

7.9) Assignment: Pass it On

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:31:18 UTC

What from the teachings this week "stuck in your heart/mind"? Is there someone you can think of that you can share this with? This coming week, think and pray about someone who would be blessed by what God has been speaking to you about this week. Share with that person, and, if you like, journal or tell a friend or your small group about how it went.

7.10) Hungering and thirsting for Justice

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:31:29 UTC

Assignment in pairs:
Present the case of one group of vulnerable people, possibly from your nation, in 5 minutes to the class, as you 'hunger and thirst for justice' for them. Have a look at International Justice Mission for examples. Use google slides to share your presentation.

7.11) Reflection: Re-visit the Family "Mind Map" with 'justice and righteousness' in mind

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:31:39 UTC

Was it possible to discuss injustices in your family? What kind of leadership did you experience as you grew up? (eg. supporting, authoritarian, manipulative, confident but strict, absent, ...)
How did the leadership style influence issues of justice - equal treatment keeping age difference in mind, gender equality, taking care of the environment, responsible citizenship, honesty...
Was leadership mostly imposed by 'rules' or was there an appeal to your intrinsic motivation (according to your age?) Another way to ask this question is whether your family taught you to live by the 'law' or to depend on the Spirit for making choices?

8.5) Jesus and Mercy

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:31:55 UTC

Mercy is written all over Jesus' life, which examples speak the most to you? How merciful are you for others, especially those whom you don't have a natural liking for - personalities, gender, ethnicity...? Are you merciful for yourself?
Jesus had a particular problem with religious people who were not merciful, why would that be you think?

8.6) Reflection: Re-visit the Family "Mind Map" with 'mercy' in mind.

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:32:05 UTC

When we have suffered injustice - mean or harsh words, unjust treatment, neglect, rejection or abuse - we are invited to a process of forgiveness, of letting go and healing. Depending on the severity of the injustice that process may vary from 'shrugging it off' if it was just a small thing to a 'steep uphill climb' against despair, loneliness and bitter pain. Forgiveness happens at the cross, where we look at Jesus identifying with us as well as with those who hurt us.
The power of forgiveness and letting-go, allowing Jesus to take the injustice on himself, gives us new hope and freedom, that is healing.
You can write a prayer of forgiveness or share with someone that you do this together with if you need support.
Conversely this can be the right time to ask forgiveness for wrongs (even small ones) that you did to others. Here also it can be very helpful to do this with a 'witness' who just listens and assures you of Jesus' forgiveness.

8.7) Assignment: Pas it On

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:32:16 UTC

9.3) Servant Leadership Discussion

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:32:29 UTC

Read the definition of servant leadership given below. Think about positive examples of servant leadership that you have experienced in your life (we may discuss this together as a group). How do these examples inspire your leadership style?

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy in which the goal of the leader is to serve. This is different from traditional leadership where the leader's main focus is the thriving of their company or organization. A servant leader shares power, puts the needs of the employees first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. Instead of the people working to serve the leader, the leader exists to serve the people. As stated by its founder, Robert K. Greenleaf, a Servant Leader should be focused on, "Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants?"

When leaders shift their mindset and serve first, they benefit as well as their employees in that their employees acquire personal growth, while the organization grows as well due to the employees growing commitment and engagement. Since this leadership style came about, a number of different organizations have adopted this style as their way of leadership. (Youth With A Mission value 11 https://www.ywambridges.com/ywam-foundational-values)

According to a 2002 study done by Sen Sendjaya and James C Sarros, servant leadership is being practiced in some of the top-ranking companies, and these companies are highly ranked because of their leadership style and following. Further research also confirms that servant leaders lead others to go beyond the call of duty. ^{source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servant_leadership}

9.4) Reflection: What are my Motives?

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:32:40 UTC

Take time to reflect and pray about the following questions. (You can do "reflection" through: writing a journal, talking it over with a friend or mentor, drawing your thoughts on the topic, or any other way that helps you process thoughts and engage the Holy Spirit in prayer and reflection.)

You might choose to answer only one or two questions, or you might want to answer all of them. Look at different aspects of your life -- work, relationships, study, house chores, other aspects of daily life--and reflect on the following questions:

1) What is the explicit (obvious) reason for doing what I'm doing? Are there any implicit (deeper, hidden) reasons or motivations for doing what I'm doing?
2) What do I expect of myself when it comes to the activity? What do I expect of others?
3) What do I hope to gain from the activity?
4) When did I last feel disappointed, frustrated or angry with someone? What was the reason for my anger?
5) What will I lose if I were to fail in the activity, or to accomplish a result that is less than what I'm hoping for?

9.5) Reflection: Questions on Motivation for Missions.

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:32:53 UTC

Sadly but not surprisingly, missions history shows that missionaries are not exempt from having hidden motivations. To try to evaluate whether you have any hidden or impure motivations, some helpful penetrating questions to ask are:

• What am I trying to prove to myself or others by going into missions?

• What do I expect in return from people I reach out to with the Good News? (Respect, reverence, reward, revival, recognition, etc.?)

• Am I looking for something to give me status, or a sense of self worth? Do I want to prove myself worthy to God?

• Do I want to control the outcome of my serving, making disciples “after my own image”--my culture, my religious tastes and theology, etc. or is my way of influencing people such that it makes them more free to choose?

9.6) Reflection: Re-visit the Family "Mind Map" with 'pure heart' considerations

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:33:06 UTC

Can you think back to a moment when you did something for another person that was 'pure' and unselfish?
In your family, what did you learn about serving others? Were there times when you felt that your motivation was cast doubt on or judged? How did you learn to think the best of people or were you rather taught to distrust certain people and their motives?

9.7) Assignment: Pass it on

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:33:16 UTC

10.6) Question for Discussion

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:33:29 UTC

How is it that Jesus can give his peace to his disciples but at the same time he says that he has not come to bring peace but the sword in the world? How can he say to Peter: "Put your sword away, because those who draw the sword will perish by the sword", but when he sends the disciples he tells them to sell their coat in order to buy a sword... how to explain this paradox?
Math 10: 34, Luke 22:36, John 14: 27and other scriptures)

10.7) Resource: The Slippery Slope of Conflict

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:33:39 UTC

Attached is a drawing of the slippery slope of managing conflict, that we can fall off from on either side. This is from the website Relational Wisdom 360: https://rw360.org/slippery-slope/

The image outlines two basic ways people tend to respond to conflict--attack or escape. Ultimately attack can lead to destroying another person and escape can lead to sabotaging ourselves.

Have a look for yourself to see which is your ‘danger’ side. If you'd like, check out the website for further description of the image.

10.8) Reflection: Re-visit the Family "Mind Map" within the context of making peace in the family

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:33:51 UTC

What kind of conflicts ran through your family? How did you learn to deal with conflict?
With the Beatitudes in mind, how would you like to deal differently with conflict? St Paul tells us to be at peace with all men and women, as far as possible. Are there still relationships in your family that could be pacified?

If there are people in your life that you decided to forgive or ask forgiveness from, sometimes the Lord will ask you to take steps in restoring the relationship, as far as it depends on you. It is probably wise before you write a letter to someone, drop an email or pick up the phone, to 'practice' with a trusted friend. That wisdom might help avoid making new mistakes in the relationship.

11.3) persecution proof

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:34:00 UTC

How can we prepare for being persecuted? Remember that Jesus was mocked by his brothers, betrayed by his closest friends and killed by religious people. Often persecution comes out of an unexpected corner, like from fellow Christians - how prepared are we?
How can we 'celebrate' persecution, without being self-righteous?

How do we reconcile 'moving towards people' as peacemakers, whilst at the same time 'celebrating' persecution as the works of darkness are being exposed?

11.4) Reflection: Re-visit the family mind-map - persecution

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:34:10 UTC

Did your family ever experience persecution, if so, what was it for? In what form or shape did it happen? How did you learn to pick your battles, to make sure you were persecuted for doing the right thing? How are the Beatitudes helpful?
Do you remember instances where you learned to stand up for what you believe is right? How did that work out? How did that affect the relationship with the 'persecutor'?

11.5) Assignment: Pass it on.

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:36:15 UTC

12.3) Your Beatitudes-based Testimony

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:36:52 UTC

Share in 4 minutes (or 1/2 A4 page) how you came to be a follower of Jesus, using the Beatitudes as framework.
Ready??

12.4) What does the Spirit say to you?

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:37:04 UTC

Having worked through the Beatitudes - please take moment to quiet yourself, to listen to what the Holy Spirit says in your head/heart/inner being. Accept the 'Welcome' into the Kingdom that he extends to you...

12.5) Imagining the Heavenly City

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:37:14 UTC

Make together a visual representation of an imagined heavenly city. Use clip art, images you Googled, your own drawings, mind maps, photos, etc.
Keep in mind that the city has to be sustainable/eternal, it will reflect God’s character, be intensely human and interesting… You can add elements throughout the week as you continue to dream and brainstorm!

Reflection: How are your choices today directing towards that city?

12.6) Case study

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:37:25 UTC

Wwooowww!!! I did it!

I just finished my first week at the new job, it was hectic and I’m exhausted. But I feel totally fulfilled and challenged. I was excepted to teach a class of 7 and 8 year olds in a Don Bosco elementary school in a neighbouring city.
As I throw my bag in a corner and I fetch myself a coke, I drop half dead on my newly bought couch and put my feet up on the table. As I start to relax a bit my mind pours over all the new impressions and experiences of this first week.

Don Bosco is a medium size school in an older but not unfriendly neighbourhood. I have 12 colleagues, some of them seem very kind and open to receive me on board of the team, with smiles and words of welcome. One teacher showed genuine interest in me as a person, showed me around the school – I felt that I had met a friend.
Others just looked up from their newspaper during coffee break, their eyes seemed to measure me up, somewhat disinterested if not cold. I wonder why - had they seen too many young colleagues come and go in recent years? They seemed to not want to bond to me, may be they didn’t want to be disappointed in yet another enthusiastic young teacher. Their tired drooping shoulders said: “You do not know what this place is like and what it does to you…”

I have 24 kids in my class, and the first day as I walked in, all the boys were in a big ball on the floor fighting over some toy. They are quite wild, and some of them plainly out of control. One boy is hyper-active and in the whole first week I have not seen him sit down and listen for more than 3 minutes at a time. He wears me out, I wonder how his parents cope with him, I noticed that he was at school very early and stayed as one of the last ones to be picked up from the childcare after school.
The girls are great fun, they look at me and invariably find something to giggle about, they are less wild but not less naughty all the same.

The director of the school seems very nice but I do get the feel that he does not have a lot of authority, that his leadership isn’t much respected, and I wonder why. I overheard some of the teachers talk about him and openly criticize his decisions. He seems nervous around people and almost apologetic for being the director.

This first week I also met some very interesting characters from the neighbourhood in which Don Bosco is located..

I met one of the parents of my children, who drove up to the busy school gate with a fancy Mercedes with driver. He just rolled the window down as his son got out of the car, and didn’t think he needed to introduce himself. ‘So you’re Nick’s new teacher’, he said with an air as if I was his new employee. ‘I want him to have more homework than with that last one, who was worthless as a teacher’, he said and ordered his chauffeur to drive on.

The director who saw me talking explained me how this man has a doubtful reputation, he owns a lot of the property in the neighbourhood, apartments of poor families that he doesn’t keep up well. However the director wants to remain friends with Nick’s father as the school depends on his generous annual gift to make ends in the budget meet. It means walking the tightrope as Nicks father is now also in the school board and seems to have a final say in just about every matter.

I was really touched as one momma came to see me, she looked extremely tired and discouraged. She explained how she is unable to pay the school bills for her daughter Kelly, due to the fact that Kelly’s father isn’t paying the alimentation money after their divorce last year. She told me how she is very depressed and is afraid that she’s not much of a mother for Kelly, who seems to suffer quietly. Kelly seems to work hard in school, may be to earn her Dad’s approval?

The neighbourhood seems to be quite run down, built at the beginning of last century, most houses are in need of renovation. Some areas are outright filthy, people have dumped old furniture and mattresses in some open spaces and some houses are empty and dilapidated with trees growing through the roofs.
I heard from other teachers that there are quite a few families with both parents on welfare. The large car assembly plant that went bust some years ago, causing many to loose their jobs, has not yet been replaced with other economic activity. The only places that seem to flourish are the pubs downtown and several nightclubs.

I noticed riding my bike home that on the main square lots of teens are hanging out, probably causing a lot of problems for the shops. It wouldn’t surprise me if they do a a fair bit of drugs and skip school regularly.
Many of the teens seem to be from immigrant background, In my class I have several Turkish and Moroccan kids. I read in the newspaper that recently there have been clashes between different groups of Moroccan and Turkish youth, and later, as the police tried to intervene they turned together against the police, so the police had to quickly retreat. Sounds to me like there are some deep feelings of resentment and alienation between these groups and the authorities.

As I asked one of my colleagues about church in the neighbourhood, he said that recently two parishes were closed. He did seem to know about a small charismatic chruch he heard that they were a bit strange – they sing in tongues and do spooky stuff like healings through laying on of hands – but he promised to introduce me to one of the families who go there.

As I ponder all these things an overwhelming feeling of thankfulness floods me, this is the place where God has called me, where he wants me to lay down my life…
On the other hand I realize how small I am, and how little my life and contribution can be…

If you were me…
Can you write a ‘prayer strategy’ for the Kingdom of God to come in this neighbourhood?
What key relationships should you develop/ invest in ?
What situations do you discern where the beatitudes apply? Give practical ideas how you could apply them.
What kind of resistance/persecution should Christians in this neighbourhood be prepared to meet ?

Key Take Aways from Beatitudes Course

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:50:31 UTC

JP's introduction

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:53:45 UTC

“To pass from estrangement from God to be a son/daughter of God is the basic fact of conversion. That altered relationship with God, gives you an altered relationship with yourself, with your brother man, with nature, with the universe.”

E. Stanley Jones

JP is married to Heddy, both are Dutch but lived for the past 40 years in Belgium. JP grew up in a stable Christian home but struggled with Christianity as a religion.

When his YWAM team leader lent him "The Christ on the Mount" by E Stanley Jones, the famous missionary to India, JP found the inspiration for a lifelong quest to follow Jesus -- as a father, grandfather and husband, as a world-citizen, as pastor to migrants, as a leader and colleague, as hobby gardener ...

Over the past 40 years I have become convinced that although this part of the Scriptures, the sermon on the mount and the Beatitudes, is somewhat neglected in certain pockets of the church, it gives me the keys for robust missional discipleship for the 21st century. I believe, if we ‘get’ the Beatitudes, we can enter into the mission of Jesus in our world.

The most challenging part of the beatitudes for me is to actually try to live them out in every relationship in which I play my role.

0.2) Introduce yourself!

janpdevisser — 2023-08-18 14:55:41 UTC

Welcome to the class! We'd love to get to know you better. Please reply to this assignment with a few lines to introduce yourself! Thanks!

1.4 the big story of the New Humanity

janpdevisser — 2023-10-03 05:05:15 UTC

For subtitles in English click on the settings wheel

Dive in deeper!

janpdevisser — 2024-08-07 11:30:27 UTC

Here is a list in the making of resources for further study into the Beatitudes and some of the themes and topics we’ve covered in class:

Mike Beaumont: The One Stop Guide to Jesus

ISBN 978 0 7459 5361 8

The Bible Project series: 'The Sermon on the Mount'

https://bibleproject.com/playlists/

Loren Cunningham, The Book that Transforms Nations

Skye Jethani, Futureville

E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O’Brien, Misreading Scripture With Western Eyes

N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope

Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert When Helping Hurts, how to alleviate poverty without hurting the poor or yourself.

E Stanley Jones: Christ of the Mount

Jeff Fountain, A Spiritual Uprising, How truth, Faith and Hope overcame Lies and Oppression to topple Communism.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YeX8-TvUPWz4hh_UVsrJphIoHasrr6-d/view?usp=sharing

N T Wright Jesus at the Crossroads of History. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Teg6KkcpDNU

Pope Francis: encyclical Fratelli Tutti http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html

Podcast on Forgiveness with Robert Enright, founder of Forgiveness Therapy https://guardiansoftheflame.podbean.com/e/bob-enright/?fbclid=IwAR3czq7R6e3uPRtqPNGx0V0hZUrE7o1jlYobSj5dueHEY9UMxzopONaw-9Y

Bailey, Kenneth E; 2008, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes; cultural studies in the

gospels, USA, IVP Academic; p.76-81.

Why ‘Rapture Idea’ is not biblical:

https://ntwrightpage.com/2016/07/12/farewell-to-the-rapture/

Beatitudes, Kingdom of God and the Cross - how do they relate? This short video is helpful: https://youtu.be/tQ1VCDFEkkk?si=NCvWPzDAIk4I6feP

If you want to study deeper about ‘retributive/punishment’ justice and ‘restorative’ justice, this is a good article:

https://peacetheology.net/pacifism/biblical-bases-for-restorative-justice/

https://vimeo.com/64266830 This video helps understand how the Kingdom of God can be established in a diversity of cultural and socio-religious settings, redeeming some things, replacing other things, as well as creating new expressions of following Jesus.

https://www.facebook.com/ourtreesourfutureuganda/ planting trees is connected to climate, to justice, to communities, to sharing about Jesus, to health issues and medicine, to just about everything…!!

Meekness - practical article.

https://www.regent.edu/journal/inner-resources-for-leaders/spiritual-meekness-a-virtue-for-christian-leaders

2.3) Beatitudes viewed as a process or a journey.

janpdevisser — 2024-09-18 10:36:47 UTC

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1TPdqtB3A6slLAziYhxu5-SPijZfPzgOSkfn9xwnOgJY/edit?usp=sharing

4.2) Mark Vroegop: Reclaiming the power of lament.

janpdevisser — 2024-10-01 07:14:34 UTC

clip explaining why 'Blessed are those who mourn/lament' is foundational in transformational discipleship

Beatitudes and the Cross

janpdevisser — 2024-10-18 19:53:26 UTC

9.2) Joab's Hidden Agenda

janpdevisser — 2024-10-26 05:12:27 UTC

One of JP’s favorite childhood heroes from the Old Testament was Joab. He could easily imagine this nephew of King David--a courageous leader of the rag tag outfit who joined David in the desert. They were hurting and bitter, with a criminal record and carrying debts. In all the main stories that Joab features in, he seems at first sight committed to his King through thick and thin. But if one studies these stories a little deeper we see a very different and dangerous character emerge.

If you want to really see the dark side of a hidden agenda, study the life of Joab. In every story Joab is involved in, he has a hidden agenda. At every turn when his hidden agenda is frustrated somebody ends up dying. His true loyalty is not to David, David’s family, or his kingdom. The reason for him to be close to the king is to be close to the centre of power. Every time that sole purpose of Joab is thwarted, the person who stands in the way gets killed!
David makes his successor promise that Joab may not be allowed to die in peace... Apparently it is possible to be around the King all of your life but never be truly part of his Kingship!

For a quick synopsis of Joab's life (including an enlightening thought from Flavius Josephus!) have a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joab#:~:text=is%5D%20father'.-,Biblical%20narrative,15%3B%2027%3A34)
It contains all the key scripture verses as well.

When you teach the Beatitudes in a context of missions

janpdevisser — 2025-02-04 07:35:31 UTC

What is the meaning for first hearers?
Shockeffect? Upside down? Counter cultural? Counter intuïtive?
What does this say about kingdom of God?
How does Jesus model it?
Where is this supported in the bible?
How important in missions?
How bring transformation in 4 quadrants?
Personal and other examples?

How does this question/critique my culture? My host-culture?? Affirm my host culture?

You Tube video links to teaching of the Beatitudes by JP, Jeannette, David and Tove.

janpdevisser — 2025-02-19 10:00:46 UTC

We recorded a whole Beatitudes course online, with different people introducing the different Beatitudes. Each person shares what is special about a particular Beatitude to him/her, so you don't need to stick religiously to these examples :))

For subtitles in different languages: click subtitles => settings=> auto translate => language

JP: Introduction 1 to the Beatitudes https://youtu.be/dZ_QSfWtds0

JP: Introduction 2 to the Beatitudes https://youtu.be/F2Ny-w2t5Jg

JP: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven https://youtu.be/C2kstBwglr0

David: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted https://youtu.be/5n462i8Tmtshttps://youtu.be/5n462i8Tmts

JP: Where is the cross in the Beatitudes? https://youtu.be/O663NCnoMgc

Jeannette: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied

https://youtu.be/dNrw1h9flrQ

David Ruiter: Blessed are the Merciful, for they will receive mercy https://youtu.be/RlZtYTKDo_Q

JP: Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God https://youtu.be/5kw3AFDsziU

Tove: Blessed are the Peacemakers, they will be called sons of God

https://youtu.be/7n5FCoaZMi4

JP: Blessed are the persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.

https://youtu.be/kVs4T7NJYfc

JP: Salt and Light, and the future City of God https://youtu.be/4WFSMpcEF7k

JP: A quick overview of the Beatitudes & main take-aways https://youtu.be/UwfID_CQyyE

5.3) Bishop Tutu and Dr. King : Can Nonviolence Achieve Justice in South Africa?

janpdevisser — 2025-08-11 05:27:00 UTC

By DONALD E. MILLER

JAN. 21, 1986

As an undergraduate in the mid-1960s I listened to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak to a packed auditorium of students at the University of Southern California. Today I will have the privilege of introducing on the same campus his spiritual successor, Bishop Desmond M. Tutu.

This opportunity has set me to thinking about these two men, about the parallels in their struggle and the differences...

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kxX-FGfD8dz0tMsdOFy9Jsc4EirUdNuZeoV9LhHlYqk/edit?usp=sharing

For discussion: How do MLK and Bishop Tutu both demonstrate the power of meekness in spite of their different view on non-violent resistance? How do you feel about using violence to break up an evil suppression like the Apartheid system?

7.2) Bible study on the nature of righteousness/justice - Jeanette Gaitou

janpdevisser — 2025-08-11 05:40:17 UTC

Bible study on the nature of righteousness/justice

(Jeannette Gaitou: After: Bailey, Kenneth E; 2008, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes; cultural studies in the gospels, USA, IVP Academic; p.76-81.)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness

for they will be filled

(Matthew 5:6, NIV)

"...Every relationship makes claims on conduct and the satisfaction of these claims, which issue from the relationship and in which alone the relationship can persist, is described by the terms sĕdāqâ and dikaiosyne..."

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t7etyPbV-YTcIqav6ANJ-Cz3a_y18SKskhsKWZFtp0Y/edit?usp=sharing

Beatitudes throughout the ages...

janpdevisser — 2025-12-11 09:34:17 UTC