Who are you, truly? What does your heart crave, deep down?

In the sixth beatitude, Jesus declares that the pure in heart are blessed—because they will see God. But what does purity of heart look like? And how do those of us painfully aware of the sin in our lives cultivate pure hearts?

Tune into this episode to dig deeper into this beatitude.

To explore the themes in this episode even further, here are a few reflection questions and passages to consider.

1. Where in your life do you notice double-mindedness or hypocrisy? Seek the Lord and ask for His Spirit’s help in purifying your heart. What action steps might you take to be more single-minded in this area?

2. Read Hebrews 12:15. How does this passage relate to the sixth beatitude? What similarities in thought do you notice? How does this passage encourage and challenge you?

3. Read Revelation 21:22-27. How does this vision of eternity stir your heart for the Lord? How does it encourage you to pursue the Lord here and now?

In the fifth beatitude, Jesus names another characteristic of kingdom citizens: mercy. Far from being a spiritual gift only some receive, mercy isn’t optional for believers—it’s absolutely essential.

Tune in to unpack what mercy is, what it’s not, and the beautiful promise Jesus gives to the merciful.

If you want to dig deeper into the themes of this episode, here are a few reflection questions and passages to consider:

1. Read Matthew 9:9-13. What do you think Jesus means when He quotes Hosea, saying, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice”?

2. How did this episode confirm or challenge your understanding of God’s mercy? How has God shown you mercy, stepping into your situation, this week?

3. In what ways have you seen “bondage to triviality" in your life recently?

4. Spend some time in prayer, asking God to search your heart. Then, explain the definition of mercy to someone you trust, who knows you well. Ask them if they consider you to be a merciful person. What insights did you glean from prayer and community?

5. What steps can you take to cultivate mercy this week? Be specific.

What are you hungry for?

In the fourth beatitude, Jesus says those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed—and they will be satisfied. But what does it mean to hunger for righteousness when our default craving is to seek satisfaction from other things?

In this episode, we explore what it looks like to deeply desire right standing with God and right living in the world—and why that longing is both a gift and a promise.

To keep exploring the themes in this episode, here are a few reflection questions and passages to consider.

• What are you hungry for right now? Pause and consider: What do your daily habits, thoughts, or longings reveal about your hunger? What “broken cisterns” (Jeremiah 2:13) and “bread which does not satisfy” (Isaiah 55:2) do you tend to run to?

• How has God already begun to satisfy your hunger and thirst for righteousness? Can you see a growing desire for righteousness in your life? Consider Psalm 42:1-2 as you reflect.

• • Are you willing to pray for a deeper hunger for righteousness—even if it means being made hungry first? What might God need to strip away for you to feel your true hunger? Consider Philippians 3:8-11 as you reflect.
  • Read Revelation 21:5-6. Take some time to praise God for the fullness to come - and ask for His grace to desire Him above all else, more and more.

  
  

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In this episode, we dive into the third beatitude: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Jesus invites us into a surprising way of life—one that’s calm, unbothered, and gentle. Let’s unpack what true meekness is and explore how trusting God empowers us to live with quiet strength, joy, and the hope of an unshakable inheritance.

To keep exploring the themes in this episode, consider these passages and reflection questions.

• Read Galatians 6:1-2. What connection do you see between poverty of spirit and meekness?

• Read James 1:19-21. Why is it important to receive God’s Word with meekness?

• Read James 3:13-17. What is the connection between meekness and wisdom? Compare the traits of wisdom listed to the traits of meekness discussed in this episode. What similarities do you notice?

In the second beatitude in Matthew 5:4, Jesus connects poverty of spirit with mourning. He pairs knowledge of our empty-handedness with grief over it. In doing so, He teaches us that it matters how we respond to the knowledge of our spiritual bankruptcy. It matters that we don’t just “get” that we’re sinners—but we also feel the weight of our sin.

And the amazing promise is that when we do, we will be comforted.

If you want to dig deeper into the themes in this episode, here are a few passages and reflection questions to consider.

1. Consider your theological or church background. Was mourning over sin emphasized? Was God’s comfort equally emphasized? Reflect on your personal experience with mourning over sin.

2. Read James 4:1-10. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you may be living in friendship with the world right now. How can you put this passage into practice this week?

3. Read Romans 5:1-5. How does the Holy Spirit pour out God’s love into our hearts? What reassurance does He give us, even though we sin?

4. Consider John 11:35 and John 11:38. How does Jesus demonstrate mourning over sin, even though it is not His own? What do you learn from His response to sin?
   

What if, when it comes to salvation, we bring nothing to the table? In this episode, we explore the radical opening of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Tune in as we unpack what it means to be spiritually poor—and why it’s the starting point to the blessedness that Jesus puts forward in this passage.

If you want to explore the themes in this episode further, here are a few reflection questions and passages to consider:

• Think about your life when you first came to Christ and compare it to your life today. How have you seen your awareness of your sin increase?

• The “Jesus Prayer” (“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, be merciful to me, a sinner”) is a regular rhythm for Eastern Orthodox Christianity. How can you incorporate it into your prayer life this week? What difference might it make if you prayed it more regularly?

• In his book Living Like Monks, Praying Like Fools, Pastor Tyler Staton points out: “In Psalm 51, [David] uses four different words to name his sin but nineteen different words to illustrate God’s forgiveness.” Consider using Psalm 51 to guide a time of confession of your sin to God and adoration of His mercy.

The good life. No matter who you are, chances are you have a picture of what it looks like—and how to achieve it.

When Jesus opens His first sermon in the New Testament with the famous words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” He introduces a new paradigm for the good life—a stunning invitation to true joy in God’s kingdom.

The Beatitudes, eight powerful statements from Jesus, show us what following Jesus really means—and why it’s the best decision we’ll ever make.

In this episode, we unpack Matthew 5:1-2, the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount, asking questions of the text and finding answers by searching Scripture.

If you want to dig deeper into the themes of this episode, here are a few reflection questions and passages to consider:

Which of the eight beatitudes surprises you the most right now? Why?

Read Luke’s account of the beatitudes in Luke 6:17-26. What differences do you notice? Does anything stand out that you’re interested in learning more about? Why?

Consider beginning our study of the beatitudes in prayer. Ask God to open your eyes to behold wonderful things about Jesus in His Word! To get you started, here’s a guided prayer:

Jesus,

You are prophet, law-giver,

teacher, preacher, and king—

help me to see You with my heart.

May I know You as my king,

and follow You with joy.

This is the blessed life—

to be with You and bring You glory,

now and forever.

Amen.

Our deep need every Advent season—and every day—is to stand in awe of the One worthy of all praise and honor. It’s what we were made for! But if you’re struggling with apathy in your walk with God, it can be easy to overlook the beauty of God’s glory and grace.

In this episode, you’re invited to explore Luke 2:8-20 for a fresh vision of God’s glory, finding fulfillment in Him and sharing the joy of Christ’s arrival with the world.

Want to study the themes in this episode further? Here are a few passages and reflection questions to consider:

• Read Psalm 29. How does it inspire the awe of God in your heart? Make a list of what stands out to you.

• Read Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1, and Revelation 1. After considering the glory of God as described in these passages, spend some time in prayer. Confess the ways you revel in created things and any apathy toward God you’ve been experiencing. Ask God to help you see and savor His glory above all else.

• The shepherd’s amazement and awe led to action. What’s one step of obedience you can take this week to honor God and share His glorious grace with others?