Beatitudes | Heart Check

Alright, here’s the plan for today. We’re diving into the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount to uncover what Jesus really meant by the “good life.” Spoiler alert: it’s nothing like the world’s idea of success or happiness. Jesus flips the script with humility, mercy, purity, and a burning hunger for righteousness—things that turn conventional wisdom on its head.

We’ll start by sitting with a few questions before reading the scripture, allowing ourselves to reflect on how these ideas hit us right where we are. Then, after we read through the Beatitudes, we’ll circle back to those same questions, but this time with a fresh perspective. The goal? To let God’s Word challenge, stretch, and deepen our understanding of what it truly means to live a blessed life in Jesus’s upside-down kingdom. Ready to dive in? Let’s go.

Take a few moments to pray, honestly reflect, and journal on the following questions:

• How do I really define the "good life"? What does success look like to me, deep down?
• What’s shaping my view of what a good life is—society, social media, past experiences, or something else?
• Have I been successful in achieving what I perceive to be the good life?

Take a few minutes to pray, get real with yourself, and journal on these:

• How does Jesus really define the good life or success—what’s His vision for it?
• How does Jesus' definition stack up against my version of the good life? Where do they clash?
• What do I need to shift in my mindset or priorities to start living more in line with Jesus’ version of success?