The Blessed Life
- Ps David Jones
- Mar 31
- 4 min read
The Beatitudes - Part One
Pastor David Jones
Sunday Morning Message – 29th March 2026
Citywest Church YouTube:
Objectives:
To explore Jesus’ teaching on what it truly means to live a blessed life.
To challenge worldly ideas of success and align our lives with the values of God’s Kingdom.
To apply these truths in a way that leads to deep fulfilment, spiritual growth, and flourishing
Leader:
Please choose what best suits your group and fits the time well. You do not need to discuss every question. Create your own questions that fit your group. Choose two or three areas to discuss.
Have fun, Jesus people!
Discussion Time
Opening thought
Many people think being a Christian is a sad thing, or that religion is for unhappy, gloomy people. That is often how the world sees the Church and Christians. Unfortunately, it can also be how many Christians live, and how the children of Christian parents see the Church – at least until they have a revelation or a real encounter with God.
Discussion Questions
Do you know someone who sees Christianity like this?
Maybe this has been you at times?
What do we do when people think this way?
The Sermon on the Mount
Bible Reading – Matthew 5:1–11 (Leader – Focus in on verses one and two)
Teaching Insight
Large crowds came to Jesus, but He took His disciples aside for life-changing teaching.
A Rabbi would often sit down to teach – this was a sign of authority.Some scholars refer to this moment as an “ordination address” to the disciples.
Verse 2 – “He opened His mouth and taught them”
This phrase carries depth in the Greek:
A serious, weighty, and significant message
Speaking from the heart, pouring out truth fully
This is Jesus, the Son of God, giving some of the greatest teaching ever spoken.
If you want to grow and lead in life – listen closely to the teachings of Jesus given on the side of a mount to his disciples – Known as the Sermon on the Mount. The finest of Kingdom teachings to live by.
Parallels: Moses with Jesus
The Gospel of Matthew was written with a Jewish audience in mind, and there are clear parallels. Just to name a few:
· Both escaped being killed as a male baby – Pharoh and Herod condemned them to death
· Both live among the Egyptians at one time
· Both with legal rights to be a king, both living within a pagan foreign government – Egypt and Rome
· Moses passed through the red sea – Jesus was baptized in the Jordan
· Both spent forty years in the desert – Both fasting for forty days
· Moses received the Law on a mountain and gives to gods people from the side of the mountain – Jesus teaches The Kingdom of God from the side of from a mountain.
Moses brought the Law for right living.
Jesus brings a new way of living – The Kingdom way.
The Invitation to Gods Kingdom
The Sermon on the Mount is both an invitation and a challenge.
It calls us to put God first in every area: (For Example)
Our motives
Our actions
Our work and business
Our words
Our thought life
Our priorities and more
His Kingship
All of life comes under His rule. We either live in the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of the world. We either accept the invitation or remain outside of the Kingdom.
The Beatitudes
Verse 3 - “Blessed are…” Jesus begins with the word “Blessed”.
Discussion Question
What do people today think a “blessed life” looks like?
Misunderstanding of being Blessed
The word “blessed” has often been misunderstood or even hijacked.
Ideas like prosperity culture or “name it and claim it” have made people unsure of what it really means to be blessed of look for God’s blessing.
Meaning of the word “Blessed” in the Greek language is “Makarios”
Blessed
Happy
Fortunate
But more deeply:
A spiritual joy and flourishing that is not dependent on circumstances.
The “Happy Isle”
The island of Cyprus was known as the “Happy Isle”, a term linked to the same Greek root word makarios, meaning “blessed”. These islands were known for their rich soil, abundant plant life, fertility, beauty, and natural resources. Put simply, no one wanted to leave this place.
Discussion Questions
What do you find most challenging about believing you are blessed?
What might “flourishing” look like in your life this week?
The Invitation to be Blessed
There is an invitation to: Deep spiritual joy, True fulfilment and becoming more like Jesus in character and action
Ephesians 1:3
We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
2 Corinthians 9:8
God provides all we need so we can abound in every good work.
Conclusion – The Pearl of Great Value
Read and discuss together Matthew 13:45–46
Jesus compares the Kingdom of heaven to a merchant searching for fine pearls. Every human being is searching for something of value. Many pursue fulfilment through wealth, pleasure, power, or success. Some move from relationship to relationship, or job to job, still searching.
But the merchant found one pearl of ultimate value, and he sold everything to gain it. Nothing compares to the Kingdom of God. Jesus offers something far greater than anything the world can give
Discussion Questions
What do you think this parable is saying to us?
What has challenged you about the Kingdom of God and living the Blessed life?
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