Brethren,

Trust this finds you well? Please forgive me for sending this so late. I ran into some serious hitch

This Sunday, we look at the last of the Beatitudes. It must have shocked Jesus’ listeners that He wrapped up the Beatitudes with the bow of persecution, the same way many would want wish away this reality for the man who would associate with Jesus Christ. 

Key Learnings:
1. The more we demonstrate the characteristics of the kingdom in our lives, the more we will be persecuted by the world.
2. It is important to note that it is because of Jesus Christ and the gospel that believers are and will face persecution. Knowing and embracing this truth will make us all the more ready for it when it happens.
3. When Christ calls for us to “Rejoice and be glad,” these verbs are imperatives in the Greek. Therefore, they are not mere suggestions, but holy commands from our Lord. We must, as an act of obedience, choose to rejoice and leap for joy when criticized and thought strange for Christ. We do this in the same way that we seek to give thanks in everything, as this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus (1 Thess 5:18).

See outline attached for your reference and advance preparation.