Persecuted because of Righteousness
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Matthew 5:10-12 - 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult (revile) you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Gerald Sittser - “Discipleship (to Jesus) implies suffering, leads to persecution, tests mettle, demands steadfastness, requires endurance, and even leads to death. It demands we confess Jesus as Lord.”
1 Peter 4:13-14, 16 - Rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. …if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
Polycarp - For eighty-six years I have been his servant and he has never done me wrong: how could I blaspheme my King who saved me?
The fire you threaten burns for a time and is soon extinguished: there is a fire you know nothing about - the fire of the judgment to come…but why do you hesitate? Do what you want.
Porphyry - “What I am about to say seems surprising to some, namely, that the gods have proclaimed Christ to be most pious and immortal, and that they remember him in a laudatory way.”
Tertullian - “We (Christians) are not a new philosophy but a divine revelation. That’s why you can’t just exterminate us; the more you kill the more we are. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”
Marziyeh Amirizadeh & Maryam Rostampour - “We tasted the love of Jesus. What we endured those nine months was nothing compared to the love demonstrated on the cross. We are honored to have suffered for our faith.”
Scot McKnight - “Here at the end of the Beatitudes, the question arises as to where in this world such a faith-community actually finds a place … at the cross. The faith community of the blessed is the community of the Crucified. With him, they lost everything, and with him, they found everything.”
Luke 6:26 - Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
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Each Sunday we come together we offer an open invitation into the way of Jesus. An invitation to enter into sacred rhythms - to draw near to God through singing, giving, learning, and praying.
As a community that desires renewal in Des Moines as it is in Heaven, we recognize that we cannot offer what we ourselves do not have. We cannot lead where we ourselves have not been led; in turn, these questions aim at reflection. Reflecting on God’s word and making space for his leadership.
After watching or listening consider the following discussion questions as a large group or in groups of three to four:
What stood out from the teaching?
How does shalom - the fullness of all good things with Jesus - differ from common conceptions of peace?
Where do you feel the most division around you? How does Jesus’ blessing on those who make peace feel?
This weekend Kyle quoted John Howard Yoder saying, “By refusing to extend the chain of vengeance, we break into the world with good news.” Why is this good news? How might this conception of good news differ from “good news” on the street?
Where is Spirit inviting you to make peace?