It's time to head back to school! No matter your stage of life, it's never too late to learn - and the wisest among us are always learning. Some of Jesus' greatest knowledge for life comes from his mountain-side teaching points we commonly call "The Beatitudes." Many of his lessons are blunt and may make us uncomfortable; but if they are applied, will help us succeed in life - the most important thing we will ever manage.  In this series you will learn how to overcome the things that would hold you back, how to repair relationship, and how to live with satisfaction and joy.

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble,
    for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
    for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
    for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

Matthew 5:3-11

“Stay Hungry” I voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask him to remove my character defects. I am hungry for the changes that God knows will replace my hurts, habits, and hang-ups with a healthy life. 

The Transformation Choice

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for the will be satisfied. Matthew 5:6

Righteousness is the road to life and path to immortality.

Proverbs 12:28

Righteousness is: A relationship

The Good News shows how God makes people right with himself.

Romans 1:17

Righteousness is: A lifestyle

All who practice righteousness are God’s true children.

John 2:29

Getting my relationship with God right:

I can’t make myself right with God. 

No one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what his law commands, because the more we know God’s law, the clearer it becomes that we can’t keep it.

Romans 3:20

Getting my relationship with God right:

God sent Jesus to pay the debt for my sins so I could be made right with God.

God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

II Corinthians 5:21

Getting my relationship with God right:

I accept by faith what God did for me. 

How do I stay spiritually hungry?

1. Remind myself how much God loves me.

Pray that you have the power to understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God’s love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. THEN you will be filled with the fullness of life and the power that comes from God.

Ephesians 3:18-19

2. Stop filling up on junk.

All who are thirsty, come to me and drink! And to those of you who don’t have money to buy food, come and eat for free! Why do you spend your money on something that isn’t real food and doesn’t really satisfy you? Come to me, and you will eat what is good; your soul will enjoy the stuff that really satisfies!

Isaiah 55:1-2

3. Make knowing God my #1 goal.

The thing you should want most is God’s Kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.

Matthew 6:33

4. Get into God’s Word every day.

You must crave the pure spiritual milk of the word so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment like a baby cries for milk!

I Peter 2:2

5. Hang out with hungry people.

Join the company of good men and women who will keep you on the path of righteousness. Proverbs 2:20

BOTTOM LINE: Righteousness is both a growing relationship and a lifestyle.

NEXT STEPS:  
1) Pray the prayer every day.
2) If you don’t already have a schedule for reading and talking to God, start this week.
3) Actively get with people who will help you grow.