Download Reading Plan and Daily Prayer
Cultures throughout history and around the world have been obsessed with defining and obtaining ‘the good life.’ Looking around at our culture, in this place and time, it would appear that the good life is a comfortable life, measured by an abundance of money and a lack of trouble. We think that these blessings belong to the beautiful and the beloved, or are earned by those with the talent, intelligence, and determination to pursue them.
In the beginning of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us the Beatitudes, a surprising and disorienting list of who is blessed and what characterizes a blessed life. If we would seek the rich, abundant life that Jesus offers us, we need to come and sit at his feet and let him break down and replace our cultural expectations.
Reading Plan
4/5-11 Introduction to the blessed life
- Matthew 5:1-12
- Matthew 5:13-20
- Matthew 5:21-26
- Matthew 5:27-37
- Matthew 5:38-48
4/12-18 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
- Matthew 6:19-24
- Matthew 6:25-34
- Matthew 7:7-11
- Matthew 14:13-21
- Matthew 17:13-21
4/19-25 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
- Psalm 6
- Psalm 13
- Matthew 6:16-18
- Matthew 23:37-39; Luke 19:41-44
- James 4:7-10
4/25 – 5/2 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
- Mark 10:35-45
- Luke 14:1-14
- John 13:1-17
- Philippians 2:1-11
- James 4:1-6
5/3-9 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
- Psalm 1
- Psalm 106:1-3; Amos 5:24; Micah 6:8
- Matthew 7:12; 22:34-40
- Luke 4:14-21
- Galatians 6:1-10
5/10-16 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
- Matthew 6:9-15
- Matthew 9:35-38
- Luke 6:37-42
- Luke 10:25-37
- John 8:1-11
5/17-23 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
- Psalm 51:10; Proverbs 3:5-6; 4:23
- Matthew 6:33; 7:16-20
- Matthew 15:1-20
- Philippians 2:12-16
- I John 1:5-10
5/24-30 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
- Mark 9:50
- Matthew 5:23-26
- Romans 12:17-21
- Ephesians 4:1-6
- James 3:13-18
5/31 – 6/6 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Isaiah 53
- Matthew 16:21-27
- Luke 6:27-36
- I Peter 3:8-17
- I John 4:7-21
