Matt Beaney

Jan 19, 20213 min read

#267 – THE MEEK LISTEN (19/1/21)

This week in our discipleship series, we are considering the third Beatitude,

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

Definition: Meekness is humility. It’s being weak in ourselves but strong in God.

One of the ‘marks of meekness’ is how we relate to God. We have already considered how the meek trust in Jesus alone for salvation and refuse to depend on self-righteousness. However, this dependent attitude carries over into their Christians lives. The meek listen to God in His word.

I don’t know if you’ve ever watched those programs where a world-renown chef tries to help a struggling restaurant to improve. So often advice is refused and tempers flare; it takes meekness to listen to advice - even ‘advice’ from God!

There is a lot of good advice, but the meek hold God’s word as their only source of truth; they weigh all advice -even if they claim to have an expert- by God’s truth. In Proverbs, we read,

‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ (Proverbs 1:7)

Why is fearing God (reverencing) the most important attitude and piece of knowledge and wisdom that anyone can attain?

Why does fearing God lead to the pursuit of knowledge?

Fearing (reverencing) God is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. This is because those who honour God will seek Him for what is true. Those who lack meekness, like Adam and Eve in the Garden, still eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, rather than listen to God! Fearing God is meekness. The meek reverence God enough to actually listen to Him (in His word) and do what He says in obedience.

Through Isaiah, God spoke of the link between meekness and our attitude to listening to Him.

“These are the ones I look on with favour: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” (Isaiah 62:2)

Only the meek will listen and obey The Great Commission to,

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Only the meek will listen to Jesus and be disciples by learning and obeying His teaching. Only the meek will listen to Jesus to go and make disciples.

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY - BLESSED ARE THE MEEK

Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.

Suggested opener/Ice-breaker

What are your highs and lows from last week?

Introduction - please share in your group

This week in our discipleship series, we are considering the third of the Beatitudes,

'Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth'. (Matthew 5:5)

Meekness is humility. It’s being weak in ourselves but strong in God.

Here are three aspects to meekness:

Firstly, as with all of the other Beatitudes, this is a description of the true Christian; to become a Christian one must become ‘meek’. Pride is the opposite of meekness. The proud do not come to Jesus for their sins to be forgiven. The proud are self-righteous.

Secondly, The meek listen to God and others. Their humility drives them to seek God's will in His word. They learn from others and feel a desire to show value to others by listening to them.

Thirdly, The meek pray. On Sunday we briefly saw how The Lord's Prayer in full of meekness; every phrase is an expression of humble dependence upon God.

Finally, meekness has great promise: 'the meek will inherit the earth'. The meek do not force their will on people. They know that they cannot force anyone to come to faith. The meek may have to endure disrespect and even persecution, but they will reign with Jesus in a 'New heavens and a new earth'.

Discussion questions

1. Please read Matthew 11:29. Jesus is described as 'meek' (gentle) and humble. How did Jesus' earthly life display true meekness?

2. Meekness leads to salvation - the proud can never be saved - why is this the case?

2. Meekness is humility. It’s being weak in ourselves but strong in God. Why does this lead to one being devoted to God's word? (Please read Isaiah 66:2)

3. Why does meekness lead to prayer?

4. Why does meekness lead to a desire to learn from others?

Investing and inviting

i) Who has God put into your life that we could pray for together?

ii) How are you planning to 'invest and invite'?

iii) Finally, Who are you planning to invite to our Alpha Course which is beginning on the 25th January?

#267 – THE MEEK LISTEN (19/1/21)

This week in our discipleship series, we are considering the third Beatitude,

Definition: Meekness is humility. It’s being weak in ourselves but strong in God.

One of the ‘marks of meekness’ is how we relate to God. We have already considered how the meek trust in Jesus alone for salvation and refuse to depend on self-righteousness. However, this dependent attitude carries over into their Christians lives. The meek listen to God in His word.

I don’t know if you’ve ever watched those programs where a world-renown chef tries to help a struggling restaurant to improve. So often advice is refused and tempers flare; it takes meekness to listen to advice - even ‘advice’ from God!

There is a lot of good advice, but the meek hold God’s word as their only source of truth; they weigh all advice -even if they claim to have an expert- by God’s truth. In Proverbs, we read,

Why is fearing God (reverencing) the most important attitude and piece of knowledge and wisdom that anyone can attain?

Why does fearing God lead to the pursuit of knowledge?

Through Isaiah, God spoke of the link between meekness and our attitude to listening to Him.

Only the meek will listen and obey The Great Commission to,

Only the meek will listen to Jesus and be disciples by learning and obeying His teaching. Only the meek will listen to Jesus to go and make disciples.

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY - BLESSED ARE THE MEEK

Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.

Suggested opener/Ice-breaker

What are your highs and lows from last week?

Introduction - please share in your group

This week in our discipleship series, we are considering the third of the Beatitudes,

Meekness is humility. It’s being weak in ourselves but strong in God.

Here are three aspects to meekness:

Firstly, as with all of the other Beatitudes, this is a description of the true Christian; to become a Christian one must become ‘meek’. Pride is the opposite of meekness. The proud do not come to Jesus for their sins to be forgiven. The proud are self-righteous.

Secondly, The meek listen to God and others. Their humility drives them to seek God's will in His word. They learn from others and feel a desire to show value to others by listening to them.

Thirdly, The meek pray. On Sunday we briefly saw how The Lord's Prayer in full of meekness; every phrase is an expression of humble dependence upon God.

Discussion questions

1. Please read Matthew 11:29. Jesus is described as 'meek' (gentle) and humble. How did Jesus' earthly life display true meekness?

2. Meekness leads to salvation - the proud can never be saved - why is this the case?

2. Meekness is humility. It’s being weak in ourselves but strong in God. Why does this lead to one being devoted to God's word? (Please read Isaiah 66:2)

3. Why does meekness lead to prayer?

4. Why does meekness lead to a desire to learn from others?

Investing and inviting

i) Who has God put into your life that we could pray for together?

ii) How are you planning to 'invest and invite'?

iii) Finally, Who are you planning to invite to our Alpha Course which is beginning on the 25th January?

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