The Beatitudes Updated.....Closing Performance!

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

My Bible classes began working on the Beatitudes recently. The nine statements of Jesus at the outset of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's chapter five are familiar to Christians but are often foreign to the way we act. How are we supposed to rejoice and mourn concurrently? Who feels good about being mistreated? Philip Yancey translated these teachings as Lucky Are The Unlucky. Our class periods centered around our own translations of these contradictory, to the non-believer, words of truth from the lips of the Savior. Each student was assigned the task of recreating the Beatitudes in ways that made sense to them in twenty-first century Houston, Texas. What follows is a sampling of the theology of my students. All are used by permission with boys in blue and girls in pink:

Blessed are the humble for they will be praised fully in the kingdom of God. (Justin C)

Blessed are those who are truly in love for you have found one of God's many great gifts. (Marie)

Blessed are the small for everything fits perfectly in heaven. (Ibe)

Blessed are you when people reject you for God has more in store for you! (Addie)

Blessed are those in ballet for they will dance every day for God. (Maggie)

Blessed are the men who will one day marry........ GOOD LUCK! (Steph)

Blessed are the poor singers for their voices will sing harmonious praise to God. (Natalie)

Blessed are the too busy for there are beds and couches in the house of God. (Kane)

Blessed are those who lose a friend for they will be given multitudes of friends in the future. (Gaby)

Blessed are the self-conscious for there will be no mirrors in heaven. (Dylan)

Blessed are those who are never noticed because God will definitely see them. (Sydney)

Blessed are the shy for God gives them courage. (Jazzmin)

Blessed are the true friends for God will be their bestie in heaven. (Xavier)

Blessed are the weary for they will be rejuvenated in heaven. (Chloe S)

Blessed are the unwanted for God has plenty of room in His kingdom! (Tyra)

Blessed are the lost for their map is with God. (Grant)

Blessed are those who don't get playing time down here for God's time is unlimited in heaven. (Tucker)

Blessed are the quiet for I will be the person to change that! (Jasmine)

Blessed are the unrecognized for they continue on despite that fact. (Justin W)

Blessed are the humble for they will be venerated. (Matthew)

Blessed are the dying for they will be truly alive in heaven. (Sheyi)

Blessed are the depressed for they will find great joy in the word of God. (Erin)

Blessed are the lonely for they will forever be self-sufficient. (Baxter)

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com