Eighth Grade Beatitudes, 2017

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 children of God. 
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

My Bible classes finished the Beatitudes recently. The eight 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 8th grade students. All are used by permission with boys in blue and girls in pink:

Blessed are the restless for God will give them peace. 
Lorell

Blessed are those who are unheard for a listening ear will come to them.
Erin

Blessed are those in the shadows for God will shine upon them. 
Pressly

Blessed are the scared for they will be brave in the eyes of the Lord God. 
Leo

Blessed are the bored for they will be eager to see God.
Sam

Blessed are the trapped for they will be set free in heaven.
Alexandria

Blessed are those who lift their voices to the Lord for the Lord will lift them up.
Josh

Blessed are those who are alone for God will be beside them.
Hayden

Blessed are the blind for one day they will see the wonderful creation of God.
Kendall

Blessed are the homeless for they will live in God's hands.
Jaylin

Blessed are the short people for there are no high shelves in heaven.
Devin

Blessed are the poorly dressed for in the kingdom of God, it doesn't matter how you dress.
Aaron

Blessed are those who are held back  for  they will know more.
Kennedy

Blessed are the confused for God will help them understand.
Heaven

Blessed are the weak for they will find strength in God's glory.
Vanessa

Blessed are the horrible bakers for their cookies taste amazing to God!
Darian

Blessed are the sick for in heaven, they will be truly healthy.
Isaiah

Blessed are the poor on earth for money has no meaning in heaven.
Jonathan

Blessed are those who struggle for they will be rewarded in heaven.
David

Blessed are those with self doubt for God will always love them.
Jill

Blessed are the paralyzed for they will walk with God.
Christian

Blessed are those who fail for God will let them stand up and keep going.
Jack

Blessed are those who flee for they will find refuge in the kingdom of God.
Kara

Blessed are the disabled for they will dance with the angels in heaven.
Aspen

Blessed are the ignored for God gives them His full attention.
Will

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