Rejoice in that Day

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer, “When do you use the word ‘blessed’ to describe yourself?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read Luke 6:17-26.

Who was in the crowd that gathered at that level place with Jesus? [His disciples and people from Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon (Luke 6:17).]

Why did they come? [Some came to hear Jesus; others came for healing or for the casting out of unclean spirits. Everyone was trying to touch Jesus, “for power came out from him and healed all of them” (Luke 6:18).]

To whom in the crowd did Jesus direct this teaching? [Jesus’ teaching was directed to his disciples (Luke 6:20). Note the many uses of the pronouns “you” and “yours” that emphasize the focus on these followers. Last week, we read that Simon, James, and John left everything to follow Jesus. Consider that leaving finances, relationships, and more could lead to poverty, grief, tears, and ostracism.]

Imagine Jesus delivering this sermon from the pulpit of your church during a Sunday morning service.

• What would you think and feel as you heard this sermon? Why?
• How do you think your congregation would react to hearing these blessings and woes from Jesus? Why?

The preaching notes tell us, “The kingdom that is offered is a community, a relationship of healing and hope. That relationship is, of course, first and foremost with Jesus the Christ, the author of hope, the source of healing. But it is lived in the here and now, in the everyday, with the human community we call the church, a place of acceptance and inclusion.”

• How can knowing that the “here-and-now” kingdom of God is yours embolden you to rejoice and consider yourself blessed when you suffer loss or hardship because of your discipleship to Jesus?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer: Ever present God, help us to trust you and abide in your kingdom. Lead us and guide us to open our love, our hearts, our resources to those who have not, those who hunger, those who hurt. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Healer. Amen.

Rev. Sherry Bryant-Johnson, an ordained United Methodist deacon, recently retired from almost three decades of serving extension ministry appointments. She continues to live out her calling as a teacher, author, and spiritual director.