Reflections From Sunday

This Sunday we looked at part6 of our series over The Beatitudes. It is a tremendous joy to serve along side the team here and I am always blessed to see what the Lord is doing in, to and through those who are a part of our community. Scott Finch did a great job leading us in worship this past Sunday. If you were not able to be with us, you can catch the video of the service here at GatewayTV

Here is what we looked at this past Sunday::
July 25, 2010~ The Beatitudes part6

1When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, 3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 6"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.


mer·cy~ as defined by Webster
1. compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.
2. the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.
3. the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, esp. to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.
4. an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.
5. something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.


—Synonyms
1. forgiveness, indulgence, clemency, leniency, lenity, tenderness, mildness.

—Antonyms
1. cruelty.


The Greek word for 'mercy' within the New Testament simply means this: 'to give help to the wretched, to relieve the miserable


The first four beatitudes that we've been studying over the past weeks center upon the inner principles that deal with how you are before God, how you are yourself.

From the fifth Beatitude on, these cease to deal with, primarily, how we are within ourselves before God, but they begin to deal with how we are before our brothers and sisters, and our attitudes to those around us.

The first four are inner attitudes, the last four are inner attitudes that manifest themselves outwardly.


* mercy - grace

often, within the New Testament especially, there is a distinction between the meaning of grace and the meaning of mercy.

* mercy - compassion

Mercy is not simply feeling compassionate.

Look at Luke 10~ The Good Samaratan
.

* mercy - forgiveness

How does mercy relate to forgiveness?


Look at the story of Joseph


Who is the greatest person that ever showed mercy?

... the Lord Jesus Christ! The most merciful human being that ever lived, because he went after the deaf, the dumb, the blind, the lame, the prostitutes, the tax collectors, the drunkards, the weak little children.


Why should we be merciful?







Mark Your Calendars::
~August 15, 2010 Celebration Sunday
~August 21, 2010 Men's Breakfast
~August 20-21, 2010 Women of Faith Conf.
~September 5, 2010 Vision Sunday

ConnectGroup Schedule::
TuesNite UTHconnect @ 7pm @ The Brown's
TuesNite @ 7pm @ The Snow's
WedNite @ 7pm @ The Brown's
SunMorn @ 915am @ GFchurch



I love our church
I love our people
I love what He is doing in us
I love what He is doing to us
I love what He is doing through us
I love that He is not done with us