Pure, 9 February 2025

Blessed are the Pure in Heart
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Blessed: The Beatitudes
February 9, 2025
Matthew 5:8
 
Series Big Idea: The greatest sermon in history is radical, revolutionary, and relevant.
 
Big Idea: God is on your side when you’re pure in heart, when you stop playing games and come clean with the real you.
  
When I was a little boy, one of my favorite things to do at my Grandma Schneemann’s house was take a bath. I know, some kids like to get dirty. It’s not that I didn’t like to get dirty, but grandma always played this little game where she’d put a wet washrag on my back and I had to reach back and try to get it off.
 
I can vaguely remember the sights and sounds of those interactions, but I’ve been told the most triggering sense is smell. To this day, whenever I smell
Ivory soap, I’m transported back twenty—thirty—ok, more than fifty years ago to time with my grandma.
 
It seems like everyone in my generation had a grandma that used Ivory soap. Oddly enough, I never remember it in my house growing up, but it was grandma’s soap. Developed in 1879 by Harley Proctor (who started a little business with his friend Mr. Gamble!) it still floats and boasts that it is 99.44%
pure.
 
What does it mean to be pure? As we continue our series on the Beatitudes or blessings announced by Jesus in Matthew chapter five, we read these words,
 
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)
 
 
I love God! I really love God. There’s one significant challenge to a relationship with God: we cannot experience Him with our senses.
 
You can’t
smell God, though I love to smell the beautiful flowers He has created.
You can’t
touch God, though you can touch a human created in His image.
You can’t
taste God, even though the scriptures metaphorically say, “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” (Psalm 34:8)
You can’t
hear God, though He speaks through the Bible and, occasionally, in other ways.
You can’t
see God, though according to this verse those who are pure in heart will see God.
 
Would you like to see God? People saw God the Son, Jesus Christ, for thirty-three years. The glory of the Father, however, is more than our eyes could behold.
 
There’s a great story in the Old Testament book of Exodus where God is pleased with Moses.
 
Exodus 33:18           Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
 
Exodus 33:19           And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
 
Exodus 33:21           Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
 
We cannot see God’s face in these bodies, with these eyes. I’ve often thought it would be like staring at the sun. You can physically do it, but it will have terrible consequences.
 
Someday, we will have new, resurrected bodies that will be able to experience God in new ways. That’s part of our hope for the next life, a deeper, more sensory encounter with our Creator.
 
Job, in the midst of his terrible suffering in what many consider to be the oldest book in the Bible, said,
 
Job 19:25         I know that my redeemer  lives,
                   and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
26      And after my skin has been destroyed,
                   yet in my flesh I will see God;
27      I myself will see him
                   with my own eyes—I, and not another.
                   How my heart yearns within me!
 
He wants to see God. He yearns for deeper intimacy with the Almighty. Do you? If you do, pay attention to this announcement from Jesus, this declaration of reality:
 
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)
 
Let’s go back to
pure. One dictionary defines purity as, “not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or material.” The Greek word used here, katharos, means clean or clear or pure.
 
Not long ago we started hearing about
“clean eating.” The idea behind it is avoiding artificial ingredients and processed foods, instead eating real foods, things you can pronounce! If you’ve ever looked at the ingredients in convenience store snacks, it sounds more like a science experiment than body fuel! I must confess after exposure to clean eating, I occasionally want to nibble on some “dirty” food!
 
I think that leads to Jesus’ point here. It’s not always easy or natural to be clean and pure. Temptation comes our way each day, seemingly each moment. We are not perfect. We’ve all sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), His standard of perfection found only in Jesus. As we’ve noted previously, this left us hopeless until Jesus came, lived a perfect life, died for us offering forgiveness, and rose from the dead, conquering sin and death.
 
We cannot be pure on our own efforts. I’m not perfect. I’m not pure. But because of Jesus, we can be clean. Natalie Grant sings in her recent song, “Clean,”
 
There's nothing too dirty That You can't make worthy You wash me in mercy I am clean Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice Your blood flowed red and made me white My dirty rags are purified I am clean
 
Being clean is good. The people around us generally prefer us to be clean! We know the importance of clean hands, especially during flu season. We wash our cars, brush our teeth, and even bathe our pets because we want them clean.
 
But sometimes things—or people—appear to be clean, but they’re not pure. They’re not the same inside as outside. They have a divided heart. A divided heart can never be pure.
 
Jesus was a friend of sinners, yet he was an enemy to many of the religious. This is a very sobering reality for me as a pastor! Once when Jesus was talking to a group of pious Pharisees, he said,
 
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. (Matthew 23:25-26)
 
Have you ever opened a cupboard and grabbed a mug or bowl…only to find leftover food inside? It might look great on the outside, but you put it in the sink and find a clean vessel.
 
Religion is concerned about externals, making a good impression, putting on a show, looking the part. Jesus constantly spoke of the heart. It was the center of his teaching. He never said, “Blessed are the intellectuals.” He didn’t say, “Blessed are the achievers.” His declaration was not, “Blessed are the impressive or those who look good on the surface.” He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart.”
 
Dr. Michael Wilkin notes,
 
Purity or cleanliness was an important religious theme in Jesus’ day. Observing all the Old Testament laws of being clean could bypass the most important purity of all, purity of the heart. Jesus declares here that a pure heart is what produces external purity, not vice versa.”
 
The Message translates our verse,
 
“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. (Matthew 5:8, The Message)
 
The pure in heart have an undivided heart. They are the same on the inside and outside. They don’t pretend on Sunday morning and live a lie the rest of the week. They are real, through and through.
 
So What?
 
Like Ivory soap, none of us is 100% pure. Someone once said pure motives is an oxymoron, a contradiction of terms. I want to be standing here today to be 100% for the glory of God, but if I’m honest, there’s at least 1% of my motivation at this moment is because I want you to like me, to feed my ego, to say kind things about me and my preaching. But I
want to be pure in heart. I want to know and see God. C.S. Lewis said,
 
"It's safe to tell the pure in heart that they shall see God, for only the pure in heart want to" - C.S. Lewis
 
God is on your side when you’re pure in heart, when you stop playing games and come clean with the real you.
 
Jesus announces that
God is on your side when you’re pure in heart, when you stop playing games and come clean with the real you. We need to return to childlike wonder, admit the reality of our brokenness, and reach out to Jesus for healing, for wholeness, for shalom, for forgiveness, for cleansing. The psalmist wrote,
 
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
 
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)

Mercy, 2 February 2025

Blessed are the Merciful
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Blessed: The Beatitudes
February 2, 2025
Matthew 5:7
 
Series Big Idea: The greatest sermon in history is radical, revolutionary, and relevant.
 
Big Idea: Mercy is an undeserved gift to experience and share.
 
Thirteen days ago, the word "
mercy" made headlines after it was used in a sermon in Washington, D.C. It is our subject today. While I have no political motivations, I want to warn you that mercy is not an easy topic—unless you are in a posture of surrender.
I invite you to open your hands and say this simple prayer:
"Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening."

We have finished half of the Beatitudes—the blessings Jesus proclaimed in the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5. These are not merely instructions on how to live but declarations of the reality of God’s kingdom, both now and in the future. They are radical, counter-cultural, and intentionally upside down! The way of God is often the opposite of the American Dream, which some may find offensive. Jesus said,

"Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear."

So far, we have studied these Beatitudes:

  • Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)
  • Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)
  • Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
  • Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

Today’s Beatitude may be the simplest and most logical:

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
 (Matthew 5:7)

This principle echoes the idea that we reap what we sow. Paul wrote several decades after Jesus:
"A man reaps what he sows." (Galatians 6:7b)

The concept is older than Christianity, originating in agricultural practices. But let’s take a closer look at the word "mercy."

It’s not commonly used in everyday vocabulary, and it is often misunderstood. We say, "LORD, have mercy" or hear the phrase "grace and mercy" without deeply considering its meaning.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, 
mercy is "compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm." Synonyms include leniency, clemency, compassion, grace, pity, and charity. In essence, mercy is when you don’t receive the punishment you deserve.
The Greek word for merciful, 
eleemon, means "actively compassionate." The Hebrew word for mercy, rachamim, contains within it the root word for "womb," symbolizing birthing, nurturing, and deep, unconditional love. One rabbi even relates mercy to God’s "womb-love" for His people.
We all deserve eternal punishment for our sin, pride, selfishness, and rebellion. Yet, God offers mercy through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

This is why people say, "I’m better than I deserve." We deserve to pay for our sins, but Jesus took our place.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
 (Matthew 5:7)

Jesus illustrated mercy in a powerful parable:

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”


Jesus replied, “No, not seven times, but seventy times seven!”
 (Matthew 18:21-22, NLT)

Forgiveness is never justified, earned, or deserved. By definition, forgiveness is an act of mercy.
Jesus continued with a parable about a king settling his accounts. A servant who owed millions pleaded for mercy and was forgiven. However, this same servant later refused to forgive another man who owed him a few thousand dollars. The king, enraged by his lack of mercy, threw him into prison until his entire debt was paid.

Jesus concluded:

"That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart."
 (Matthew 18:35)

Meditate on that for a. moment. Those are Jesus’ words. We are to show mercy. We are to forgive others.

The funny thing about human nature is
we want mercy for ourselves, but justice for others. How many times have you said or thought, “That’s not fair!”? Often, it’s because someone who deserved to be punished wasn’t. But experiencing mercy feels so good.

Perhaps my favorite personal story about mercy—besides Jesus’ death and resurrection for my sins—occurred many years ago on my way to our church gathering. I was pulling out of my driveway and hit satan! Actually, I hit satan’s car! It was Halloween and someone dressed as satan was driving down my street, I didn’t see them and hit their car! Nobody was hurt and the damage wasn’t terrible, but it was real.

I knew I deserved a ticket. I knew I deserved points on my record. I knew I deserved to file a claim with my insurance company…and theirs. My car had no notable damage, but justice meant I would get their car repaired.

My friend worked for an insurance company and we discovered it was the same company that insured the other driver (satan!). To make a long story short, he was able to talk to their agent, arranged for the repairs, and I was let off the hook…no ticket, points, rate increase…it was like the accident never happened. That’s mercy!

Mercy is not fair. It is a gift. And gifts are never deserved.

But here’s the key:
You can’t give what you don’t possess.

If you ask me for ten dollars and I don’t have it, I can’t give it. If you need a ride and my car won’t start, I can’t help you. But if you ask to see pictures of my grandkids, I can absolutely show you!
We can only give mercy if we have received mercy.

So What?


The message is clear: 
Show mercy! But we must first recognize that God made the first move. When Jesus died on the cross, he showed us mercy, declaring us forgiven and clean.
Some of you have carried guilt and shame for years. Going to church helped a little, but the burden remains. Jesus died for that! He makes us clean!

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
 (1 John 1:9)

That is 
mercy! And it is available to all of us. If you are not following Jesus, surrender today. Say "yes" to Jesus! Get clean! Mercy is a free gift waiting for you to receive.
 
Then, express thanks to God for His mercy. This may seem obvious, but it’s easy to forget, to get busy, to move on with life. We need to regularly pause and give thanks, not only on communion Sunday, but ideally as part of our daily rhythms. Because of the cross and the empty tomb, we’ve been given so much. It’s worth celebrating. It’s one of the reasons we worship.
 
Then we can extend mercy to others. We’ve been blessed to be a blessing. We’ve been loved so we can love. We’ve been shown mercy so we can show it to others.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." (Matthew 5:7)

If you call yourself a Christian, keep your "mercy
tank" full so it can overflow to others. Keep your "love tank" full so it can spill onto others. If you’re not basking in God’s mercy and love—if you’re too busy to be with the LORD, meditate on His promises, and remember His goodness—you won’t have anything to give.

We all need God’s mercy. We all need mercy from others. And mercy is never deserved.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." (Matthew 5:7)


We’ve all been shown mercy by the LORD, most significantly through the cross. Jesus took the punishment we deserve…death. He has shown us mercy, offered us the free gift of forgiveness, invites us into an eternal relationship with our Creator, and provides us with hope, peace, meaning, and joy.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." (Matthew 5:7)

As we have received mercy, let us be quick to forgive and show mercy to others…for His glory and our benefit.
 
Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. (Jude 2)

Hunger, 26 January 2025

Blessed…Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Blessed: The Beatitudes
January 26, 2025
Matthew 5:6
 
Series Big Idea: The greatest sermon in history is radical, revolutionary, and relevant.
 
Big Idea: You are blessed and satisfied when your passions are for God, righteousness, and justice.
 
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:6
 
What are your greatest passions? Sure, the Sunday morning answer is Jesus, but what gets you up in the morning? What do you sing about? What do you cry about? What do you dream about?
 
Today we’re continuing our series on the Beatitudes—the blessings—taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in the fifth chapter of Matthew. We said blessing is not necessarily money or beauty or fame, but having God’s presence and favor.
 
So far, we’ve explored
 
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3) Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
 
Our text for today says:
 
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
  
If you’ve ever been hungry—truly hungry—you know how desperately you want to be filled. I experience this every time I fast. Our bodies need food…eventually! As kids, my sister and I would often complain when we were hungry, telling mom and dad that we were “starving,” though we never went a day or perhaps even a meal without food.
 
The same is true for thirst. Can you think of a time when you were “dying” of thirst, maybe a hot summer day on a bike trip or run, sweat gushing out of your pores, and your mouth feeling as if it’s filled with sand? Deep thirst drives our passion for relief.
 
Psalm 42 begins,
 
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. (Psalm 42:1)
 
That’s passion!
 
Last week, Heather and I watched an inspiring film called Unstoppable about a one-legged wrestler who hungered and thirsted for a championship.
 
We’ve witnessed politicians who hunger and thirst for power, entrepreneurs who hunger and thirst for money, and addicts who hunger and thirst for their next fix.
 
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
 
We often think of righteousness as doing the right thing. If we desire to be good people, we are blessed and filled? Well, that’s a start.
 
The Greek word, dikaiosune means righteousness and justice. It refers to equity of character or act, specifically justification. It’s the idea of being made right or making something right. In the Old Testament, righteousness and justice frequently appear together. The New Testament Greek word sees them as one. One writer says whenever you see “righteousness” in the New Testament you should add “and justice.”
 
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [and justice], for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
 
Jesus said in the next chapter,
 
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
 
We are to pursue the kingdom of God, the things of God, and his righteousness and justice. Righteousness and justice flow from who God is. God is righteous. God is just. Justice is a central part of the gospel, the good news, the rule and reign of Jesus as LORD. We need passion for righteousness in a world of sin and evil. We need passion for justice in world of injustice, inequality, discrimination, racism, and hatred.
 
Dr. Scot McKnight writes,
 
“Those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” are those who love God and God’s will (revealed in Torah as love and justice) with their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Because they love God and others, they are willing to check their passions and will in order to do God’s will, to further God’s justice, and to express their longing that God act to establish his will and kingdom. Their appetites, instead of being sated by the pleasures of food, sensualities, passions, and lusts, are satisfied only in communion with God, knowing and doing God’s will and seeking the welfare of others.”
 
Does that describe you? If I’m honest, I’d say…sometimes. I want it to describe me. I want to love God and love my neighbor as myself. I want to see heaven invade earth with righteousness and justice.
 
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines passion as “the sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death.” We think of it as a strong emotion, but Jesus’ passion was demonstrated through action. He expressed his love for you and me by sacrificing his own life, his body. He literally gave everything for us. That’s passion. It’s no wonder that he said to his followers,
 
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)
 
That’s passion. It’s not a once-in-a-lifetime decision or action, but rather a daily death to ourselves, an ongoing surrender, 24/7/365 commitment.
 
I’m sure that’s why so many of his followers abandoned him. He wanted too much from them. He wanted everything! He still does! Hunger and thirst are not one-time desires, but appetites that occur regularly.
 
Likewise, the pursuit of God cannot be occasional. It’s a lifestyle. Following Jesus is more than an hour on Sunday and ten percent of your paycheck. It’s a radical obedience in the direction of Jesus. God doesn’t want to be your hobby. He wants to be your life! He wants His passion to be your passion.
 
About twenty-five years ago I was leading a new church in Ann Arbor and asked a friend to consult with us. I wanted to find my blind spots as a leader and do whatever possible to help the church flourish. He suggested a tool called Natural Church Development and after assessing our church, my friend shared the results with me. They revealed our greatest weakness was “passionate spirituality.” We lacked a hunger and thirst for God. I asked what I could do to increase our passion and the only response was prayer. That’s when I began praying for passion for that church…and why I pray for passion for us at College First.
 
I can model passion for God.
I can preach on passion for God.
But I can’t manufacture passion for God. I can’t create it in you. So I pray.
 
I have five prayers for College First: direction, protection, unity, fruit, and passion.
 
I can only imagine how different College First and other churches would be if we all had a deep, gut-level passion for God and things of God. If you want a picture of what true passion looks like, you only need to look at the origin of the word.
 
So What?
 
What can we do? Weakness forces us to look to God. He’s right here with us. We need to pause, recognize our brokenness and desperation, and seek first God’s kingdom, His power, His wisdom, His strength.
 
As Stu G of The Beatitudes Project says, “It’s not about trying to be super holy, but living in the famine and desperation for God’s righteousness and justice.”
 
God is the source of all righteousness and justice. When our passions are for God, they will naturally be for righteousness and justice, and when we see them absent, we will yearn to be present.
 
On a global level we see mass shootings, starvation, the greatest refugee crisis since WWII, pollution, wars, fake news, and divisions of every kind.
 
On a local level, we see homelessness, domestic violence, and poverty.
 
On a personal level, we struggle with addictions, comparison, insecurity, fear, and scarcity, greed, gossip, and pride.
 
There is an aching for shalom, for the broken to be made whole, for justice to prevail.
 
What do you ache for? What is your holy discontent? That might reveal a clue as to what He wants you to do. For each of us, it will look different. Promoting righteousness and justice might look like more quiet time in God’s Word and prayer. It could take on an activist expression that writes letters, participates in peaceful protests, or raises awareness on behalf of the poor and powerless. Maybe God wants you to use your time and talents to volunteer with City Mission, Christian Clearing House, or the Women’s Resource Center. Perhaps He is leading you to gather together some friends and serve together. If you need help, please contact our office. It might be that God simply wants you to be more generous this year with your finances.
 
This world isn’t what it’s supposed to be…yet. All things will be made new and restored. We can participate! God’s righteousness and justice put things in their right place. God wants to bring light to the dark places in our heart and world. It’s not going to be fixed overnight, but as we hunger and thirst for righteousness and justice, we will find blessing and satisfaction in Him.
 
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
 
The Greek word here for filled means “to gorge,” to feed, to have an abundance of food.
 
Blessed are those who are starving for God and the things of God for they will eat and drink until they are stuffed!
 
What is your passion? God’s passion is people…you! He wants to be our passion.

Meek, 19 January 2025

Blessed are the Meek
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Blessed: The Beatitudes
January 19, 2025
Matthew 5:5
 
Series Big Idea: The greatest sermon in history is radical, revolutionary, and relevant.
 
Big Idea: The humble who use their power to bless others will be blessed.
 
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:5
 
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word power? Is it a corrupt politician? Perhaps it’s something you’re seeking. It could be a force like electricity or even a tornado.
Someone once said, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” But is it possible to use power well rather than abuse it?
My name is Kirk, and today we’re continuing our series on the Beatitudes—the blessings announced by Jesus. We’re in Matthew’s Gospel, or “good news,” chapter five.
The Beatitudes taught by Jesus are not instructions to follow or achievements to unlock. They are simple statements of reality, announcing what God is doing and declaring truths about our present world and the future. Many of them express prophetic imagination—a vision of the world to come when there will be no tears, pain, or suffering.
So far in the series we have examined:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3) Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)
Our text for today says:
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
Meek is an uncommon word in modern vocabulary. What does meek mean?
Meek might conjure up images of weakness, frailty, or powerlessness. One definition describes the meek as “quiet, gentle, and easily imposed upon; submissive.” But are the doormats of the world going to inherit the earth? Hardly!
It seems hard to imagine the weak inheriting the earth. But that’s not what Jesus is saying. Meekness is not weakness; it’s the opposite. The original Greek word for meek, praus, means “power under control.” It was used to describe a trained horse, one capable of immense power yet disciplined for its rider’s benefit. A wild horse does what it pleases, but a broken horse channels its strength for good.
Meekness manifests in our lives as self-control. Have you ever met someone who lacked self-control? We often call such behavior childish because children tend to act selfishly, seeking immediate gratification. Sadly, many adults prioritize their own needs and desires without regard for others.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
Professor D.A. Carson defines meekness as “a controlled desire to see the other’s interests advance ahead of one’s own.”
One of the Bible’s most challenging verses states:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
Meekness is not passive; it is others-centered. For example, the meek may feel anger, but not for personal slights. Instead, their anger is stirred by injustice against others. We should be angered by sex trafficking and domestic violence. We should advocate for the unborn, the marginalized, and the voiceless. This is power used wisely, not for self-service but to bless others.
So, what does it look like to use power for others’ benefit? Any oppressed group—workers in sweatshops, persecuted Christians, victims of prejudice—needs advocates with the power to bring change. Andy Crouch, in his book Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power, defines power as “the ability to make something of the world…to participate in the sense-making process unique to humans.”
Let me say again meekness is not passive. It engages, speaks, up, uses influence and power for the benefit of others. Who in our world could use help? Who in our city could use help? I must confess it’s easy for me to look the other way or wait for someone else to meet the needs of others.
Perhaps you have a memory of elementary school where a student was bullied, ignored, or teased. Did you do anything? Did you speak up? Did you sit with the new kid in the cafeteria? Did you defend the needy?
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
This idea stands in stark contrast to our materialistic, self-serving culture. The Message translation puts it this way:
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.” (Matthew 5:5, The Message)
One blessing of meekness is contentment. Why do we constantly want more? Comparison kills contentment. When our focus shifts to what others have, we lose sight of what God has given us. Anything we desire more than God becomes an idol.
Power, like money, isn’t inherently bad. It’s a gift that can be used selfishly or generously. We all have power—through our reputations, resources, relationships, opportunities, education, and experience. The question is: will we use our power to benefit ourselves or others?
Who do you know that used power wisely? Two that come to mind for me are Abraham Lincoln and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. whose legacy we celebrate tomorrow as a nation. Both Lincoln and King were humans. They made mistakes. They were sinners. But they paid a tremendous price—their own lives—using their power, platform, and influence to serve others. There were much easier paths for them to take, but is my understanding that in their meekness they were selflessly blessing others.
I don’t believe it’s God’s will for every one of His followers to be a martyr, though David Barrett estimates 45 million Christians were martyred in the 20th century for their faith and today countless of our brothers and sisters in Christ are imprisoned, tortured, and murdered for their faith in Jesus, a freedom we often take for granted in this country.
Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “The man who is truly meek is the one who is amazed that God and man can think of him as well as they do and treat him as well as they do…We are to leave everything—ourselves, our rights, our cause, our whole future—in the hands of God.”
Abraham displayed meekness by letting Lot choose the better land. Moses, despite being attacked and criticized, prayed for his people. The greatest model of meekness, however, is Jesus. He said:
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”(Mark 10:43-45)
This is not the American Dream, family. It’s not who dies with the most toys wins, stand up for my rights, do it my way, or look out for number one. Some people think they can put a little Jesus onto the American Dream like whipped cream on hot cocoa, but that’s not the invitation. The invitation is to die to your pride, humble yourself, and serve others through God’s strength. It’s radical, and I must confess my life is not radical enough. I’m selfish. I’m prideful. I want to be happy and safe and comfortable, but that’s not what I signed up for when I surrendered my life to Jesus.
Jesus, with all power in heaven and earth, chose to serve and sacrifice himself for us. He demonstrated the ultimate act of meekness. And He says, “Follow me.”
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
What does it mean to inherit the earth? For first-century Jews, it meant Israel—their promised land. For us, it points to the new heaven and new earth described in Revelation 21. Jesus promises that the meek will inherit the earth…and be blessed, have God’s favor and presence.
So What?
We all possess power, whether through our wealth, education, or influence. The question is how we use it. Instead of focusing on ourselves, we’re called to follow Jesus and serve others.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
One of my doctoral professors, Scot McKnight, said,
“The “meek” are those who suffer and who have been humbled, and yet they do not seek revenge but God’s glory and the welfare of others. In other words, they lovingly trust God and hope in God’s timing and God’s justice.”
The meek experience contentment and will one day enjoy their eternal inheritance. Let us use our power to glorify God and bless others, living as citizens of His upside-down kingdom. In doing so, we will be blessed and experience God’s presence and favor.
Credits: Some ideas from The Beatitudes Project, Dr. Matt Carter.

Mourn, 12 January 2025

Blessed are Those Who Mourn
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Blessed: The Beatitudes
January 12, 2025
Matthew 5:4
 
Series Big Idea: The greatest sermon in history is radical, revolutionary, and relevant.
 
Big Idea: We are blessed and comforted when we mourn and mourn with others.
 
Life is full of loss. It might be a job, your health, or your marriage. Take a moment to think about your greatest loss. I know—it’s not the most uplifting way to begin today! But really, what is your greatest loss? An athlete might think of a championship they nearly won. A child might recall the death of a beloved pet. For others, it could be the loss of a spouse, a child, or even one’s memory. In California, it might be a house. Loss is universal. And unless it involves weight, we’re usually not fond of loss.

As we continue our series on the
BeatitudesBlessed, we’re going to explore what Jesus said about loss and grief. It’s a weighty subject, yet Jesus offers hope and encouragement for those who mourn. Perhaps this is exactly what you need to hear today.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matthew 5:4, NIV)

This world is undeniably
broken. Although God created a beautiful universe for us to enjoy, humanity’s pride, rebellion, and sin have marred it, leaving us with a world full of problems.
How do we respond to loss? Some of us were taught, “Big boys don’t cry.” Some cultures bury emotions in silence, while others openly weep and wail.

When I think of wailing, I’m reminded of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, also called the Western Wall. It’s the only remaining part of the Jewish Temple, destroyed in 70 AD, and is the holiest site where Jews are permitted to pray. It’s called the Wailing Wall because of the lamentations over the Temple’s destruction. More than a million prayers, written on slips of paper, are placed into its crevices each year—a poignant image of grief and hope intertwined.

Grieving is essential to life. The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us:

"There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance."
 (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4)

Talking about grief, mourning, and loss can make us uncomfortable. Yet, Jesus calls those who mourn 
“blessed.” How can this make sense? Last week, we discussed the Greek word makarios, meaning “happy, fortunate, well-off, supremely blest.” It seems paradoxical. Imagine walking into a funeral home and telling the grieving families they are blessed. It feels counterintuitive.
But here’s the truth: blessing is not about ease or pleasure. It’s about experiencing God’s presence and favor. Sometimes, God allows us to lose what we hold dear—not to punish us, but to draw us closer to Him. These moments remind us that when God is all we have, we realize He is all we need.

Loss is painful. It leaves scars that often never fully heal. Yet, even in loss, we can experience the presence and favor of God. The psalmist declares:

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
 (Psalm 34:18)

That sounds so sweet, doesn’t it? What poet wrote those words? They were probably sitting in a meadow on a sunny, spring afternoon trying to encourage a suffering friend, right? Hardly! This is the writing of David while he was being hunted by King Saul!

 
Psalm 34 is a powerful song of God’s deliverance in the midst of agony. The verse before eighteen says,
 
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. (Psalm 34:17)
 
Perhaps most remarkable of all is how the psalm begins:
 
I will extol the LORD at all times;
                        his praise will always be on my lips.
2          I will glory in the LORD;
                        let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3          Glorify the LORD with me;
                        let us exalt his name together.
4          I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
                        he delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:1-4)
 
Remember, this is from a man fleeing for his life! David realized despite his problematic circumstance, God was present and worthy of worship. This is one reason we sing at funerals. We are to remember He remains worthy. We might not understand, but by faith we can trust He has a plan.
Another psalm declares,

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

This is a promise, church family. I know there are moments where it might not
feel like God is present, but He is with us…always…but especially when we call upon Him, when we cry out and admit we need help.

Eugene Peterson paraphrased Jesus’ words beautifully in 
The Message:

"You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you."
 (Matthew 5:4, The Message)

Jesus promises comfort for those who mourn. The word translated 
“comforted” is parakaleo, closely related to parakletos, the term Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit—our Advocate, Counselor, and Comforter.

While I can’t imagine anything better than being in the presence of Jesus himself, he told his disciples,

 
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7)

We recently celebrated Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus walked our planet for about 33 years, but when he ascended into heaven, he didn’t leave us high and dry. He sent the Holy Spirit in the second chapter of Acts, and the Holy Spirit is living inside every follower of Jesus. When we mourn, we open our hearts to the Comforter’s work in our lives. God meets us in our pain, often through His Spirit, and sometimes through His people.


Paul writes in Romans:

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15)


Loving well means entering into the joy and pain of others. Mourning with others can feel awkward, leaving us unsure of what to say or do. Often, the best gift we can offer is our presence. Silence can be golden.
We are to mourn with those who mourn, not necessarily advise them! Remember Job’s friends? When they tried to explain his suffering, they only added to his pain. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words. Simply being present—a hug, a card, or a kind gesture—can bring deep healing.

Jewish tradition embraces this beautifully through 
sitting shiva, a seven-day mourning period after a burial. Loved ones sit together, sharing memories and grief. It’s a poignant reminder of the power of community in times of sorrow.

Family, we need one another. We need to mourn with one another, rejoice with one another, pray for one another, and perhaps most of all be present for one another. Jesus came as Emmanuel—God with us—and when we are present for others, we become the hands and feet of Jesus. We are Jesus with skin on! What a blessing!

 
Mourning Our Sin

There’s another kind of mourning we must not overlook—mourning over our sins. We all sin. We harm others, rebel against God, and create idols in our lives.

When was the last time you truly grieved over your sin? Mourning our sin brings us to repentance and restoration, allowing God’s peace and comfort to heal our hearts.

Communion reminds us of this truth. Each time we partake, we remember our sin, Christ’s sacrifice, and His amazing grace. Mourning our sin draws us closer to God and helps us seek His righteousness.


A New Hope


If you’re mourning today, I want to fix it for you. I wish I could restore what you’ve lost—a job, a relationship, or a loved one. While I can’t, I can remind you that God never wastes anything.

Grieve deeply. Allow the Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen you. Let others support you. Healing takes time, but you are never alone. God is with you, and your church family is here for you.
One day, all mourning will cease.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Amen. 
  
Credits: Some ideas from The Beatitudes Project.