Bona Fide- Blessed are you who mourn.
Sermon Notes

Review:

• To get to heaven our righteousness must rise higher than the Pharisee—one who believes they can impress God enough to earn eternity with him.
• The one whose faith is bona fide, the real deal, or God approves of is one who acknowledges they are bankrupt spiritually and beg God for mercy.
• The best way to accurately understand the Beatitudes is to see them as a progression of one’s heart. [Image: billboards taking beatitudes out of context]

Profile of a bona fide faith.  Matthew 5:1-12

• Approved is the one who is poor in spirit. They will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
• Approved is the one who mourns. They will be comforted.

mourn panqew (pantheo)- to grieve, mourn, lament, wail, to feel guilt. Mounce

A strong remorseful response to having done wrong.
It is a grief that is filled with regret.

comforted parakalew (parakaleo)- to call near, invite for consoling or to encourage. Strongs and Mounce  [Image- father hugging a child]

• If being poor in spirit is the starting point of a bona fide faith then, then mournful regret is the first step of transformation. Matthew 5:4

• God invites you to experience his consoling embrace. Matthew 5:4b
  • Hugs heal. Did you know a long hug can lower your blood pressure?
  • Hugs change the outlook.

Example of David’s mournful regret that receives comfort from God.  2 Samuel 12:13-25

• Context- King David has an adulterous affair that leads to pregnancy and commits murder as part of a plot to cover the sin.
• David is confronted by the prophet Nathan.
• David becomes remorseful and begged God for mercy.
• God showed mercy and love in the birth of a child who God himself named Jedidiah—which meansloved by the Lord.

Read Psalm 51:1-12 

Psalm 9:9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
            a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 22:24 For he has not despised or scorned
    the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
    but has listened to his cry for help.

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?

Modern Stories

• Shane’s story [Image: baptism photo]
• Kaden’s story [Image: baptism]

Take aways.

1. Acknowledge you cannot on your own experience saving faith; therefore, beg God for mercy.
2. Mournful regret is the beginning of much change in your life.
3. God invites you to come to him for a comforting embrace that will begin the change of your life—your heart and your outlook!
4. God wants to use you to invite people to experience the comfort of God.

Discussion Guide:

1. What is the difference between a person who acknowledges their depraved state without remorse verses one who acknowledges sinful state and experience mournful regret? What is the likely outcome of each of these examples?
2. What does it say about God that he promises comfort to one who regretfully mourns? What impact does this approach of God have upon the one he invites to come to him for comfort?
3. Read 2 Samuel 12 to get a bit more of the David and Nathan story. How does David’s mourning his sin and the consequences move God’s heart?  How did that mourning affect David’s heart and perspective in the end? 
4. How can you be the comfort of God to someone in a way that invites them into His presence? Do you have an example where someone was that to you?  If so, share.