The seventh beatitude in Matthew 5:9 shows us that disciples of Christ are peacemakers. We follow in the footsteps of our peacemaking God when we strive to live at peace with everyone and having a peacemaking effect on the environment we inhabit.

Matthew 5:8 brings us a beatitude that sounds impossible on the surface. Who has a pure heart? Who is worthy to see God? But we will see that this pure heart is possible for the disciple of Christ. It is an undivided heart, completely set on pleasing God in the hopes of one day seeing the Savior face to face. 

Matthew 5:7 teaches us that life in the Kingdom of God means showing mercy to those around us. Mercy expresses itself as forgiveness to the guilty and compassion to the suffering. Christians who have received infinite mercy from God should eagerly show mercy to others.

(Matthew 5:6) Do you desire to obey God and honor God with your life? The disciple of Christ should have a huger and a thirst for personal righteousness that overflows from a love for God. 

Matthew 5:5 tells us "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth." This meekness is expressed towards God as submission and towards man as humility and gentleness.

Matthew 5:4 tells us that "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Christians rightly mourn their own sin, the sins of others, and the effects of sin in a fallen world. But we do so knowing we find comfort through both immediate restoration in Christ and hope of the future restoration of all things. 

Matthew 5:3 brings us the first beatitude. Those who are poor in spirit realize they are spiritually powerless, spiritually worthless, and spiritually dependent. But they are happy and blessed because to them belongs the kingdom!

In Matthew 4:12-25, we find Jesus' first summons for someone to "follow me." From this passage we explore what a Christian truly is: a follower of Jesus. 

Matthew 4:1-11 brings us the temptation of Jesus. By God's divine plan, Jesus is being tested to determine if he will be the true Son who will faithfully and completely obey the Father.  And through the temptations Jesus shows himself to be the true Son.

Matthew 3:13-17 brings us the baptism of Jesus where John the Baptist and Jesus' paths cross for the first time. Here, God the Father clearly identifies Jesus as his beloved Son. We also take time to explore the doctrine of baptism as a whole.