Out of This Worldنموونە

Where We're Going (Context of Matthew 5)

Have you ever met someone who stood out from the rest of the crowd for no apparent reason—only to later discover that they follow Jesus?

Jesus was different from everyone He interacted with because He belonged to a Kingdom that is not of this world. When we choose to follow Him, we become citizens of that same heavenly Kingdom, called to reach the world while we still live in it.

In the “Out Of This World” Bible Study, we’re going to walk through Matthew 5:1–16 and discover three things God wants to shift our perspective on:

Day 1) The Way We View Success (Matthew 5:1–6)

Day 2) The Way We View Conflict (Matthew 5:7–11)

Day 3) The Way We View Purpose (Matthew 5:13–16)

Prayerfully, as we study the words of the One who entered this world to save humanity, we will discover meaning and fulfillment beyond anything this world has to offer!

Day 1) The Way We View Success

What Does True Success Look Like?

1) Giving Up

“Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’” (Matthew 5:1-3 ESV)

In its simplest terms, the word blessed means “happy” or “satisfied”—in other words, successful. Our culture tells us that success comes through striving and straining, doing everything we can to achieve happiness. However, Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount by saying that the happiest people are those who realize they can't achieve it on their own. He lived the life we could not live, died the death we deserved and rose again on the third day, fully living up to the standard that humanity has failed to meet since we were banished from the Garden of Eden. Experiencing the purpose-filled life that only God can give begins when we recognize our inability, see His matchless ability and choose to place our faith in Him!

2) Getting Low

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:4,5 ESV)

Once we give up trying to live a fruitful life by our own strength and begin to truly trust in Him, the natural response is to live with meekness—or, in modern terms, humility. Living with humility means choosing to “get low” by viewing the needs of others as greater than our own, trusting that God is always taking care of us. Getting low also means we can mourn the pain of this world while simultaneously receiving divine comfort that is beyond description.

3) Going Deep

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6 ESV)

When our goal changes, our hunger changes. When we stop striving to earn and achieve on our own and instead embrace humility—rooted in God’s sufficiency—we develop a deep thirst to know Him more. Thankfully, He has given us valuable resources like the Bible, church community, prayer and worship—each a powerful tool for going deeper in our relationship with Him.

Big Idea: True success isn’t found in self-effort or worldly achievement but in surrendering to God, walking in humility and seeking His righteousness. When we give up striving for worldly success, get low in heart and go deep with Him, we discover the lasting joy and fulfillment only He can provide.

Let’s Think About This:

Question 1) In what ways does our culture define success differently from Jesus’ definition in Matthew 5:3? How can recognizing our spiritual poverty be the beginning of true success?

Question 2) What does it look like to “get low” in your everyday life—at school, work or home? How does humility actually lead to strength and impact rather than weakness?

Question 3) What are you currently “hungry” for in life? How might shifting your hunger toward righteousness change your sense of purpose and fulfillment?