Preaching the Beatitudes for the Glory of God

For far too long, the Beatitudes have been misunderstood as a daunting checklist of requirements for believers to meet to gain the promises at the end of each statement. Preaching the Beatitudes with this interpretation places unnecessary pressure upon believers to meet such high standards. Help believers break free from the burden of trying to make their lives match the Beatitudes by showing them that, in Christ, they already fulfill them. This book aims to help preachers preach the Beatitudes as a vibrant profile of believers already in Christ. Each Beatitude is not a duty to fulfill, but a promise to claim--promises that allow the believer to live in a state of flourishing in the present, not waiting till they reach heaven. In these perilous times, believers need reminding of their identity in Christ and the promises that come with it. Through an in-depth exploration of the Greek word makarios, this book illuminates Christ's intent when giving the Beatitudes to his disciples, showing how every believer can live in flourishing state due to the present and future promises Christ gives in each statement. May readers rediscover the promises and assurance Jesus gives to all believers at the beginning of the greatest sermon ever preached, the Sermon on the Mount.