Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North Sermons — Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North

The Heart of the Disciple

Congratulations to the Hungry

Introduction:

Who Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness"? (Matthew 5:6)

Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness?

Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

How Do I Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness?

Philippians 3:8-12 - ...For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Why Are We Congratulating the Hungry?

How to Grow Your Appetite:

  1. Taste .

    Psalm 34:8 - Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!

  2. Eat .
  3. Fast .

    Psalm 42:1 - As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

The Heart of the Disciple - Congratulations to the Hungry
Jeff Miller
Download

Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 5:6-7 and Philippians 3:8-12

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. How would you respond to someone who says, “I don’t really hunger and thirst for righteousness.”?

  3. What are some practical ways a believer can increase their appetite for spiritual things?

  4. Jesus said the hungry and thirsty will be satisfied. What does this satisfaction actually look like in the life of a believer today?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Congratulations to the Meek

Introduction:

Who Are the "Meek"? (Matthew 5:5)

Forsaking all Self-interest to the Will of God for the Sake of others .

Philippians 2:3-8 - Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Why Are We Congratulating the Meek?

How Do I Cultivate Meekness? (Psalm 37:1-11)

  1. You Don't Fret over the wicked or the state of the world.
  2. You Wholly Depend on God to Deal with Wrongdoers .
  3. You Wholly Depend on God for Vindication .
  4. You Ask God to remember those opposed to you.
  5. You Pray for pportunities to be Trained and Tested .

    Congratulations to the poor in spirit, you have the kingdom of heaven!

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

The Heart of the Disciple - Congratulations to the Meek
Rich Sprunk
Download

Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 5:5 & Psalm 37:1-11

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. Why do we find unbiblical definitions of meekness either unappealing (e.g., it’s weakness) or more appealing (e.g., it’s strength under control) than the definition presented during the message?

  3. Do you find the definition presented during the message unappealing? If yes, why? Utilizing Philippians 2:3-8, how would you define meekness?

  4. Why is genuine meekness essential to hungering for righteousness?

  5. What is one characteristic of meekness that you can commit to cultivating this week (Psalm 37:1-11)?

Breakout
Pray that the Lord will impress on you the imperative to be meek, and that as a congregation we will be committed to Biblical meekness.

Congratulations to those Who Mourn!

Introduction:

Who Are the "Those Who Mourn"? (Matthew 5:4)

Why Are We Congratulating those Who Mourn?

Revelation 21:4 - He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Romans 7:24-25 - Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

How Do I Mourn? (James 4:8-10)

  1. What Keeps Me from Mourning?

    James 4:8-10 - Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

    1. You aren't Drawing near to God.
    2. You're too Invested in your sin.
    3. You don't see Sin for what it is.
  2. How Do I Know I Really Mourn My Sin?

    3. 2 Corinthians 7:10 - For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

    → You Repent without Regret.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

The Heart of the Disciple - Congratulations to those Who Mourn!
Jeff Miller
Download

Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 5:4 & James 4:8-10

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. What exactly does it mean to “mourn” over your sin? Why is mourning necessary?

  3. What would you say to someone that says “I’ve never mourned over my sin. And I don’t really see why I need to!”

  4. How does God comfort those who mourn? What does that look like?

  5. Read 2 Corinthians 7:10. Explain the difference between worldly grief and godly grief. What does it mean that worldly grief brings death?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Congratulations to the Poor in Spirit

Introduction:

Who Are the "Poor in Spirit"? (Matthew 5:1-3)

Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...

James 2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

Why Are We Congratulating the Poor in Spirit?

How Do I Become Poor in Spirit?

Luke 18:9-14 - He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

3 Signs That You Are Poor in Spirit:

  1. You Humble , Exalt yourself.
  2. You compare yourself to God , not Others.
  3. You bank on God's Mercy , not your Works.

    Congratulations to the poor in spirit, you have the kingdom of heaven!

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

The Heart of the Disciple - Congratulations to the Poor in Spirit
Jeff Miller
Download

Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 5:1-3 & Luke 18:9-14

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”? How do we become poor in spirit?

  3. “... for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” What is the significance of Jesus using the word IS? How would you explain this to a young child asking what it means that we get the “kingdom of heaven”?

  4. How do you convince someone they are poor in spirit if they consider themselves “not that bad of a person”?

Breakout
Pray for one another.