The Beatitudes: The Pathway to Discipleship

By Michael L. D'Spain

The Beatitudes: The Pathway to Discipleship takes a look at the well-known and often studied blessings in Jesuss Sermon on the Mount, offering ways to see them afresh. Author Michael L. DSpain weaves together an exploration of the beloved passage from Matthews gospel with his experiences in the military and as a father of three sons. The result is a tapestry that shows how Jesus invites individuals to follow him closely so that when others see their lives of discipleship, they see Jesus Himself, their teacher, their rabbi.

Each chapter of The Beatitudes: The Pathway to Discipleship explores one of the Beatitudes through explanations of its details, illustrations from daily life, and comparisons with other passages from the Scriptures that present teachings about Gods blessings. After asking readers a deep questionAre you ready?the books final chapter closes with the reassurance of Jesuss promise of eternal life for His disciples.

When you listen to the words of Jesus and hear His invitation to follow, this study can show the direction to take as you step out along the journey of discipleship. Whether you are a seasoned Christian seeking new depths in your faith or a recently converted believer, the Beatitudes provide the sustenance to fortify you as you come to know the challenges and obstacles that confront you on your journey of faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781490899145

Michael L. D'Spain

Michael L. DSpain, a licensed minister through Fuller Life Fellowship for more than three decades, spreads the gospel by leading Bible studies and speaking to groups, including gatherings at prayer events. A retired military officer, he and Gail, his wife, have enjoyed more than forty years of marriage. They currently live in Texas. Email: [e-mail]

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Copyright © 2016 Michael L. D’Spain.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-9913-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-9914-5 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 01/15/2016

CONTENTS

Foreword

Preface

1.    Blessed are the toor in spirit

2.    Blessed are those who mourn

3.    Blessed are the meek

4.    Blessed are those who hunger and thirst

5.    Blessed are the merciful

6.    Blessed are the pure in heart

7.    Blessed are the peacemakers

8.    Blessed are those who are persecuted

9.    Rejoice and be exceedingly glad

10.  Conclusion: are you ready?

Afterword

Acknowledgement

About the author

FOREWORD

Thirty years ago I met a young Air Force officer in Seattle, Washington. He was a student at the University of Washington, earning his Masters Degree in Meteorology while serving in the military and raising his family. His beautiful wife, Gail, and their two sons (they had their third son a few years later) attended our church, and that’s how we met. I was a Christian counselor and Bible teacher.

Michael and I began to study the scriptures together once or twice a week. We prayed about the important things in our lives and Mike shared with me about his young family. He told wonderful, funny stories about David and Adam, and about all the things that can go wrong when you’re raising boys!

Over the years Mike has grown in his understanding of how God works in our lives. He has taught the Bible in church and home bible studies, and he has shared his faith with countless people.

It is unspeakably wonderful that, all these years after we met, Michael has written a book that incorporates his love for the Lord Jesus, and the Bible, his humor, and the wisdom and experience he has gained as the father of three sons.

This study of the Beatitudes is different from other similar studies because the heart and soul of the author leaps off the pages to touch your life. In these pages you will gain a new insight into the words of the Savior through the eyes and the life of a Godly man and father, according to the light he has received from God’s Word. Mike's insight will help you apply the truths of the Beatitudes to your own life.

So sit back, relax and prepare to smile. This book will touch your heart and change your life.

Rev. Lou Carlson

Santa Ana, CA

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PREFACE

Have you wondered, as I have, about the words from Jesus in Matthew 4:3-12? We know they are important; they just seem out of place. They are beautiful bullet points of thought stuck into His discourse. Many times we look at each verse separately, losing sight of the bigger picture.

Sermons seem to take each verse as separate and distinct thoughts that just happen to always be presented together. We realize they are important characteristics of a disciple; we just have difficulty tying them together. Jesus spends the remaining time of His discourse explaining the change in perspective from the external law to the internal condition of the heart.

Jesus was a Jewish rabbi. We have the advantage of looking back into history and acknowledging Him as the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, but to the Jews of that time He was a rabbi. Disciples were chosen by a rabbi to essentially live with the rabbi and become his students. The disciples would not just learn from the rabbi but also imitate the rabbi. The disciples would spend all day, every day following, listening, learning, and copying the rabbi—in essence becoming like the rabbi. I refer the reader to the extensive work and wisdom of Ray Vander Laan for detailed studies on the relationship of the disciple to the rabbi along with many other topics.

Jesus has just chosen and called his disciples. Their training is beginning. These young men need a change in perspective. They need to unlearn a lot of their training in the law. Anyone who has gone through basic training in the military can relate to these men. Jesus needs to help them unlearn some old habits and ways of thought and instill in them a new set of rules and code of conduct.

Jesus calls his disciples together to begin their training. He starts with the Beatitudes. They are the bridge, coming after His call of the disciples and before He explains the spiritual, not physical, implications of the new life being set before them. Jesus is getting ready to give them new insight into the old law. The climax of His dissertation comes in verse 48, where He says, Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect.

The Beatitudes show the growth of Christian discipleship. They are the bridge that ties the theory of the law and the new interruption and application together. Jesus first covers being poor in spirit, mourning (sorrow), meekness (humility), and seeking righteousness (hunger and thirst). These deal with God reaching out to man and our response. Jesus then covers mercy, pure hearts, and being peacemakers. These deal with how we are to respond and interact with the unsaved world around us. Jesus covers persecution and rejection third; these deal with the world’s response to us as His disciples. Jesus lastly declares the victory celebration that awaits us as we cross the finish line.

Jesus is up-front about the disciples’ past without Him, what it will mean to them to follow Him, and what He promises at the end of the journey. Jesus uses the Beatitudes to show His disciples the path they must follow to change from who they are to who they must become to complete the journey in becoming a disciple, in becoming like their Master.

Nothing has changed! The Beatitudes are a short and concise step-by-step revelation of the journey