Teaching the First Beatitude by Jeanne Sparks

Categories: Beatitudes

Read Matthew 5:3

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Qualities of "poor in spirit:"

• Teachable
• Humble
• Willing to trust God completely
• Receptive
• Realizing the need to daily look to God for any and every answer.

Qualities of the "kingdom of heaven:"

• Abundance
• Happiness
• Harmony
• Fun
• Success
• Adventure

What doesn't get to go into the kingdom?

• Pride, Fear, Ignorance – because they make one rich in material thinking, which keeps us spiritually poor.
• Negative attitudes (poor in spirit) hide God's presence, but a change in thinking instantly shows the kingdom of heaven is within us—here, right now.

Paraphrasing of Beatitude # 1

• Happy are those who trust in God and are humble enough to ask for His guidance in everything that needs to be done; for they accept the rewards of living closely with God.
• Happy are those who recognize that material riches are of no help and that they are ready, willing, and able to be obedient to God's abundant plan for them.

Create your own paraphrase of Matt 5:3

There are many different ways of looking at this beatitude and working with it.

Help the students to create posters to help remember the beatitude. Jeanne Sparks created this one for her pupils:

• INSTANTANEOUS ADVENTURE
• ABUNDANCE
• HAPPINESS
• HARMONY
• FUN
• PERFECTION
• SUCCESS
• Offered daily to anyone who is:
• Teachable
• Humble
• Trusts God enough to give up:
• Pride
• Ignorance
• Fear
• Bad habits
• Bad attitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.