Especially for Older Students: To Be or Not to Beatitudes

(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Provide a copy of the “To Be or Not to Beatitudes” activity sheet and a pencil for each student.

Distribute the “To Be or Not to Beatitudes” activity sheet. Instruct students to match the Beatitude in Column A with its definition in Column B and then the result in Column C. Students may use their Bibles to match each column. Answers should be as follows:

• Repent from sin—Those who mourn—Comfort
• Desire Christlikeness—Hunger and thirst for righteousness—Filled
• Strive for daily obedience and clean heart—Pure in heart—See God
• Be faithful under fire—The persecuted—The Kingdom of Heaven
• Reconcile yourself to God and to others—Peacemakers—Called the children of God
• Recognize your sin—Poor in spirit—The Kingdom of Heaven
• Demonstrate forgiveness—The merciful—Mercy
• Surrender to God’s will—The meek—Inherit the earth

Ask: How do you think the actions of Column A are counter-cultural? What will people say about you if you live that way? Challenge students to consider the results in Column C and evaluate whether it is worth it to live for Christ.

Summarize that the Beatitudes work together to produce the character of one who is consecrated for Christ’s purposes. Emphasize that these are identifying marks of His followers.