Bulletins - First Baptist Church Litchfield

- - Psalm 119:33–40ESV
Cast your cares
How Great Thou Art
- - 2 Timothy 3:16ESV
Small as a Mustard Seed (Matthew 17:20)
Carry It On Philippians 1:8
“What do people see when they meet Christians?”
When we talk about a flourishing life, our world usually points us to strength, success, and self-confidence. The commercials tell us, “Be proud of yourself.” The motivational speakers say, “Believe in yourself.” But Jesus begins His Sermon on the Mount in a very different place. He tells us that true flourishing begins with humility—being poor in spirit, mourning over sin, and walking in meekness.
That’s shocking to our natural ears. Who wants to be poor? Who wants to mourn? Who wants to be meek in a world that rewards pride, applause, and achievement? But Jesus is teaching us that the doorway into His kingdom is not pride but poverty of spirit; not self-congratulation but godly grief over sin; not self-assertion but meekness under His reign.
Left to ourselves, we can’t live this way. Our fallen condition is that we love pride more than humility, sin more than repentance, and self-will more than submission. But the good news is, Jesus gives us a new heart. He brings us into His kingdom not by what we achieve, but by what He accomplished at the cross. He humbled Himself, He mourned over our sin, and He walked in meekness to the point of death on a cross. Now, by His Spirit, He gives us a heart that beats with His.
So, when Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt. 5:3–4), He is showing us that the good life is not found in climbing up the ladder of the world, but in bowing low at His feet.
This morning, we begin looking at what I want to call “A Flourishing Character.” And it all starts here—with the new heart Jesus gives that is poor in spirit, that mourns over sin, and that learns to walk in meekness.
Gandhi’s story
Gandi was a person who lived in India from 1869 to 1948. He wanted to lead his country away from British rule, not through violence, but by being peaceful. Gandhi read the Gospels and liked how Jesus lived and taught. He even visited a church. But the church turned him away at the door because he wasn’t from the “right” group. Later he said, “If it weren’t for Christians, I’d be a Christian.”
Now hear me: Gandhi still needed to repent and believe in Jesus for himself. But that church did not show the character Jesus works inside his disciples. Jesus says you will know a tree by its fruit. The tree did not match the fruit.
Transition: Jesus tells us what a flourishing Christian looks like. That’s what the Sermon on the Mount is—how to live the good life now under King Jesus.
Last week we looked at “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:” (Matthew 5:1–2 )
Come and Listen (Matthew 5:1–2)
We learned three things from Jesus. First, just like Moses, Jesus went up the mountain to teach his disciples. In a similar way, God brought you to chapel to hear Jesus, who is the greater Moses, teach you His word.
Secondly, jesus sat down to teach. A rabbi in Jesus’ day, would sit down as an expression of authority to teach his disciples. The disciples would sit at his feet, coming underneath his authority to learn. I the same way, Jesus is speaking to us with authority. We must come with humility—as if we’re at His feet- to listen to what he has to say.
Finally, although the crowds came to listen to Jesus, his disciples came to commit to Jesus. We are not merely spectators at a church service. We are disciples of Jesus who commit to live in a way that pleases Him.
Guide Sign – What does “Blessed” mean?
“Blessed” doesn’t mean “lucky” or “instant happy.” It means flourishing under God’s favor—the kind of life that really thrives.
Summary: If we listen to the King, we won’t just live for Friday—we’ll learn to live with purpose every day. Today we’ll learn the first three heart-beats of a flourishing character.
Transition: Here are the first three “blesseds.”
1) Blessed are the Poor in Spirit (Knowledge of our need) — v.3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
What it means: Poor in Spirit does not mean to be shy or timid—that’s personality. “Poor in spirit” means I know I need God. I can’t save myself. I don’t come to God in my pride, like the Pharisee did who said, “thank God I am not like that man.” Instead I need to come to God like the tax collector saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18).
Quick picture: Imagine a 100 pound backpack full of bricks labeled Pride, I can do it myself, I’m better than others. You can’t run like that. “Poor in spirit” takes the bricks out and asks Jesus to carry you.
Promise: “Theirs is the kingdom”—present tense! The door into Jesus’ kingdom opens to needy people who are poor in spirit.
One-line summary:
The good life starts when I admit I need Jesus.
Transition: When we know our need, what happens next?
2) Blessed are Those Who Mourn (Honest sorrow that turns) — v.4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
What it means: We mourn the right thing—our sin and the pain sin causes in God’s world. Not “I’m sad I got caught,” but “Lord, change me.”
Cracked-screen illustration: Your phone still works with a cracked screen, but the cracks spread. Mourning says, “God, my heart is cracked by sin—please repair it.”
Bible echo: “Be wretched and mourn and weep… humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:9–10).
Promise: Comfort—forgiveness now (1 John 1:9) and tears wiped away forever (Rev. 21:4).
One-line summary: The good life deepens when I grieve my sin and run to Jesus.
Transition: If we know our need and mourn our sin, how do we treat people?
3) Blessed are the Meek (Power under control) — v.5
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
What it means: Meekness isn’t weakness. It’s power under the Holy Spirit’s control. It’s strength guided by the Spirit—gentle, humble, teachable; firm for what’s right without being harsh. Jesus said, “I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29).
Illustration: A strong horse that obeys a light touch. The power is still there—it’s directed by the Master.
At school it looks like:
You could win the argument—but choose peace.
You could clap back online—but answer softly or not at all.
You could demand your rights—but trust your Father to defend and provide.
Promise: “Inherit the earth.” Jesus will make all things new, and the meek will reign with Him (Rev. 22:5).
One-line summary:
“The good life shows as gentle strength that serves others.”
By nature we chase the wrong “good life”: self-reliance, laughing at sin, and using our strength to win—not to love.
The King on the mountain came down from a higher hill—Calvary. Jesus lived perfectly, died for our sins, rose again, and now gives new hearts by His Spirit. He doesn’t just tell us to flourish—He makes it possible.
Memory line: The good life is not something I perform; the good life is Someone I follow—Jesus.
“Mirror Check” — What do people see in us?
If Gandhi—or your neighbor—came here, would they see students who are:
Poor in spirit (I need Jesus),
Mourning sin (I turn to Jesus),
Meek (I walk with Jesus and treat others gently)?
Call and response:
Leader: “Who gives the good life?”
Students: “Jesus our King!”
Leader: “How do we enter the kingdom?”
Students: “By being poor in spirit!”
Leader: “What do we do with sin?”
Students: “We mourn and turn from it!”
Leader: “How do we treat others?”
Students: “By being Meek—Meekness is not weakness, it’s Spirit-guided power under control!”
How can we walk in flourishing character this week?
Pocket prayer: “Jesus, I need You” (say it before class starts).
Secret kindness: Do one helpful thing and tell no one—“Father, You see.”
Thank-you swap: Replace one brag with a “Thank You, Lord.”
Phone/Video Game fast 20–30 min: Read Matt. 5:3–5. Journal: “Where am I proud? Where do I need mercy?”
Make it right: Apologize or forgive one person this week.
Gentle-answer challenge: Choose meekness in one hot moment (sports, group chat, sibling drama). Proverbs 15:1 “1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Who is in your mirror?
We began with a mirror. When people look at us, may they see Jesus’ character—poor in spirit, mourning sin, and meek. Not the church that turned Gandhi away, but a people who open the door wide because Jesus opened His arms wide.
The flourishing life begins when I admit my need, grieve my sin, and live gentle-strong like Jesus.
Prayer
“Father in heaven, make us poor in spirit. Teach us to mourn what You mourn. Form meekness in us by Your Spirit. Forgive our sins through Jesus, and help LCS students flourish in Your kingdom today. Amen.”
Empowered by the Spirit, Guided by the Word
- - Romans 11:33ESV
  - Romans 11:36ESV

Psalm 119:33–40ESV

2 Timothy 3:16ESV

“What do people see when they meet Christians?”

Gandhi’s story

Come and Listen (Matthew 5:1–2)

Guide Sign – What does “Blessed” mean?

1) Blessed are the Poor in Spirit (Knowledge of our need) — v.3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The good life starts when I admit I need Jesus.

2) Blessed are Those Who Mourn (Honest sorrow that turns) — v.4

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

3) Blessed are the Meek (Power under control) — v.5

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

“The good life shows as gentle strength that serves others.”

“Mirror Check” — What do people see in us?

Poor in spirit (I need Jesus),

Mourning sin (I turn to Jesus),

Meek (I walk with Jesus and treat others gently)?

Call and response:

Students: “Jesus our King!”

Students: “By being poor in spirit!”

Students: “We mourn and turn from it!”

Students: “By being Meek—Meekness is not weakness, it’s Spirit-guided power under control!”

How can we walk in flourishing character this week?

Pocket prayer: “Jesus, I need You” (say it before class starts).

Secret kindness: Do one helpful thing and tell no one—“Father, You see.”

Thank-you swap: Replace one brag with a “Thank You, Lord.”

Phone/Video Game fast 20–30 min: Read Matt. 5:3–5. Journal: “Where am I proud? Where do I need mercy?”

Make it right: Apologize or forgive one person this week.

Gentle-answer challenge: Choose meekness in one hot moment (sports, group chat, sibling drama). Proverbs 15:1 “1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Who is in your mirror?

The flourishing life begins when I admit my need, grieve my sin, and live gentle-strong like Jesus.

Prayer

Romans 11:33ESV

Romans 11:36ESV