The Strength of Gentle Grief

This morning, Dave Blow shared a teaching on the next two Beatitudes: "Blessed are those who mourn..." and "Blessed are the meek...". Jesus is telling us that those who mourn deeply understand the cost of violence and those who grieve the world's pain are less eager to add to it.

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

The audio from the clip featuring Amy Grant appears in the recording. If you'd like to see that clip, you can find it here.

Home Church Questions:

1. What stood out to you from this week's teaching? Was there a word, image, or phrase that stayed with you over the past few days?

2. Read Matthew 5:4-5 and Psalms 37:1-11 (preferably in multiple translations). What stands out to you from these passages?

3. What kinds of mourning do you think are being named here (eg, personal, communal, global)?

4. When you hear the word "meek", what reactions or assumptions come up for you? 

5. The sermon described meekness as "strength under control", not passivity. Where have you seen gentleness require courage?

6. How are mourning and meekness connected? How might grieving the world's brokenness shape a nonviolent response to conflict?

7. Anabaptists see nonviolence as a way of following Jesus, not just an ideal. What feels challenging–or perhaps hopeful–about that for you?

8. This week, practice lament. Name before God one place of grief, whether personal or communal, without trying to fix it. Also, practice gentleness. In one tense moment this week, pause and ask: "What would the meekness of Jesus look like here?"

9. Pray with and for one another, our church community, and our world.

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Website: theharbournewmarket.ca
Email: david@theharbournewmarket.ca