Blessed Are the Meek

In one paragraph

This was a topical sermon on biblical meekness, something Pastor Carl described as a quality that has nearly vanished from our vocabulary and our thinking. Rather than working through the next passage in the Second Corinthians series, he paused the series for a week and walked the congregation through Psalm 37 as a portrait of what meekness actually looks like in a life. Pastor Carl started by...

Read together

1. Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth, introducing the topic of biblical meekness
2. James 1:21 rid yourselves of all sordidness and welcome with meekness the implanted word of God that has the power to save your souls
3. 2 Corinthians 10:1 Paul appeals to the Corinthians by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, noting he is humble face to face but bold when away
4. Numbers 12:3 the man Moses was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth
5. Philippians 2 Christ being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made himself a servant, humbling himself to death on a cross, therefore God exalted him
6. Romans 14 be thoroughly convinced in your own mind of your position
7. Psalm 37:1-40 full reading of the psalm as a picture of biblical meekness, strength under restraint, and trusting God to vindicate the righteous
8. Deuteronomy 32 from the song of Moses, vengeance is mine says the Lord, the Lord will vindicate his people
9. Zephaniah 2:3 seek the Lord, seek righteousness and seek meekness, perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the Lord's wrath
10. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 on the night Jesus was betrayed he took bread and the cup, instituting the new covenant in his blood, do this in remembrance of me

Talk about it

1. Pastor Carl described biblical meekness as 'strength under restraint' rather than timidity or weakness. How does that definition change the way you think about meekness as something worth pursuing?
2. Sinclair Ferguson's definition of meekness involved submitting to the word of God in scripture and to the hand of God in providence. Where in your own life do you find one of those harder to do than the other, and why?
3. Psalm 37 repeats the command not to fret over the wicked or those who prosper through evil schemes. What makes that so difficult to actually do, and what does the psalm offer as the alternative?
4. The sermon pointed to Moses as the biblical example of meekness, despite also being known for moments of anger and striking the rock. What does it tell us that scripture holds both of those things about the same person?
5. The communion prayers connected the 'perhaps' of the Old Testament with the certainty of the new covenant in Jesus's blood. How does that shift from 'perhaps' to 'everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved' affect the way you approach God when you feel like you have fallen short?