One Story | November 15, 2026
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Matthew 5:1-20
1 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:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Talk Sheet Question
KQ: What is some good news that is in Jesus’ sermon? What is encouraging about it?
What is surprising about the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)? What stood out or was challenging to you?
How does Jesus description of who is blessed differ from the world’s categories?
Jesus said he came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them. How does this continue the One Story we have been following through Scripture?
What is the difference between doing good so people admire you and doing good so people glorify your Father? What could letting your light shine look like at home, at work, or in your neighborhood this week?
Jesus ended the sermon with quite an application in his sermon (Matthew 7:24-27). What is your response to the end of his sermon?
(KQ is a Kid Question that could be used to invite children into discussion, but also works well for adults.)
Prayer
Thank God for the blessings attached to being in the Kingdom.