Opening Prayer
“Lord Jesus, thank you that your kingdom is near to us right now. Please open our eyes to see your upside‑down kingdom, help us understand your words, and change our hearts so we want what you want. Holy Spirit, be with our family as we read, talk, and listen to you. Amen.”
Scripture Reading
- Matthew 5:1–10
The Beatitudes
He said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Context & Exposition
These verses are the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, called “the Beatitudes.” Jesus is speaking to crowds of ordinary people—many were poor, sick, oppressed, and felt powerless under the Roman Empire. Everyone expected God’s kingdom to come with visible power: armies, victory, political strength.
Instead, Jesus shocks them by saying the truly “blessed” (truly happy, truly fortunate, those with the good life) are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the persecuted—people who look weak and powerless.
Jesus is revealing that God’s kingdom works completely differently from the “beastly” kingdoms of this world, where power is about control, money, and status. In God’s kingdom, real power comes from trusting and obeying God, even when we feel powerless.
Instead, Jesus shocks them by saying the truly “blessed” (truly happy, truly fortunate, those with the good life) are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the persecuted—people who look weak and powerless.
Jesus is revealing that God’s kingdom works completely differently from the “beastly” kingdoms of this world, where power is about control, money, and status. In God’s kingdom, real power comes from trusting and obeying God, even when we feel powerless.
Discussion Questions
You can choose a few questions based on your family's ages and your timeframe.
- Understanding the Text
- What are some types of people Jesus calls “blessed” in Matthew 5:3–12?
- Which of those descriptions surprise you the most? Why?
- What do you think “poor in spirit” means? How might it feel to be “poor in spirit”?
- Power & Powerlessness
- In our world today, what makes someone look “powerful”? (Examples: lots of money, many followers online, being popular, high position at work, etc.)
- Where do you see people who feel or seem powerless? (At school, in the news, in your own life?)
- Have you ever felt powerless—like nothing you did could fix a situation? What happened?
- Two Kingdoms: Beastly vs. Jesus’ Kingdom
- The sermon described the “Beastly Kingdom” as one where power comes from controlling others, having more, or being above others. Where do you see that kind of thinking around you?
- Jesus’ kingdom says, “How good is your life when you have no worldly power—and trust God instead.” What is hard about believing that?
- When you feel powerless, what are some ways you’re tempted to grab for “beastly” power (lying, pushing others down, cheating, manipulating, etc.) instead of trusting Jesus?
- Repentance & Reorientation
- The sermon said repentance is not just feeling sorry; it’s changing direction and changing what actually guides your life. What is one “Beastly Kingdom” idea you sometimes believe about power, safety, or success?
- What is one specific way your family could live more by Jesus’ kingdom values this week (in money, time, how you treat people, or how you handle stress)?
- If Jesus stood in front of you and said, “The kingdom is right beside you,” what might he be inviting you to turn away from, and what might he be inviting you into?
Reflection
- For Young Children:
- Explain simply: Sometimes we feel small, weak, or left out. Jesus says, “Those are exactly the people my kingdom is for.”
- Ask:
- When was a time you felt small or left out?
- Did you know Jesus was close to you right then?
- If Jesus sat next to you at lunch or on the playground when you felt left out, what do you think He would say to you?
- Emphasize: Jesus is your King and Friend. He is close to you when you feel powerless, and that is when you are especially “blessed” in His kingdom.
- For Older Children:
- Talk about how the world says, “You are important if you are talented, popular, or successful,” but Jesus says, “You are blessed when you know you need Me.”
- Ask:
- Where do you feel pressure to “prove” yourself (grades, sports, friends, social media)?
- What do you do when you feel like you’re not good enough or can’t control things?
- How might it change your choices if you believed that being close to Jesus and living His way is the real “good life”?
- Invite them to name one area they feel powerless (friendships, school, body image, abilities) and remind them: “This is exactly where Jesus says, ‘My kingdom is for you.’”
- For Teens:
- Explore identity and power:
- Where do you feel you “should” have power—over your future, image, relationships, or success?
- What do you fear losing the most (reputation, opportunities, approval, comfort)? Those fears often reveal which kingdom you’re trusting.
- Ask:
- When something goes wrong (rejection, failure, conflict), do you respond more like the Beastly Kingdom (control, revenge, hiding, self-promotion) or like Jesus’ kingdom (truth, humility, endurance, mercy)?
- What would it look like, in one real area of your life, to repent—to stop chasing control and instead trust and obey Jesus, even if it makes you look weak?
- Encourage them to see following Jesus not as being “crushed,” but as aligning with the kingdom that will last forever, even when it looks costly right now.
- Explore identity and power:
Activity
“Two Towers: Which Kingdom Will Stand?”
Materials (very simple):
Materials (very simple):
- A stack of lightweight items: plastic cups, paper, empty boxes, building blocks, or books
- A small, solid item: rock, brick, or thick heavy book
- Two sticky notes or pieces of paper and tape
- A marker
- Build the “Beastly Kingdom” Tower
- With your stackable items, build a tall, wobbly tower.
- On a sticky note, write “Beastly Kingdom” or “My Power.”
- Under that, have family members suggest words to write: “Money, Popularity, Likes, Grades, Status, Strength, Control,” etc.
- Stick the note on the tower.
- Build the “Jesus’ Kingdom” Foundation
- Place the rock/brick/heavy book on the floor or table.
- On another sticky note, write “Jesus’ Kingdom” or “God’s Power.”
- Under that, write words like “Trust, Obedience, Mercy, Humility, Faithfulness, Power in Weakness.”
- Tape or place the note on/near the rock.
- Test the Towers
- Gently shake the table or lightly blow on the towers. You can also tap the Beastly tower lightly from the side.
- The Beastly tower will wobble and may fall. The rock/foundation obviously stays solid.
- Explain that the Beastly Kingdom looks tall, exciting, and impressive—but it’s unstable. A change in money, health, popularity, or politics can knock it down.
- Jesus’ kingdom seems small and unimpressive at first—trusting, obeying, serving, being merciful—but it’s built on God’s unshakeable power.
- Connect to Life
- Ask:
- Where do we, as a family, sometimes build our “tower” on Beastly Kingdom ideas?
- What’s one concrete way we can step off that wobbly tower this week and stand on Jesus’ kingdom instead (for example: telling the truth even if we lose, being generous instead of hoarding, choosing forgiveness instead of payback, trusting God instead of panicking)?
- Invite each person to share one personal example.
- Ask:
- Each person writes on a scrap of paper one “Beastly” thing they’re tempted to trust (e.g., “others’ approval,” “having control,” “my achievements”) and symbolically “takes it” off the Beastly tower and lays it at the base of the rock, saying quietly, “Jesus, I want your kingdom instead.”
Action Step Prayer
“King Jesus, you said, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ We admit that we are often powerless, fearful, and tempted to grab control the world’s way. Forgive us for trusting in money, status, or success more than in you.
Please show each of us one area this week where we need to repent—where we need to stop living by the Beastly Kingdom and start living by your kingdom. Give us courage to obey you when it feels costly, and faith to believe that your kingdom is the only one that will last. Help our family to seek your kingdom first in our choices, our time, and our relationships. Amen.”
Please show each of us one area this week where we need to repent—where we need to stop living by the Beastly Kingdom and start living by your kingdom. Give us courage to obey you when it feels costly, and faith to believe that your kingdom is the only one that will last. Help our family to seek your kingdom first in our choices, our time, and our relationships. Amen.”
Takeaway
In Jesus’ upside-down kingdom, the truly “blessed” are not the powerful and impressive, but those who know they are powerless and trust God instead. This week, our family will choose to turn away from the world’s way of chasing power and instead live by Jesus’ kingdom values—trust, obedience, mercy, and faithfulness—even when it feels weak.
Closing Prayer
“Father, thank you that your kingdom has come near to us in Jesus and that it belongs to the powerless who trust you. As we go into this week—into work, school, friendships, and challenges—remind us that you are with us and that your kingdom is stronger than any ‘beastly’ power around us.
Holy Spirit, keep showing us where we’re building on shaky ground, and gently lead us back to Jesus, our solid rock. Protect our hearts from fear, pride, and despair. Help us to see every situation—especially the ones where we feel weak—as an invitation to lean on your power.
We entrust our family to you and ask that our home would reflect your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Holy Spirit, keep showing us where we’re building on shaky ground, and gently lead us back to Jesus, our solid rock. Protect our hearts from fear, pride, and despair. Help us to see every situation—especially the ones where we feel weak—as an invitation to lean on your power.
We entrust our family to you and ask that our home would reflect your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”