Review: So…how'd you do with your daily two minutes this past week?  C'mon, be honest!  If you didn't manage to do it at all, why not give it a try this week?  And for those of you who did manage to try it, why not do it just one more day this week?  And if you're in a small group, share your experiences both good and bad with each other.  Our stories always  build each other up!

Take a moment in prayer, welcoming the Spirit's presence.  Then read over the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:2-12) once again.  Are you getting any insights or discovering any connections you didn't see when we started?​

Phil focused our attention on verse 6:  "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."  What have you ordinarily believed "righteousness" is, and how did Phil's message challenge or deepen your understanding?

Notice that Jesus doesn't say, "Blessed are the righteous," but "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness."  How do Jesus' words help us go beyond righteousness alone?  What is the big point Jesus is trying to get at here, do you think?  (It might help to re-think the whole list of Beatitudes–how is Jesus turning his listeners' worlds upside down in this whole section?)

 One point Jesus is trying to drive home is that we don't have what it takes to live right before God, no matter how hard we try, no matter how hard we grunt it out.  Read Jeremiah 2:22 and Isaiah 64:6 and discuss how they prove the point Jesus is trying to make. 

Phil also talked about how inspiring the last verse of "Nothing But the Blood" is to him.  Here it is: "This is all my hope and peace: nothing but the blood of Jesus. This is all my righteousness: nothing but the blood of Jesus." At first glance this perhaps sounds strange, but how can Jesus' blood be our righteousness?  (You might want to consider your response to the previous question in discussing this one!)

Now, let's put it all together!  It's about grace. Read Romans 3:20-25 and 2 Corinthians 5:21.  How do these passages give us a solid foundation for understanding why true righteousness can only be found in Christ? And how does this reality shape our approach to daily life? 

Consider a response to "hungering and thirsting for righteousness" that trains us in hunger and thirst:  First, continue to practice silently offering yourself to God for 2 minutes.  Give him permission to move in your life in whatever way he chooses.   Second, try a fast of some kind (from food or some other "necessary" thing in your life) as a reminder that we do not live by bread alone.  Be prepared to share your experiences either in your Life Group or on Sunday morning during Sharing Time.