The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:3-10

Teaching Videos

Idea 1

How can you be truly happy?

  • Ask the kids if they have ever felt truly happy? What did it feel like, what is the story behind their happiness?

  • Share a time with the kids when you felt truly happy.

  • Let the kids know that there is a list in the bible that talks about how to be happy but it’s not the kind of list that we would think of, everything on the list seems a bit backwards, but maybe we can work on it together and see if we can understand what Jesus was saying.

  • Let them know that in the bible the word that is used is Blessed. Is there a difference between the word happy and the word blessed?

Teaching Ideas

Idea 2

Watch the Thinking Cap Videos by Saddleback kids.

  • After each video ask the kids for a definition of the Beatitude.

Idea 3

Look at all the Beatitudes and see if you can make an easier way of saying each one.

  1. Blessed at the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven - Blessed are people who know they need God.

  2. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted - Blessed are people who are sad because they will be comforted by God.

  3. Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth - Blessed are people who serve God instead of serving themselves.

  4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled - Blessed are people who really want to do what is right. They will do it.

  5. Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy - Blessed are people who forgive and who kindness to others, they will be treated the same way.

  6. Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God - Blessed are people who don’t have anything bad in their hearts.

  7. Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God - Blessed are people who keep the peace they are God’s children.

  8. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven - Blessed are people who are treated badly because they believe in Jesus for they will go to heaven.

Idea 4

Read “A Sermon with Parables” on page 612 of The Action Bible

Questions:

  1. How does Jesus start off his sermon?

  2. What do you think is the hardest thing that Jesus taught?

  3. What do you think people thought of Jesus sermon?

Idea 5

Play pictionary with all the Beatitudes.

  • Divide the group into two teams. Give each team a pad of paper and a marker or pencil.

  • Let each team choose a person to draw. Both drawers will secretly be given a beatitude to draw. They aren’t allowed to speak, but the drawer needs to get their team to guess the beatitude.

  • Keep going and choose different people to be the drawers until all the beatitudes have been guessed.

Idea 6

Paint a wooden blessed sign.

  • After learning about the beatitudes, give each of the kids a wooden signed that says blessed.

  • Put out some paint and let them paint their sign.