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In this episode, Corina is joined by Bryna Morrow, fellow women's Bible study teacher at Watermark Fort Worth. Listen in as Corina and Bryna discuss the final beatitude and wrap up this series on the beginning of Jesus' most famous sermon. If you want to keep digging into the themes in this episode, here are a few reflection questions. How does the final beatitude hit you? What is your gut response? Why do you think this is?In what ways have you experienced persecution for your faith? How was this tied to living righteously? What is your prayer for the persecuted church around the world? Take a few moments to intercede for our brothers and sisters, using the words from this beatitude. What should we study on the podcast next? Let me know in a comment or DM! Follow @godbesotted on Instagram to keep up with the podcast or @corinacater to see what else I've been up to.

If you take one look at today’s news headlines, it’s likely that right now, peace seems like a pipe dream. But does Jesus call us to an impossible task in Matthew 5:9 when He says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”?  Tune in to this episode to unpack the seventh beatitude, a call to imitate our God of peace as people of peace—which is Jesus’ deep desire for His Church and a powerful witness to the watching world. If you want to keep digging into the themes in this episode, consider the following passages and reflection questions. Read Proverbs 19:11. Are there any offenses you’re harboring that should be overlooked? How can you take a step toward forgiveness today? Read Proverbs 12:20. What impact would it have on your life to “plan peace” (ESV)? How does this motivate you to pursue peace this week? Read Romans 12:15. When you think about any existing conflict in your life, search your heart and ask the Holy Spirit to show you if you have done all that is possible to be at peace with others. If not, ask the Lord to show you your next step. 4. Read Ephesians 2:14–17. How does this passage encourage you to pursue peace in your community? Enjoyed this podcast? Leave a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts!

Who are you, truly? What does your heart crave, deep down?  In the sixth beatitude, Jesus declares that the pure in heart are blessed—because they will see God. But what does purity of heart look like? And how do those of us painfully aware of the sin in our lives cultivate pure hearts? Tune into this episode to dig deeper into this beatitude. To explore the themes in this episode even further, here are a few reflection questions and passages to consider. Where in your life do you notice double-mindedness or hypocrisy? Seek the Lord and ask for His Spirit’s help in purifying your heart. What action steps might you take to be more single-minded in this area?  Read Hebrews 12:15. How does this passage relate to the sixth beatitude? What similarities in thought do you notice? How does this passage encourage and challenge you? Read Revelation 21:22-27. How does this vision of eternity stir your heart for the Lord? How does it encourage you to pursue the Lord here and now?

In the fifth beatitude, Jesus names another characteristic of kingdom citizens: mercy. Far from being a spiritual gift only some receive, mercy isn’t optional for believers—it’s absolutely essential. Tune in to unpack what mercy is, what it’s not, and the beautiful promise Jesus gives to the merciful. If you want to dig deeper into the themes of this episode, here are a few reflection questions and passages to consider: Read Matthew 9:9-13. What do you think Jesus means when He quotes Hosea, saying, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice”? How did this episode confirm or challenge your understanding of God’s mercy? How has God shown you mercy, stepping into your situation, this week? In what ways have you seen “bondage to triviality" in your life recently? Spend some time in prayer, asking God to search your heart. Then, explain the definition of mercy to someone you trust, who knows you well. Ask them if they consider you to be a merciful person. What insights did you glean from prayer and community? What steps can you take to cultivate mercy this week? Be specific.

What are you hungry for?  In the fourth beatitude, Jesus says those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed—and they will be satisfied. But what does it mean to hunger for righteousness when our default craving is to seek satisfaction from other things? In this episode, we explore what it looks like to deeply desire right standing with God and right living in the world—and why that longing is both a gift and a promise. To keep exploring the themes in this episode, here are a few reflection questions and passages to consider. What are you hungry for right now? Pause and consider: What do your daily habits, thoughts, or longings reveal about your hunger? What “broken cisterns” (Jeremiah 2:13) and “bread which does not satisfy” (Isaiah 55:2) do you tend to run to?  How has God already begun to satisfy your hunger and thirst for righteousness? Can you see a growing desire for righteousness in your life? Consider Psalm 42:1-2 as you reflect.  Are you willing to pray for a deeper hunger for righteousness—even if it means being made hungry first? What might God need to strip away for you to feel your true hunger? Consider Philippians 3:8-11 as you reflect.Read Revelation 21:5-6. Take some time to praise God for the fullness to come - and ask for His grace to desire Him above all else, more and more.

In this episode, we dive into the third beatitude: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Jesus invites us into a surprising way of life—one that’s calm, unbothered, and gentle. Let’s unpack what true meekness is and explore how trusting God empowers us to live with quiet strength, joy, and the hope of an unshakable inheritance. To keep exploring the themes in this episode, consider these passages and reflection questions.  Read Galatians 6:1-2. What connection do you see between poverty of spirit and meekness? Read James 1:19-21. Why is it important to receive God’s Word with meekness? Read James 3:13-17. What is the connection between meekness and wisdom? Compare the traits of wisdom listed to the traits of meekness discussed in this episode. What similarities do you notice?

In the second beatitude in Matthew 5:4, Jesus connects poverty of spirit with mourning. He pairs knowledge of our empty-handedness with grief over it. In doing so, He teaches us that it matters how we respond to the knowledge of our spiritual bankruptcy. It matters that we don’t just “get” that we’re sinners—but we also feel the weight of our sin.  And the amazing promise is that when we do, we will be comforted. If you want to dig deeper into the themes in this episode, here are a few passages and reflection questions to consider. Consider your theological or church background. Was mourning over sin emphasized? Was God’s comfort equally emphasized? Reflect on your personal experience with mourning over sin.  Read James 4:1-10. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you may be living in friendship with the world right now. How can you put this passage into practice this week? Read Romans 5:1-5. How does the Holy Spirit pour out God’s love into our hearts? What reassurance does He give us, even though we sin? Consider John 11:35 and John 11:38. How does Jesus demonstrate mourning over sin, even though it is not His own? What do you learn from His response to sin?

What if, when it comes to salvation, we bring nothing to the table? In this episode, we explore the radical opening of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Tune in as we unpack what it means to be spiritually poor—and why it’s the starting point to the blessedness that Jesus puts forward in this passage.    If you want to explore the themes in this episode further, here are a few reflection questions and passages to consider: Think about your life when you first came to Christ and compare it to your life today. How have you seen your awareness of your sin increase?  The “Jesus Prayer” (“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, be merciful to me, a sinner”) is a regular rhythm for Eastern Orthodox Christianity. How can you incorporate it into your prayer life this week? What difference might it make if you prayed it more regularly? In his book Living Like Monks, Praying Like Fools, Pastor Tyler Staton points out: “In Psalm 51, [David] uses four different words to name his sin but nineteen different words to illustrate God’s forgiveness.” Consider using Psalm 51 to guide a time of confession of your sin to God and adoration of His mercy.

The good life. No matter who you are, chances are you have a picture of what it looks like—and how to achieve it. When Jesus opens His first sermon in the New Testament with the famous words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” He introduces a new paradigm for the good life—a stunning invitation to true joy in God’s kingdom.  The Beatitudes, eight powerful statements from Jesus, show us what following Jesus really means—and why it’s the best decision we’ll ever make.  In this episode, we unpack Matthew 5:1-2, the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount, asking questions of the text and finding answers by searching Scripture.  If you want to dig deeper into the themes of this episode, here are a few reflection questions and passages to consider: Which of the eight beatitudes surprises you the most right now? Why? Read Luke’s account of the beatitudes in Luke 6:17-26. What differences do you notice? Does anything stand out that you’re interested in learning more about? Why? Consider beginning our study of the beatitudes in prayer. Ask God to open your eyes to behold wonderful things about Jesus in His Word! To get you started, here’s a guided prayer: Jesus,  You are prophet, law-giver,  teacher, preacher, and king— help me to see You with my heart. May I know You as my king,  and follow You with joy. This is the blessed life— to be with You and bring You glory,  now and forever.  Amen.

Our deep need every Advent season—and every day—is to stand in awe of the One worthy of all praise and honor. It’s what we were made for! But if you’re struggling with apathy in your walk with God, it can be easy to overlook the beauty of God’s glory and grace.  In this episode, you’re invited to explore Luke 2:8-20 for a fresh vision of God’s glory, finding fulfillment in Him and sharing the joy of Christ’s arrival with the world. Want to study the themes in this episode further? Here are a few passages and reflection questions to consider: Read Psalm 29. How does it inspire the awe of God in your heart? Make a list of what stands out to you. Read Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1, and Revelation 1. After considering the glory of God as described in these passages, spend some time in prayer. Confess the ways you revel in created things and any apathy toward God you’ve been experiencing. Ask God to help you see and savor His glory above all else.  The shepherd’s amazement and awe led to action. What’s one step of obedience you can take this week to honor God and share His glorious grace with others?

If you’re in a season that feels hectic or overwhelming—if your plate is full of good, but hard opportunities—the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 is an encouragement for you: Jesus is enough.  A short encouragement, from my heart to yours. Want to study the themes in this episode further? Here are a few passages and reflection questions to consider: Read the Gospel accounts of the feeding of the 5,000 (found in Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:32-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-13). Put yourself in the disciples’ shoes. What do you feel? Hear? See? What stands out to you? Dwell more deeply on Jesus’ statement in John 6, “I am the bread of life.” In what ways do you need Jesus’ nourishment today? How can you seek Him for sustenance, rest, and refreshment this week? Read Psalm 23 and pray it back to Jesus, thanking Him for being your great and good shepherd (c.f. Hebrews 13:20-21, John 10:1-21).

Confidence. Stability. Security. Safety. Joy.  That’s what the parable of the two builders promises those who embrace Jesus as Savior and obey Him as Lord. A famous parable for a reason, the parable of the two builders wraps up Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and urges us to consider: Have we heard and acted upon Jesus’ words, or do we merely profess to follow Him?  Want to study the themes in this episode further? Here are a few passages and reflection questions to consider: What is the relationship between faith and works, between faith and fruit? How would you describe the importance of obedience to a new believer?  Where in your life do you need stability, confidence, and security right now? How does knowing you are in Christ—because you have continued to trust and obey Him—encourage you?  Right now, are you more like the wise builder or the foolish one? Why? Are there any areas of your life where you are delaying obedience or refusing to obey? Confess these to the Lord and ask for His strength to follow Him wholeheartedly.

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector is one of Jesus’ most famous parables. It’s a story that shocked His original hearers and shocks us still today.  What’s most surprising about this parable is the story within the story, the timeless gospel message shining through it that sinners are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. That’s a message I need to hear everyday, and I’m guessing you do too.  Want to dig into the themes in this episode further? Here are a few passages and reflection questions to consider: Read Luke 18:15-30. How do these encounters relate to the point of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector?  Al Mohler writes, “Christians need to realize we are always fighting against an inner Pharisee.” How do you usually see your inner Pharisee rising up in your own heart? How can you fight that posture this week? Do you talk to God more about the sins of others or your own sin? Do you talk to the trusted people in your life more about the sins of others or your own sin? What might this reveal about your heart? Spend some time in prayer. Thank God for His grace, confess your sin, and seek His cleansing.

In Luke 11, the disciples make a request of Jesus that we can all relate to: “Teach us to pray.” To answer this question, Jesus teaches them some amazing lessons—using, in part, the parable of the friend at midnight—about why we should pray, how we should pray, and what we should expect when we pray.  Want to study the themes in this episode further? Here are a few passages and reflection questions to consider. 1. Consider Jesus’ model prayer in Luke 11:1-4. How do the requests in this prayer inform your prayer life? Do you pray regularly for God’s glory to be magnified, His will to be done, your needs (however basic) to be met, for cleansing from sin, and for deliverance from temptation and trials?  2. Think back to the last time you helped someone. What compelled you to do it? Now consider how God, our perfect heavenly Father, responds when you are in need. How does the parable of the friend at midnight encourage you?  3. How does knowing the way the Father answers prayer (by giving us what is best for us: Himself) help you in seasons of suffering and discouragement?  4. Do you pray shamelessly? Do you keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking? Why or why not? If not, how can you ask, seek, and knock this week?  5. Consider how you can “sue God” for the thing you’re praying about. Check your request against Scripture and consider: How has God promised to act? What does His Word promise you? Then, plead His promises and trust His heart.  6. Memorize 1 John 5:14 to hide its truth in your heart.

If the kingdom of God isn’t coming in its fullness for a long time, what are Jesus’ subjects to do while waiting for their King to return? How are the master’s servants to live while their master is away?  That’s the question the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) answers. Convicting and comforting, this parable reminds us that we serve a good and gracious God, who invites us to participate in His kingdom, providing us with more than enough so that we can remain faithful and fruitful as we await the coming King. Want to study the themes in this episode further? Here are a couple reflection questions to consider: Make a list of the resources, blessings, time, spiritual gift(s), and talents that God has given you. Make another list of the opportunities you have to serve Him by serving others, especially fellow believers. Now consider: Are you being faithful?  Are there any talents, gifts, resources, or opportunities that you have not been using to serve God? If so, why? Does pride, fear, or laziness have anything to do with it? What lie might you be believing about God that is impacting this?