Living the Life of Blessing: Blessed are those who Mourn

Our series through the Beatitudes as Luke preaches on what it looks like to be a people vulnerable enough to allow pain, death and the things of the world to affect us, and be a people who mourn, trusting that we will find God's comfort in our lives. This sermon speaks about death and references personal experiences of loss. Check us out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stpaulscarlton.church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bible Passage: Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Acts 7:54-8:3 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.