Persecuted for Righteousness?

Summer's finally here, so we've been told all this week. The thermometer's hit the roof, and pallid knees are being exposed across the nation. Summer's here so are we in shape for it?

It's been a tough week this week. Lots going on, and to top it off, preparing something to say this morning. And the more I read this verse and thought about it, and read about it, the less I could think about what to say.

I've been doing an extension studies theology course recently. It's very good, I'd recommend it, if you want details ask me later. One of things we've looked at is about how we can read the Bible and understand the teaching so that we can apply it to our lives. To do this, we've been using a 6 step process.

As I said, I've been really struggling thinking about what I was going to say this morning. This verse bought up for me a load of questions and issues and not many answers. It didn't seem to me that it fitted nicely into the pattern of the other beatitudes. So I thought that we would explore it together this morning, using the step by step approach and I'd encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to speak what He wants to this morning.

Continued here...