Freedom Valley Church

https://fv.church Mon, 25 May 2026 22:41:49 +0000 Mon, 25 May 2026 22:41:49 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com Outline // Sunday School #25: The Good Shepherd https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/24/outline-sunday-school-25-the-good-shepherd Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:16:07 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/24/outline-sunday-school-25-the-good-shepherd

Do you remember the sermon or message that brought you to Christ? What was it and what spoke to you?
What qualities do you admire and look for in a leader?
Has a pastor in your life ever set an example that you adopted? How did that impact your life?
How are you serving God's sheep? Is there another way you'd like to serve but haven't done yet?
What was your takeaway from the South Dakota testimonies?
What was your biggest takeaway from the message?

]]> Outline // Sunday School #25: The Good Shepherd https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/23/outline-sunday-school-25-the-good-shepherd Sun, 23 Aug 2026 08:39:23 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/23/outline-sunday-school-25-the-good-shepherd

Today we'll be reading out of John chapter 10. This is where Jesus discusses the metaphor of The Good Shepherd.
The use of shepherding and sheep as metaphor is common throughout all of scripture.
Perhaps one of the most famous examples comes from Psalms 23
- 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
  2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
  He leads me beside quiet waters.
  3 He restores my soul;
  He guides me in the paths of righteousness
  For His name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
  I fear no evil, for You are with me;
And so on. So God continually compares himself to shepherd throughout scripture. What does it mean for me as a New Testament believer? And what does Jesus mean when he uses this metaphor in John 10?
We're gonna figure that out today. But first some context before we jump into John 10. Because John 10 is a direct continuation from what was happening in chapter 9.
Chapters and verses were not present in the scriptures originally. They were added later to help with memorization and to help readers have a reference point to find scriptures more easily. And they're very effective in doing those things.
But with that in mind we need to pay close attention at times because a new chapter doesn't always mean a new idea or a break in the story as is often the case in contemporary books with chapters.
So you can pick up a bible open to a random chapter, start reading and come away with a completely wrong understanding of what's being said if you’re not careful. Proper context is key to understanding scripture.
So let's do a quick read over of what happened in John 9 so we can properly examine John 10 in context.

Legitimate Shepherds

So who is Jesus still talking to going into John 10? The Pharisees. And in what we’re about to read Jesus is addressing their spiritual blindness. Now with the proper context of what all led to this let's see what Jesus tells the Pharisees.
John 10:1-6
- 1 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
  6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant
Now you may not see the specifics yet but what Jesus just said here is a direct rebuke to the Pharisees leadership, and what just took place with this beggar.
But in order to understand that first we need to understand a little about sheep & sheepfolds.
Sheep are completely incapable of caring for themselves. They are utterly dependent on their shepherd for their survival. Their wool never stops growing so without a shepherd to shear them their own sweater will kill them. Sheep are not bright creatures. If not attended to they get themselves lost and are prone to fear and panic. And in their panicked state particularly in the middle east sheep are known to wander off cliffs, killing them. Sheep have absolutely zero defensive mechanisms. Without a shepherd to protect them from predators they will be eaten, which kills them.
Without a shepherd, without someone leading them, caring for them and tending to them they will die.
So knowing this, to protect their sheep at night a shepherd would place his sheep in a sheepfold. A sheepfold is like a holding pen or enclosure for the sheep. A sheepfold only had one entrance protected by the shepherd or a gatekeeper. Shepherds would often find a cave to use or build one out of rocks if out in the wilderness. If they were in a town there was often a communal sheepfold shared by different shepherds with different flocks.
Now if there are multiple flocks in one sheepfold how did Shepherds know which sheep were theirs? Well the shepherds knew their sheep and the sheep knew the voice or call of their shepherd. And when the morning came and the gate was opened for the shepherd he would call out and only his sheep would come out of the fold following his voice because sheep don't follow a voice they don't recognize.
In these verses I know we don't see it now but it'll be confirmed later in the passage. The sheepfold represents the nation of Israel and the sheep are the Jewish people.
Throughout scripture the leaders of Israel were described as shepherds. People like Moses, Joshua and the leading priests were the shepherds of Israel. This is also how the Pharisees viewed themselves as they were the leaders of Israel.
And understanding all that, look back at the passage again. Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees for their poor shepherding of Israel. In fact Jesus goes farther and tells them that they are illegitimate shepherds, that true shepherds are known by the gatekeeper, the gate is opened for them and the sheep recognise their shepherds voice. Jesus tells them they have entered the fold through another way.
Jesus is telling the Pharisees that they have snuck into the sheepfold and they are thieves and robbers seeking to harm and profit off of the sheep of Israel.
All of this imagery that Jesus is using comes out of Ezekiel 34 and Jeremiah 23.
Look at Ezekiel 34:1-4
- Then this message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? 3 You drink the milk, wear the wool, and butcher the best animals, but you let your flocks starve. 4 You have not taken care of the weak. You have not tended the sick or bound up the injured. You have not gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, you have ruled them with harshness and cruelty.
Isn't this exactly what we just saw in John 9? How the Pharisees treated the beggar, as well as those in the synagogue who dared to recognize their Messiah.
So what is God going to do about it? That is answered in Jeremiah 23.
- 1 “What sorrow awaits the leaders of my people—the shepherds of my sheep—for they have destroyed and scattered the very ones they were expected to care for,” says the Lord.
  2 Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to these shepherds: “Instead of caring for my flock and leading them to safety, you have deserted them and driven them to destruction. Now I will pour out judgment on you for the evil you have done to them. 3 But I will gather together the remnant of my flock from the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their own sheepfold, and they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 Then I will appoint responsible shepherds who will care for them, and they will never be afraid again. Not a single one will be lost or missing. I, the Lord, have spoken!
  “For the time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. 6 And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’ In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.
God is going to raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will gather together his flock and bring them back into their own sheepfold. And he will anoint responsible shepherds to care for them.
Jesus is the shepherd! He enters through the gate. He is recognised by the gatekeeper and his sheep recognise his voice and come to him. He gathers his flock, he walks ahead of them and leads them out because they follow his voice.
Israel is a communal sheepfold, multiple flocks. When the shepherd came he called out. For those like the Pharisees it was the voice of a stranger. But the sheep that belonged to the shepherd recognized his voice.
Fun fact, the greek word used to describe the Pharisees throwing the beggar out of the synagogue is the same word used in verse 4 describing the shepherd gathering his sheep.
Sheep run from strangers and thieves but they follow the voice of their shepherd. When that beggar was being thrown out what was actually happening was Jesus was gathering his sheep.
Now the imagery of the shepherd in this passage though ultimately talking about Jesus it also extends beyond that. Remember back to Jeremiah 23 “then I will appoint responsible shepherds who will care for them”. Shepherds, plural because this is also talking about legitimate shepherds placed over God’s sheep.
It's a blueprint for proper leadership among God’s people. The pastors of God’s people. Did you know pastor comes from a Latin word meaning shepherd. So what are legitimate pastors of God’s people like?
They come through the gate. We’ll talk more about that in a moment. But they come through the gate. And their voice is recognized by the sheep just like their master's voice. And here is the most important part. Just like the master shepherd who walks ahead of his sheep and leads them, legitimate pastors and shepherds take on the image of their master and lead from the front.
Legitimate shepherds' lives mirror what they preach, they lead from the front, their lives serve as an example for the sheep that follow them.
That's what it looks like to truly be a shepherd of God’s people.
Now the Pharisees didn't understand what Jesus was saying. They didn't understand because they weren't his sheep. But Jesus continues and explains and expands on what he just told them.

The Only Gate

John 10:7-10
- 7 So he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Here Jesus makes one of his 7 I AM statements in the book of John and declares himself to be the gate of the sheepfold.
And again Jesus is giving a rebuke to the Pharisees but the focus has shifted. Before the focus was on the shepherds, it was a comparison between the Pharisees and legitimate shepherds of God’s people. But now the focus is on the gate and who dictates access to the sheepfold.
Before the point was to rebuke their poor leadership and compare it to a legitimate shepherd. Now Jesus is focusing on rebuking their pride, their misguided sense of authority as mediators between God and people. And he is comparing that to his authority as the true mediator between God and people.
And with this shift in focus, the context of the sheep and sheepfold also shifts.
Jesus is no longer talking about a communal sheepfold. Where he calls out his own from among the fold. The sheepfold Jesus talks about here is a fold holding a single flock.
The sheepfold represents God or relationship with God and the sheep are those who have entered into that relationship, receiving salvation.
In chapter 9, the parents of the beggar were afraid to give the Pharisees an honest answer about their son, why? Because the Pharisees had threatened to throw anyone out of the synagogue who acknowledged Jesus as Messiah.
They were afraid because to the Jews the synagogue was the fold. It was the meeting place of God’s people, it's where they worshiped. To be removed from the synagogue was to be excommunicated, isolated from your own community but even greater than that it was seen as being separated from God.
And at the end of the chapter we see the Pharisees throw the beggar out of the fold. In their eyes they had just removed him from access to God.
And Jesus rebukes them and declares that he is the only gate.
That all those who came before. Those that believed themselves to be the mediator. Those that taught in order to get to God you have to go through me.
They were all thieves and robbers. The false prophets, false teachers, the Pharisees.
But the true sheep didn't listen to them.
Jesus tells them that those who come into the fold through him will be saved.
He reiterates this in John 14:6 to his disciples.
- 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
There is no way to the Father except through Jesus! There is no way to salvation except through Jesus!
Let it correct any lies we may believe that there are multiple paths to God.
If our unbelieving friends & family's faith is not placed firmly and solely in the Jesus Christ of the Bible they have not entered into salvation.
If they died today they would be separated from God for eternity, cast out into darkness.
How will they know unless someone tells them? So go tell them! Jesus knows his sheep and his sheep will respond to his call. Not always immediately as many of us know. But eventually they will respond to his voice.
Jesus is the only gate. And those that enter into him will come and go freely and find good pasture. Now this isn't talking about entering salvation and exiting salvation.
This phrase of coming and going is a common idiom found throughout the bible and it's talking about everyday life. As you come and go through everyday life, everyday activities. Those that enter through the gate, they will be free! They will come and go throughout their days and the shepherd will lead them to good pastures. Jesus will be with you all day throughout your day.
And there is such a cool parallel to what Jesus is saying here in the book of Numbers that blew my mind when I read it. It's a prayer Moses prayed in Numbers 27:15-18 (NIV)
- 15 Moses said to the Lord, 16 “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
  18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him.
Did you guys know Jesus is a Greek name? It is a Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua. This book was put to page by man but it was not written by man.
It never ceases to blow me away the interwovenness of scripture. The intricacies.
Jesus continued and said, The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Many of you have probably heard this scripture used in reference to Satan. He comes to kill, steal and destroy. And though that's undoubtedly true, the proper context of this verse is talking about the Pharisees, false prophets and false teachers. Their purpose is to kill, steal and destroy God’s sheep. And there is certainly no shortage of these sorts around today so be wise in who you give your ear to.
But Jesus’ purpose is to give his sheep a rich and satisfying life! I don't like how the NLT words this. I think with the way it's worded there's the danger of giving too much focus to our lives here and now. Other translations word it: I have come that they may have life and life abundantly.
What Jesus is saying is that he came to give his sheep life. And life that is plentiful and extensive. Jesus isn’t just talking about now, he’s talking about eternal life. Jesus’ focus was always on eternity rather than the here and now. His purpose was to die so that we can live and receive eternal life.
Jesus continues with this in verse 11

The Good Shepherd

John 10:11-21
- 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock.13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
  14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
  17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
  19 When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him. 20 Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?” 21 Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
The next I AM statement in this passage. Jesus declares that he is the Good Shepherd!
That the Good Shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.
And here he again rebukes the Pharisees but this time instead of likening them to thieves and robbers Jesus likens them to a hired hand.
In no way is this a promotion for the Pharisees. Here Jesus is revealing and rebuking the hearts and motives of the Pharisees. All the while making a statement about himself.
Because who hires the hired hands? The Shepherd! Jesus is saying to the Pharisees I have placed you in the position you are in. I put you there to watch over and tend to my sheep but all you care about is money.
Whenever trouble comes and my flock is attacked you abandon my sheep and my sheep have been scattered.
Jesus tells them his sheep do not belong to them, that they are not the true shepherd and they care nothing for his sheep.
Jesus then reiterates that as the Shepherd he knows his sheep and his sheep know him. And he likens his relationship with the sheep to his relationship with the Father.
Jesus and the Father are one, likewise Jesus and his sheep are one. We’re the body of Christ, scripture says. Jesus obeys the will of his father and we obey the will of Jesus.
And then Jesus says that he has other sheep too. Sheep not in this sheepfold. But he will bring them too and they will listen to his voice and be joined and become one flock with one shepherd.
He’s talking about us! If you're not Jewish. Gentiles, non Jews. Those among the gentiles that are his sheep, they will listen to his voice and join his flock too.
From there Jesus touches more on his sacrifice for his sheep. He tells the Pharisees that there is no one who can take my life from me. Jesus knows that they will try but ultimately it is only Jesus who has the authority to give up his life and he does so willingly so that his sheep might live.
And it is Jesus alone who has the authority to take his life up again. Talking about the resurrection. All of this has been commanded by the Father.
Jesus in this rebuke of the Pharisees also gives the gospel. And just like when we share the Gospel what happened?
There was division. Because to some it's an unfamiliar voice. But his sheep recognised his voice.

]]> AppQuestions // Sunday School #24: The Wedding at Cana https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/18/appquestions-sunday-school-24-the-wedding-at-cana Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:40:33 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/18/appquestions-sunday-school-24-the-wedding-at-cana

Is there any prayer you wished God wouldn't have answered?
What is one decision that drastically changed the trajectory of your life?
How would your life be different if you made a different decision?
Do you often find yourself holding back when you pray? Why or why not?
What was your biggest takeaway?

]]> Outline // Sunday School #24: The Wedding at Cana https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/16/outline-sunday-school-24-the-wedding-at-cana Sun, 16 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/16/outline-sunday-school-24-the-wedding-at-cana

John 2:1-11

Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Ephesians 5:18
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.

Romans 13:13
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

Galatians 5:21
Envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

She presented her need to Jesus.
She put ALL her hope in Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6

He responded with LOVE.

]]> AppQuestions // Sunday School #23: Perform a Miracle https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/10/appquestions-sunday-school-23-perform-a-miracle Mon, 10 Aug 2026 20:36:46 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/10/appquestions-sunday-school-23-perform-a-miracle

“Not all good things are God things.” Can you think of a time when something seemed like a good opportunity, but you later realized it wasn’t what God wanted for you? What did you learn?
How do you typically respond when following Jesus becomes difficult or confusing?
Is there a teaching, command, or area of your life that you find difficult to surrender to Jesus? What would it look like to let Him challenge you in that area?
What is the difference between simply liking Jesus and actually becoming His disciple? Where do you see yourself on that spectrum?
What does it look like to remain committed to Jesus even when you don't understand what He is doing?
What are some warning signs that a "starving spirit" or "ME-Church" mindset may be developing in a person's life?
Biggest takeaway?

]]> Outline // Sunday School #23: Perform A Miracle https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/09/outline-sunday-school-23-perform-a-miracle Sun, 09 Aug 2026 11:42:50 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/09/outline-sunday-school-23-perform-a-miracle

John 6:1-15
John 6:25-54
John 6:60-71

Jesus doesn’t always make it easy. (I'm out when things get tough)
Jesus will push through your walls. (I'm out when something offends me"
Jesus asks for total commitment. (
Things Jesus DID NOT do for a starving spirit…

]]> Outline // Deep Dive: Tim Bennett https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/06/outline-deep-dive-tim-bennett Thu, 06 Aug 2026 08:11:53 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/06/outline-deep-dive-tim-bennett

Romans 1:16-17

Negativity bias. But we shouldn’t downplay or disfigure the GOOD news about Jesus. It’s Good News!

The world is preparing itself for the return of Jesus—are you?

Faith is confident conviction with concurrent action.

Faith isn’t dramatic, it’s discipline.

The key to spirituality is discipline.

We can’t allow the failure of yesterday to dictate the decisions of today.

Consistency will outrun intensity.

]]> AppQuestions // Deep Dive: Tim Bennett https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/03/appquestions-deep-dive-tim-bennett Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:46:23 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/08/03/appquestions-deep-dive-tim-bennett

What teachings of scripture do you believe sound especially good to our culture?
How are you less fearful since becoming a Christian?
What are some things you do consistently? How did you develop that consistency?
What are some of your purposes? How are you accomplishing them?
What was your biggest takeaway?

]]> Outline // Sunday School #22: The Beatitudes https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/26/outline-sunday-school-22-the-beatitudes Sun, 26 Jul 2026 08:17:44 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/26/outline-sunday-school-22-the-beatitudes

Matthew 5:1-12

What exactly does Beatitude even mean? It's not a word I've heard used outside of this specific context in Matthew 5. So where did the name come from?
Beatitude is our english equivalent to the latin word beh-ah-tee-TOO-doh
Pronounced exactly the way you’d think the latin word for Beatitude would be pronounced.
But it means supreme happiness, blessedness, or perfect joy
Now lets take a look at that word blessed.
It's repeated again and again. If we share these values Jesus is declaring that we are blessed but what exactly does that mean?
Well the word for blessed here is the Greek word Ma-Kar-E-Ahs and Ma-Kar-E-Ahs means blessed or happy. Consistent with the meaning of beatitude. BUT that's not all it means. The word Ma-Kar-E-Ahs can also be understood as The Highest Possible Good.
When Jesus is going through these virtues he’s not simply saying that those who possess these virtues are blessed or are happy. He is saying that those who possess these virtues are blessed, happy and they have received the highest possible good that can be aspired to.
And when Jesus makes a statement like that, you better be paying attention.
This is one of the reasons why I love going back to the Greek and breaking down what these words mean. So often we see words and think we understand its meaning then you go and break it down and the word comes alive in a new way you didn't see before.
This is how we're going to break down the beatitudes.
- We're going to go through each one, and we're going to define it.
- We're gonna go back to the Greek, break down the word’s meaning.
- I'm going to give you a description of what this virtue looks like in the life of one who possesses it.
- And I'm going to give you the opposite. What the flesh’s corruption of that virtue looks like.
And with all of that together we're going to leave with a new understanding of the blessings that Jesus has pronounced for those with these virtues. Blessings that Jesus has pronounced for us.
Now the beatitudes can be separated into two parts. The first 4 really build on each other and all have to do with how we relate to God. And out of those first 4 the remaining 4 come naturally as they have to do with how we relate to other people.
Which shouldn't be surprising, the greatest commandments are love God and love your neighbor so if this is the highest possible good for our lives naturally it would have to do with how we relate to God and to others.

The first beatitude is found in Verse 3
- 3 “Blessed are those who are poor and realize their need for him,
  for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
I feel the NLT would've done better to stick with the more direct greek wording. The Greek says blessed are the poor in spirit.
And here is where we need to realize something that's true for all of the beatitudes. All of the beatitudes relate to spiritual virtues. Not physical, material things.
Jesus isn't talking about the homeless here, those with little capital. Jesus is saying blessed are those whose spirit is impoverished.
Doesn't sound like much of a blessing. Blessed are those who are poor in spirit. What does that even mean?

What is the promise attached to this blessing? Blessed are the poor in spirit for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Salvation has been gifted to you. You are blessed and will enter into the kingdom. Again, the greatest possible good! This is what it means to be blessed!

Onto the second beatitude in verse 4
- 4 Blessed are those who mourn,
  for they will be comforted.
Again these are spiritual virtues, Jesus isn't talking about someone who’s loved one just died. So what does it mean to mourn spiritually?
Well as I said these beatitudes build upon each other so with Toe-ckhas an understanding of our spiritual poverty it also brings to light an understanding of the gravity of our sin and offense towards God.
And that's what Jesus is talking about with Pen-Theo. Blessed are those that mourn, meaning blessed are those who mourn with deep regret over their spiritual need, over the condition of their sin and offense towards God.

And what is the promise with this blessing? Blessed are those that mourn for they will be comforted.
In the midst of the convicting work of the Holy Spirit that brings sorrow you will receive comfort.
Because although your sin is great Jesus died for you while you were still a sinner. The debt is paid. And he will comfort you rather than drive you away.
The next beatitude is verse 5
- 5 Blessed are those who are humble,
  for they will inherit the whole earth.
This is one of the beatitudes that is often translated a number of ways. You might have heard this beatitude worded blessed are the gentle, or blessed are the meek.
And the reason why you'll see this worded so many ways is because this is the only beatitude where there really isn't an English equivalent to the meaning in the Greek.
The Greek word for Humble here is the word Prous.
And Prous means Quiet, Gentle, Humble, Mildness, Submissive, Easily Imposed On
But Prous is really not any one of those things. It's kind of all of these mashed into one and then some.
To give you a better idea of all that is encapsulated in the word Prous I took this directly from Blue Letter Bible and Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible:
- “Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time”
Prous is not an easy beatitude. But it comes after salvation as you grow in your understanding of God and his character. It is a spiritually mature beatitude.
It's an understanding and acceptance that God is Omnipotent, Omniscient and Good. All at the same time.
- Omnipotent meaning all powerful. Meaning there is nothing that can stand against his will if he so desires. Meaning that the good and just things we see in the world are actively done by him and the injustices we see around us and the evil is actively permitted by him. He has the power to stop it. He didn't, which means there is a reason he didn't. And he can be trusted even though we’re unable to understand why he didn’t.
- Which leads into his Omniscience meaning all knowing. He has eternity before him. He knows the outcome of every little decision and action taken and how it will affect the world 500,000 years from now and beyond. What we’re only able to see in the moment God sees the domino effect into eternity. So what we can only see as evil, unjust and tragic in the moment God sees the ultimate purpose by permitting what he permits.
- And Good. Knowing and trusting that despite all we see God is still God and God is still good. It's knowing that there is nothing that takes place on this Earth that is so evil that God cannot use it for good. And that ultimately despite what we see we can trust in God knowing that his good plans are being worked out and that he has good plans for everyone that loves him and are called according to his purposes.

And it is a blessing that carries with it the promise that you will inherit the Earth. It is a kingdom minded eternal promise. You will share in the inheritance of Christ, you will rule with him in the kingdom to come, and you will see his plans come to bear. You won't necessarily see the good God is working towards in this life but you will in the next.

The last beatitude pertaining to how we relate to God is verse 6
- 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice,
  for they will be satisfied.
Sometimes this is written as righteousness.
The Greek words used here for Hunger and Thirst are one for one. But the Greek carries the idea of suffering. So hunger and thirst but maybe not the way we commonly use it here in America. Actually suffering from hunger and thirst
And the Greek word used for Justice is Di-kay-yas-soon-ey.
Di-kay-yas-soon-ey is the state of being right or just particularly before God; the righteousness of God or Justification before God.
So building atop of one another first you receive an understanding of your spiritual poverty and along with that understanding comes the gravity of your sin resulting in mourning then comfort in the gift of salvation.
You begin to learn about God and his character and come to a place of humble submission to him, acceptance that his ways are higher than my ways. And then you desire his character, you seek to mirror his righteousness and you desire his justice to reign on the earth.
The heart of this beatitude comes right out of the Lord’s prayer
- Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
The people who have received this virtue long for Christ and this deep longing, and hunger and thirst for Christ brings about suffering in the understanding that although you might see aspects of Christ's righteousness and justice here on the earth you will never see the fullness of it until Christ returns and reigns.

And the promise that comes with this blessing, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
You will be satisfied! You will see God’s righteousness reign. You will receive a new incorruptible body free from death and the desires of sin. You will be justified before the Lord. You will see Christ reign upon the earth and his perfect justice enacted. Your hunger and thirst will be satisfied. And your suffering will end.

Halfway through. The remaining 4 beatitudes all have to do with how we relate to others and they come out of the first 4.
Verse 7
- 7 Blessed are those who are merciful,
  for they will be shown mercy.

Jesus has shown us all mercy. Hebrews 2:17 says
- 17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people
Jesus came down and experienced suffering, temptations and trials so that he could be more merciful having been in our shoes. And he has treated us favorably when we didn't deserve it.
It's easy to want others to get what they deserve when all we do is look outwardly and don't take the time to realize what would happen to us if we likewise received what we deserve. Believers should be the most merciful. Those who are eager to show compassion for what has been done for us.
The promise that comes with El-Eyy-ah-mone. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
This is an ongoing promise! One we get to experience every single day, Lamentations says God is faithful and his mercies are new every morning.

Verse 8
- 8 Blessed those whose hearts are pure,
  for they will see God.

Those with this the blessing of Kath-ar-ahhs they are promised this: Blessed are those whose hearts are pure for they will see God.

Onto the next Beatitude. 2 more to go.
Verse 9
- 9 Blessed are those who work for peace,
  for they will be called the children of God.

Those whose spirit longs and works for peace are promised that they will be called children of God.
Because our God is a peacemaker. He brings restoration, and ultimately in the end when sin is done away with there will be perfect peace. This virtue is a reflection of God as a child is a reflection of their parents.
The last beatitude. Beatitude number 8 starting in verse 10 though 12
- 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing right,
  for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
- 11 “Blessed are you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing right or for the sake of righteousness. One thing that I want to point out that is different from all the rest of the beatitudes is that this blessing is the only one that is repeated.
When you see things repeated in scripture that should send off alarm bells in your brain that tells you to pay close attention because this is important. In middle eastern culture often they repeat things as an emphasis. And this was true in ancient biblical times too.
So when you see the same thing repeated it's their equivalent to our explanation mark.

What are the promises for those who have experienced Di-o-koh? Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. The Kingdom of Heaven is yours! And again it doesn't stop there. A great reward awaits you in heaven one day. A reward you’ll share with the prophets of old.
So be happy and be very glad, because it's not for nothing!
And with that we made it through all 8 beatitudes.
Now let's take everything and summarize it.
These beatitudes, these blessings are the highest possible good for your lives. Don't forget that. From the mouth of Jesus these virtues and the promises that come along with them, our hearts should long for them.
And all of these blessings relate to the spiritual. Jesus’ main focus was never the physical, the here and now.
Look at the promises that come with these blessings. All of these promises although we may see some fulfillment in this life, ALL of these promises find their ultimate fulfillment in the Kingdom. In eternity. I don't know if you caught it, but did you see that like the blessing of persecution one of the promises was also repeated? And when something is repeated that means its… Important!
The first promise and the last promise are the same.
- For the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
No wonder these blessings are the highest possible good! What is the highest possible good for us? To be with Jesus in eternity, in the Kingdom! In these beatitudes Jesus is describing the hearts of those who HAVE received the Kingdom.
Don't get it twisted though. The Beatitudes are not INSTRUCTIVE on how to receive the kingdom, that is only through saving faith in Jesus Christ resulting in good works.
No, the Beatitudes are DESCRIPTIVE of the virtues and the hearts of those who have already received the Kingdom.
If your life does not measure up to the description of each of these beatitudes that means to some degree you’re still living in your flesh rather than the spirit.
We all have some work that needs done in us. None of us have been perfected yet.
But the solution to this is not to try harder to replicate these beatitudes. These are spiritual fruits. God alone is capable of developing these inside of you.
If you've fallen short, if these blessings are not a description of your life the solution is abiding in Christ. Because as you pursue Jesus these blessings will develop naturally.

]]> AppQuestions // Sunday School #21: The Water Walker https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/20/appquestions-sunday-school-21-the-water-walker Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:35:57 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/20/appquestions-sunday-school-21-the-water-walker

How has your relationship with God been fun?
What lessons have YOU learned already in your walk with Jesus?
What behaviors or actions attest that you have saving faith?
Since the beginning of the year which of these 3 have grown your faith more?
1. Learning more about who God is
2. Learning more about what God has said
3. Or by seeing what he has done in your life? Explain.
What was your biggest takeaway?

]]> Outline // Sunday School #21: The Water Walker https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/19/outline-sunday-school-21-the-water-walker Sun, 19 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/19/outline-sunday-school-21-the-water-walker

Matthew 14:22-32
Acts 4:13 - ordinary men with no special training...who had been with Jesus.
Don’t misdiagnose your obstacle.
Dr. Dharius Daniels says that: Faith is believing that, and behaving like, God is telling the truth.
James 2:17-19

3 Things We Have To Know To BUILD FAITH THAT IS KEPT:
Who God is
What God said

Numbers 23:19 - God is not a man, so he does not lie.

What God did

Maybe we should stop acting like faith is illogical, ‘cause maybe DOUBT is.

Lessons that Peter may have learned on this stormy nights to come:
Jesus can make a way where there is no way.
No obstacle is too much for Him.
He defies the laws of nature when He wants to.
When I ask Him, He lets me do it too.
When I flounder, He rescues me.
When I doubt, He is graceful.
He really is the son of God.

What lessons have YOU learned already in your walk with Jesus?

]]> AppQuestions // Sunday School #20: Feeding the 5,000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/13/appquestions-sunday-school-20-feeding-the-5-000 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:48:37 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/13/appquestions-sunday-school-20-feeding-the-5-000

If Jesus were to feed you what would you like your meal to be?
What does a day of rest look like for you?
Do you tend to have a harder time stepping away from work or stepping away from idleness? Why?
What problem do you believe you are the solution to?
(Or what problem have you been the solution to?)
What was your biggest takeaway?

]]> Outline // Sunday School #20: Feeding the 5,000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/12/outline-sunday-school-20-feeding-the-5-000 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/12/outline-sunday-school-20-feeding-the-5-000

Mark 6:30-44
Rest can be productive.

Let Jesus lead you.

Recognize your responsibility in sharing the Gospel.

Join Lindsay Yealy in D.C. in October for street ministry!
Contact her at: 717-353-9263 or info@fv.church

]]> AppQuestions // Sunday School #19: Fishers of Men https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/06/appquestions-sunday-school-19-fishers-of-men Mon, 06 Jul 2026 15:37:09 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/06/appquestions-sunday-school-19-fishers-of-men

1. What stage of faith are you and at what point did you realize you’d entered that stage?
2. How is life easier and more difficult for you as a believer?
3. When was the last time you had people in your house? What did you do to prepare for the company?
4. How have you found success sharing the gospel in our culture?
5. What was your biggest takeaway?

]]> Outline // Sunday School #19: Fishers of Men https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/05/outline-sunday-school-19-fishers-of-men Sun, 05 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/05/outline-sunday-school-19-fishers-of-men

Stages of Faith
Unbelievers - people who do not yet believe in having a relationship with their Creator God, through the power of Jesus Christ

Believers - first step…just barely believe. Jesus was a genius at moving people into this step.

Disciples - people who have chosen to not only believe, but to give their life to Jesus. To actively follow in his footsteps. Some of the obedience pieces are coming into line…a lot of learning and growing, some life-change. Adjusting your life to fit the model that Jesus laid out for us.

Servant-Leaders - people testing their skills a little bit. Using their gifts and talents to lead others, serve others, giving around the church, serving in serve teams, following along behind jesus AND helping with the work of the ministry.

Reproducers - DISCIPLEMAKERS. People who have gone through the other stages, and have matured to the point, that they can then reproduce their faith in others and encourage people to move through the steps for themselves.

Luke 5:1-11

1. Find Jesus (unbelievers & believers)
He allowed them to observe
He met a need
He came into their lives
He challenged them to more
2. Move forward (disciples)
3. Do Something (servant-leaders, reproducers)

]]> AppQuestions // Sunday School #18: The Tempting https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/02/appquestions-sunday-school-18-the-tempting Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:28:15 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/07/02/appquestions-sunday-school-18-the-tempting

The sermon pointed out that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness before beginning His ministry. Can you think of a difficult season in your life that, looking back, may have actually been preparation rather than punishment? How did it shape you?
Which of the three temptations Jesus faced do you identify with the most right now?
- Meeting a craving on your own terms.
- Feeling the need to prove yourself.
- Taking a shortcut to success or influence.
  Why do you think that temptation is particularly strong for you?
What's your go-to scripture to "resist the enemy" with?
The sermon suggested that fasting strengthens our ability to say "no" to ourselves. Is there something in your life—not necessarily food—that has too much influence over your decisions? What practical step could you take to practice self-control in that area?
Jesus overcame temptation through humility, obedience, dependence on the Father, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Which of those four qualities do you most need God to develop in your life right now?
Biggest takeaway?

]]> Outline // Sunday School #18: The Tempting https://fv.church/blog/2026/06/28/outline-sunday-school-18-the-tempting Sun, 28 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/06/28/outline-sunday-school-18-the-tempting

Matthew 3:13-17
Matthew 4:1-11

You're not disqualified from temptation
We should expect it
God has prepared you for it
You don't have anything to prove

Article: Fasting for Beginners

]]> AppQuestions // Sunday School #17: John the Baptist https://fv.church/blog/2026/06/22/appquestions-sunday-school-17-john-the-baptist Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:00:40 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/06/22/appquestions-sunday-school-17-john-the-baptist

What did you do to honor or remember your father on Father's Day?
How did your father lead himself and how did that affect who you are today?
What things were spoken over your life growing up? Have you seen these things become true? Or have you had to rise above them?
From the outside looking in what sets you apart? (If someone were looking at your life from the outside, what would they conclude is important to you?)
John preached repentance, but he also gave people practical next steps (share with the poor, be honest, be content). What is one specific area where God is calling you not just to feel convicted, but to actually change your actions?
What was your biggest takeaway?

]]> Outline // Sunday School #17: John the Baptist https://fv.church/blog/2026/06/21/outline-sunday-school-17-john-the-baptist Sun, 21 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/06/21/outline-sunday-school-17-john-the-baptist

Isaiah 40:3
Malachi 4:4-6
Luke 1:57-80
Luke 3:1-20

John was:

Willing to be different
Willing to proclaim unpopular truth
Willing to take attention, and point it to Jesus

John 1:36
John 1:1-13
1 Timothy 2:5-6

]]> AppQuestions // Sunday School #16: Mary & Elizabeth https://fv.church/blog/2026/06/15/appquestions-sunday-school-16-mary-elizabeth Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:59:45 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/06/15/appquestions-sunday-school-16-mary-elizabeth

What is one area of your life where you've been telling God what is possible instead of trusting Him with what seems impossible?
If God called you to do something uncomfortable this week, would your first response be surrender or skepticism? Why?
The sermon suggested that many people miss their calling because they're unavailable. What currently takes up most of your attention, energy, and availability?
1. What is one practical step you could take this week to become more available to God (prayer, Bible reading, serving, listening, slowing down, etc.)?
Who are the "Elizabeths" in your life—people who encourage your faith and help you follow God's calling? How can you lean into those relationships more intentionally?
Which is harder for you: asking for help, giving help, forgiving someone, or admitting you're wrong? Why?
What have you been storing up lately: offenses, disappointments, worries, gratitude, or stories of God's faithfulness? How is that affecting your relationship with God and others?
When was the last time you experienced genuine wonder about God? What practices help you stay amazed by Him rather than becoming spiritually routine?
Biggest takeaway?

]]> Outline // Sunday School #16: Mary & Elizabeth https://fv.church/blog/2026/06/14/outline-sunday-school-16-mary-elizabeth Sun, 14 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/06/14/outline-sunday-school-16-mary-elizabeth

Luke 1:13-20

Luke 1:26-35

1. Mary’s surrender, way beyond obedience. Be available. Surrender to God.

2. Mary’s partner, way beyond friend. Be vulnerable. Surrender to community.

3. Mary’s worship, way beyond gratitude. Be amazed & appreciative. Surrender to wonder.

Luke 1:46-56

]]> AppQuestions // Sunday School #15: Jonah & The Whale https://fv.church/blog/2026/06/08/appquestions-sunday-school-15-jonah-the-whale Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:42:59 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/06/08/appquestions-sunday-school-15-jonah-the-whale

If you had to be swallowed by one animal what would it be and why?
Has God ever "forced" you to forgive someone? What happened after you forgave?
What lessons or experiences have taught you to control your emotions?
Are you easily offended? And what can you do to guard against taking offense?
What was your takeaway?

]]> AppQuestions // Sunday School #14: Daniel & The Lion's Den https://fv.church/blog/2026/06/01/appquestions-sunday-school-14-daniel-the-lion-s-den Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:04:25 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/06/01/appquestions-sunday-school-14-daniel-the-lion-s-den

If you were recorded in scripture what qualities would hope were noted?
What routine practices do you have in place to give God your attention?
Have you ever had your righteousness weaponized against you? Explain.
What is one way you could increase in your obedience to those in authority over you?
What was your takeaway?

]]> Outline // Sunday School #14: Daniel & The Lion's Den https://fv.church/blog/2026/05/31/outline-sunday-school-14-daniel-the-lion-s-den Sun, 31 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/05/31/outline-sunday-school-14-daniel-the-lion-s-den

Five facts about Daniel and his life that you maybe didn’t know:

1. Daniel was born into royalty or nobility
Daniel 1:3 says, “Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives.”

Daniel endured extreme amounts of hardship in his life, but from when he was born until about ten years old, Daniel was no ordinary man. He was either born into royalty or esteemed nobility.

2. Daniel was a good-looking man
Verse 4 continues by saying, “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.

The NIV translation says that Daniel and his friends were “young men without any physical defect, handsome,” and the KJV says “children in whom was no blemish.”

He was handsome! Judean nobility. King Nebuchadnezzar had high standards for who was allowed to survive in the land that he conquered. He had even higher standards for who was allowed to serve in his high court of influence. Daniel fit that bill.

3. Daniel was likely never married
There is no mention of any spouse or family in the entire book of Daniel or the rest of the Bible.

In 2 Kings 20:18, it was prophesied, “Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king."

We have already established that Daniel was an attractive male, so to eliminate any problems, the kings of this time routinely had men from the land they conquered emasculated and turned into eunuchs.”

It’s very probable that Daniel never married in his life.

4. Daniel was around 80 years old in the Lions' Den
I think I always pictured him as a young man in the lion’s den!! But no! When we outline the various kings' reigns throughout Daniel's book and compare that to what we know in our history books, we can pinpoint Daniel as around 80 years old when he was thrown into the lion’s den.

The total length of Babylonian captivity lasted 70 years, and Daniel was around ten or older when captured would put him close to 80 years old when King Darius took over, as stated in Daniel chapter 6.

5. The Bible has no negative insight on Daniel
Daniel 6:4 says, “Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.”

Daniel’s enemies in the king’s administration looked for any fault they could find in him, and they came up empty.

We know Daniel wasn’t perfect, and like us, fell short, yet the Bible doesn't highlight or mention any of those moments.

Daniel 6:1-28

Daniel had a REGULAR & FAITH FILLED prayer life. It wasn’t just in crisis.
Daniel was a man of deep obedience. He knew who His source was.

]]> AppQuestions // Sunday School #13: Esther the Queen https://fv.church/blog/2026/05/25/appquestions-sunday-school-13-esther-the-queen Mon, 25 May 2026 22:41:49 +0000 https://fv.church/blog/2026/05/25/appquestions-sunday-school-13-esther-the-queen

Esther was chosen to be queen because she was beautiful. Based on your attributes and skill set what would you be chosen for?
How would you like God to use you?
What do you need to be equipped for God to use you in that way?
What are the passions you believe your life showcases to others?
What's your biggest takeaway?

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