How Can I Be Blessed?

Crucial Questions #24

by R.C. Sproul

It’s common to hear people speak of health, wealth, and prosperity as signs of God’s blessing. But Jesus said that those who are poor, persecuted, and in pain are blessed. How can this be? What kind of blessing was Jesus referring to? In this booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul looks at a beloved portion of the New Testament known as the Beatitudes. As he explores Jesus’ famous sermon, Dr. Sproul explains that whatever life’s circumstances, true blessedness is found only by knowing the grace of God in Jesus Christ. The Crucial Questions booklet series by Dr. R.C. Sproul offers succinct answers to important questions often asked by Christians and thoughtful inquirers.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Christianity, Nonfiction, Christian Non Fiction, Religion, Spirituality

59 pages, Paperback

Published March 14, 2019

About the author

Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.

Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort to respond more effectively to the growing demand for Dr. Sproul’s teachings and the ministry’s other educational resources, the general offices were moved to Orlando in 1984, and the ministry was renamed.

Dr. Sproul’s radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul produced hundreds of lecture series and recorded numerous video series on subjects such as the history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, and Christian living.

He contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and academic institutions around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone’s a Theologian. He signed the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and wrote a commentary on that document. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, previously known as the New Geneva Study Bible.

Dr. Sproul had a distinguished academic teaching career at various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Jackson, Miss. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Reviews

[Callum Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very brief -but packed- look at the Beatitudes. I found it to be a great book to read before/along with other books on Christianity. I read this directly before a Tim Keller book, and it inspired some interesting connections. This is quite a short read, and I would recommend it to anyone---along with any other Sproul!

[Morgan Mantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

RC just has a way with words that make me think!!!

[Tim Suffield · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title turns out to be clickbait.

This is a meditation on the beatitudes, which is fine as far as it goes, but it fails at answering its central questions because:

i) The introduction doesn't reframe the question as 'the wrong one' if that's what Sproul is thinking
ii) The discussions of each of the beatitudes fail to be practical. The application simply isn't there. Like a beginner preaching, he tells us thing that are true, but fails to tell us how we need to react to this (what we should do/think/feel differently), or how Jesus might form these character traits in us.

It also wasn't written in a very lively style, and what looked like clarity often didn't turn out to be. What exactly does 'meek' mean? When am I 'poor in Spirit'? Good questions, lacklustre answers.

[Leya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book, have been watching R.C Sproul videos on Youtube so decided to read one of his books. I discovered he wrote a series of Crucial questions.
Decided to read this one as it deals with the Beatitudes from the sermon on the mount, which i have never sat down to study. He looks at the 8 beatitudes from Mathew 5: 3-9

Have enjoyed this one so much embaking on reading some of the other questions in the series.

Some take away from the book:

Blessed are the Meek- There is a strange secret that many peopl don't get; not only is it important for people who are in positions of power and authority to temper that power with grace, but it is easier to be graceious when you have power. Becuase you have the power to be graceious, you don't need to be tyrannical. It's only when people are not secure in their authority that they manifest a kind of tyrannical reign over other people's lives.

Blessed are those who hunger - In the final analysis, we want the approval of God- but the applause of men can be deafening, and it can cause us to turn our attention toward achieving everything else apart from what Christ set as the priosity for his people: to be rightoues.

Blesses are the Persecuted - Martin Luther once said, anytime the gospel is preached clearly, without distortion, there is conflict, and if there is no conflict in the life of the church, it's probably a sign that the gospel is not beign preached.

[Asha Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book

I loved this book. It was easy to read with clear concepts based on solid reformed theology. It gave me goof food for thought and lifted my spirits. A quick and useful read for any Christian.

[John Yelverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title makes you think that you're about to read a "Health and Wealth Gospel" tract, but it's actually a brief examination of the "Beatitudes" and the actually blessings which Christ promises.

[Barbier Jacky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellente série ! Un contenu édifiant.

[Bill Pence · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this booklet of the late Dr. R.C. Sproul’s Crucial Questions series he states that a benediction is a good statement, an announcement of blessing. What was referred to as a benediction in the Old Testament was sometimes called a “beatitude” in the New Testament. In this booklet he looks at a famous and beloved portion of the New Testament that speaks about what it means to be blessed. The passage is known as the Beatitudes, and it is part of the great sermon preached by Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5. The Beatitudes are so called because they begin with the word blessed.
In this booklet, the author looks at each Beatitude. Below are takeaways I had from each Beatitude:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• For Jesus Himself was lowly, and He promised those who would forsake the riches of this world and seek the face of God that His Father would deliver them. To them is given the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
• Some see it as merely a promise of comfort to those who experience grief. Others see a more spiritual dimension to it, specifically, a sense of grief or mourning over one’s sin.
• There is also that mourning of regret for what one has done, whereby, when the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, we are profoundly saddened and moved to sorrow for having offended God.
• Jesus talked about suffering that comes as a direct result of being identified with Him.
• That’s the ministry of God to His people. He promises to heal their broken hearts and restore their souls.
• The reason we are blessed in mourning is because God’s people are promised the consolation of Israel.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
• To be meek is not to be weak; in fact, to be meek in the biblical sense necessitates a certain kind of inner strength that is exceedingly rare.
• The opposite of meekness is an arrogant, rough handling of power and authority.
• The man who is meek before God and has that inner strength that enables him to be gentle before men will not be a violent man. This quietness of spirit will enable him to be temperate. A self-controlled or temperate person is not given to binges of excess, but lives within restraints. Ultimately, the one who is meek submits himself to the authority and rule of God. Rather than trusting in his own abilities and authority, the meek one trusts that God will safeguard him and will fulfill His promises.
• Meekness does not preclude boldness, but it does preclude arrogance. The Christian who is meek is bold in being obedient to the call of God on his life. Ultimately, to be meek is to be submissive to the rule of our King.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
• Being righteous is not all that complicated; it means doing what is right. We have to have a passion to do what is right.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
• It should be easy for us to be merciful, because we live every moment of our lives on the basis of God’s mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
• The thing that keeps us from having the vision of God now is our impurity, our sin.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
• The heart of the message of Christianity is a message of peace. The supreme peacemaker is Christ, because the supreme role occupied by Jesus in the New Testament is that of our Mediator. He mediates the estrangement between us and God.
• Just as He is the Son of God and is the peacemaker, so those who are His, who imitate His office of peacemaking at an earthly level, will be called sons of God.
• The best way to avoid conflict regarding the gospel is to water it down in order to make it more palatable to people.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
• In this last Beatitude, Jesus said that those who are persecuted for a just cause—persecuted for Jesus’ sake—are going to receive the kingdom as their inheritance.
The author writes that the Beatitudes are God’s prescription for how we can be blessed. They tell us what pleases Him.

[Fred · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rather dull and pedestrian exposition of the beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. There's nothing particularly interesting or extraordinary about this book, or anything that you can't easily get elsewhere in better, more interesting ways.

Once again, and this is becoming a pattern with these "Crucial Questions" books from Dr. Sproul, there is very little practical application of the principles presented here.

Disappointed.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book on the topic of the Beatitudes. Sproul produces a unique approach to the Beatitudes that covers them biblically and also has illustrations and applications for them. I felt this was a good explanation of each beatitude and how to apply it.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read through and study the Beatitudes. It is good supplemental material to Matthew's and Luke's list of Beatitudes.

[Robb Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short & Simple

RC is simple and straightforward. Love reading his works. This book offers true insight to the Beattitudes and gives a guideline on who to live our Christian lives in accordance with the Beattitudes so that our desire for God's blessing mirrors the actual blessing God has decreed he will deliver to us.

[Tyler Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

For as short as this book is, it is a great introduction to the Beatitudes. It gets better and deeper the farther you get into it. Sproul, per usual, gives wonderful insights as to what terms like “poor” or “meek” mean, and how people may mourn. There is a wonderful thought from Jonathon Edwards in chapter seven too. The book is 59 pages. If I say anymore, I’d rewrite half the book.

[Cassie Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

In another Crucial Questions Series booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul tackles the Sermon on the Mount, focusing specifically about the blessings that Jesus spoke of. He breaks down each blessing into a chapter, explaining each topic in depth. This is a wonderful book for Christians who w as not to be blessed or who don’t understand what the blessings are. A great read for new believers as well as old.

[Charlene Hios · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a short 74 pages covering each of the beatitudes. It took about 1hour 15minutes to read. I read it twice. I will probably read it again and again given the insight it revealed from Sproul's perspective.

[J Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read this, RC Sproul passed away six days ago, Dec 14, 2017.

This book utilizes the Beatitudes in showing how a believer can be blessed.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good, short e-book on The Beatitudes

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good lesson!

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beatitudes

A short book about beatitudes, 8 ways to be blessed. The blessing was not from riches, but being blessed have a deeper degree than just the riches.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great study of the Beatitudes

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can I be Blessed - a well written thought out book. It may not be what you think it should be about, but it is what we need to hear.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short run through of the beatitudes.

[Bob Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another splendid booklet by R. C. Sproul. He takes theologically complex subjects and makes them understandable.

[Esther Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Windows of Heaven

There is a position in life we can posture ourselves for tremendous blessing, found in the boundaries of yielding our hearts to the guidance of the Word that

[Joshua Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of the beatitudes. Simple teaching of the biblical perspective on blessing.

[Mykaël Arsenault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comme tous les livres de la série « Questions cruciales », ce livre est exceptionnel. Il expose très bien les béatitudes du sermon sur la montagne fait par Jésus. Sproul reste toujours fidèle au texte et il nous fait voir la beauté des bénédictions promises par Dieu. Il nous donne également envie de faire ce qui plaît à Dieu. Je recommande de lire tous les livres de cette série.

[Steve Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short but powerful introduction to the meaning of Jesus' teachings that have come to be known as the Beatitudes. In his engaging style, Sproul briefly unpacks the meaning of each Beatitude in a convicting and encouraging way.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. Ultimately, its answer to its titular question is just the Sermon on the Mount, but what follows is a good commentary on that sermon.