The Sermon on the Mount calls us to a radically different way of life; one that is contrary to the world around us. Upside Down is a church-wide devotional/study book with an accompanying toolkit with all your need to create and customize a four-week, topical sermon series that fits your congregation. Upside Down is perfect for kicking off a new year or anytime your church needs a fresh start. Drawing upon the teachings of Christ from the Sermon on the Mount, the author helps us understand our call to live differently as his followers. Each week, seven daily devotions with prayer, Scripture, and reflection invite you to live as a follower of Jesus Christ. The four weekly topics are: Week 1: Happiness Redefined Week 2: You Can Change Your World Week 3: A Higher Standard Week 4: Love the Ones You Hate

Auszug. � Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Upside Down: A Different Way to Live

Daily Readings

By Jacob Armstrong

Abingdon Press

Introduction, 
How to Use These Devotions, 
Week 1: Happiness Redefined (Matthew 5:1-12), 
Week 2: You Can Change Your World (Matthew 5:13-20), 
Week 3: A Higher Standard (Matthew 5:21-37), 
Week 4: Love the Ones You Hate (Matthew 5:38-48),

CHAPTER 1

Week 1: Happiness Redefined

O God, I give you thanks that you stop to speak to me today. Let my heart feel moved with compassion at the sight of your people. Open my heart to what it may mean for me to live differently as a follower of Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Matthew 5:1-12

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. He taught them, saying:

"Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

"Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.

"Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.

"Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.

"Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.

"Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.

"Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God's children.

"Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

"Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me. Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets who came before you."

Day 1

Matthew 5:1

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. He taught them saying ...

Every day I see different people. On the walking trail by my house, I pass my neighbors. In the grocery store I see people from my community. On my street corner the homeless hold signs. At the gas station we stand, but we do not speak. If I'm honest, I see a lot of people and think very little about them. I have my stuff to do, and I am on my way. If I'm honest, some days I hope that I don't have to stop or speak because my day is planned, my mind is preoccupied, and my heart is busy.

On the day that Jesus shared what is now known as the Sermon on the Mount, he saw a lot of people. A huge crowd had followed him.

Jesus didn't see the crowds and keep walking. Jesus didn't see the crowds and try to get away.

When Jesus saw the crowds he was moved to do something for them, something with them. He went up on the side of a mountain (presumably to a place where his voice could be heard better), sat down (the seated position would have been the authoritative way to teach), and began to share with the crowds a message that they did not expect.

Jesus shared what is commonly known as the Beatitudes, a term which means happy or blissful. Jesus began to share the way to happiness to a crowd that he loved. This week we will look at these teachings that were upside down from the common thinking of that day and of our day.

Before we do that, though, let's note that when Jesus saw the crowds he didn't keep on walking. He stopped. He gathered them. He loved them.

Different people raise different emotions in us. A beloved family member, an old friend, an annoying co-worker, a stranger on the street—they all elicit different responses in our hearts. From deep devotion to indifference. From fondness to disdain.

Don't miss that when Jesus saw the crowds he was moved with compassion to share with them a different way that would be the way. The way that they had been looking for, longing for, hoping for.

As we look at a Jesus who calls us to a different way—a way that is upside down from what our culture has taught us is the way to happiness and success—remember that he stops and speaks to us because he loves us.

What do you think Jesus sees when he sees you?

If you knew that today Jesus was stopping to share with you a different way to live, what would be your response?

How can you view the crowds that you see today differently?

Day 2

Matthew 5:3-4

"Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

"Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad."

I'm often surprised when, on a normal day when I'm just going about my business and think I'm doing okay, something happens to show that indeed I am not okay. Where did those tears come from? Why did I say that? How did I get so angry so quickly? Why do I feel so depressed all of a sudden?

I am reminded that in some ways I lack hope. I am reminded that I have some things I am still grieving.

In Jesus' day, as in ours, it was the powerful, the rich, the highly regarded, the confident who were expected to be blessed and happy. They were the ones who received inheritances. They had the good stuff and lived the good life. Jesus said, in effect, "I'm going to turn that upside down."

"Happy are the hopeless." Huh? "Happy are people who grieve." What?

Jesus taught that those who are broken in their hearts—the weak, the hungry, the insulted—are the ones who will get the inheritance. They will receive the good stuff and live the good life. They will be happy, blessed, filled with joy.

Jesus comes to those who have days of grief and hopelessness. Jesus calls us to admit the ways we are without hope and the things we grieve. And Jesus meets us there, offering his kingdom to the hopeless and gladness to the grieving.

Jesus says that the best things he has to offer are available for those who are hurting. If you hurt today, know that Jesus has something for you.

It may be helpful to consider the parts of you today that are without hope ... the places where you grieve. Where do you need hope today?

What do you need in order to grieve before God? Has anything hurt you that you need to share with God?

Day 3

Matthew 5:5

"Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth."

It's all about me." Though it is painful to admit, if I'm not careful this can become a major guiding statement behind much of what I do. And it makes me terribly unhappy. There is something innate in us that leads us to look out for number one; but when our life becomes all about us, our souls become very empty.

Jesus says that humble people are happy people.

True, the humble rarely get noticed. By nature they do not call attention to themselves. They often are overlooked and passed over. And yet Jesus, in his upside down way, says that the humble have a great inheritance in store for them.

Again, Jesus points out that the ones we usually think of as...

��ber diesen Titel� kann sich auf eine andere Ausgabe dieses Titels beziehen.

Anbieterinformationen

Founded in 2002, World of Books is a leading online destination for buying and selling both preloved and new books, committed to making sustainable reading accessible to all. With a mission to help people read more and waste less, World of Books offers a huge range of affordable, high-quality books ? giving both new and preloved titles a second life. The company also operates World of Books ? Sell Your Books, an easy-to-use platform that allows customers to trade in unwanted books for cash, helping to keep books in circulation while promoting sustainability. As a Certified B Corp, World of Books is driven by a vision to become the world?s largest and most sustainable dedicated online bookstore. The company measures its success through the positive environmental impact it creates, the value it provides to customers, and its ability to operate profitably while supporting its sustainable mission

Zur Homepage des Verk�ufers

Unternehmensdaten des Verk�ufers

SBYB, Inc.
900 Knell Rd, Montgomery, IL, 60538, U.S.A.

Gesch�ftsbedingungen und Versandinformationen

Verkaufsbedingungen

We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the Abebooks web sites. If you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date. If you've changed your mind about a book that you've ordered, please use the Ask bookseller a question link to contact us and we'll respond within 2 business days.

Widerrufsrecht

Wenn Sie Verbraucher sind, k�nnen Sie gem�� den folgenden Bestimmungen vom Vertrag zur�cktreten. Verbraucher ist jede nat�rliche Person, die zu Zwecken handelt, die nicht ihrer kaufm�nnischen, gewerblichen, k�nstlerischen oder beruflichen T�tigkeit zugerechnet werden k�nnen.

Informationen zum Widerrufsrecht

Gesetzliches Widerrufsrecht

Sie haben das Recht, den Vertrag innerhalb von 14 Tagen ohne Angabe von Gr�nden zu widerrufen.

Die Widerrufsfrist betr�gt 14 Tage ab dem Tag, an dem Sie oder ein von Ihnen benannter Dritter, der nicht der Transporteur ist, die letzte Ware oder den letzten Posten oder das letzte Exemplar in Besitz genommen hat.

Um das Widerrufsrecht auszu�ben, f�llen Sie auf unserer Website unter „Meine Eink�ufe" in „Mein Nutzerkonto" eine eindeutige Erkl�rung elektronisch aus und senden Sie sie ab. Wir werden Ihnen unverz�glich eine Best�tigung �ber den Eingang eines solchen Widerrufs auf einem dauerhaften Datentr�ger (z. B. per E-Mail) �bermitteln.

Um die Widerrufsfrist einzuhalten, reicht es aus, dass Sie Ihre Mitteilung �ber die Aus�bung des Widerrufsrechts vor Ablauf der Widerrufsfrist absenden.

Auswirkungen des Widerrufs

Wenn Sie diesen Vertrag widerrufen, erstatten wir Ihnen alle Zahlungen, die wir von Ihnen erhalten haben, einschlie�lich der Lieferkosten (mit Ausnahme der zus�tzlichen Kosten, die entstehen, wenn Sie eine andere Art der Lieferung als die von uns angebotene g�nstigste Standardlieferung gew�hlt haben).

Wir k�nnen einen Abzug von der R�ckerstattung f�r den Wertverlust der gelieferten Waren vornehmen, wenn der Verlust auf eine unn�tige Behandlung durch Sie zur�ckzuf�hren ist.

Wir werden die R�ckerstattung unverz�glich und nicht sp�ter als 14 Tage nach dem Tag vornehmen, an dem wir �ber Ihre Entscheidung, diesen Vertrag zu widerrufen, informiert wurden.

F�r die R�ckerstattung verwenden wir dasselbe Zahlungsmittel, das Sie f�r die urspr�ngliche Transaktion verwendet haben, es sei denn, Sie haben ausdr�cklich etwas anderes vereinbart; in keinem Fall werden Ihnen aufgrund einer solchen R�ckerstattung Geb�hren berechnet.

Wir k�nnen die R�ckzahlung verweigern, bis wir die Waren wieder zur�ckerhalten haben oder Sie den Nachweis erbracht haben, dass Sie die Waren zur�ckgesandt haben, je nachdem, was eher eintritt.

Sie m�ssen die Waren unverz�glich und in jedem Fall sp�testens 14 Tage ab dem Tag, an dem Sie uns �ber den Widerruf dieses Vertrags unterrichten, an World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, Illinois, U.S.A., zur�cksenden oder �bergeben. Die Frist ist eingehalten, wenn Sie die Ware vor Ablauf der Frist von 14 Tagen zur�cksenden. Sie m�ssen die direkten Kosten der R�cksendung der Waren tragen. Sie haften nur f�r einen etwaigen Wertverlust der Waren, der auf eine Behandlung zur�ckzuf�hren ist, die nicht zur Pr�fung der Art, Eigenschaften und Funktionsweise der Waren erforderlich ist.

Ausnahmen vom Widerrufsrecht

Das Widerrufsrecht gilt nicht f�r:

Die Lieferung von Zeitungen, Zeitschriften oder Magazinen mit Ausnahme von Abonnementvertr�gen; und
Die Lieferung digitaler Inhalte, die nicht auf einem physischen Medium (z. B. auf einer CD oder DVD) geliefert werden, wenn Sie bei Ihrer Bestellung akzeptiert haben, dass wir mit der Lieferung beginnen k�nnen und dass Sie nach Beginn der Lieferung den Vertrag nicht mehr widerrufen k�nnen.

Versandbedingungen

Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.

Versandkosten innerhalb von USA

Versandkosten innerhalb von USA
Bestellmenge	4 bis 12�Werktage	3 bis 6�Werktage
Erster Artikel	EUR 0.00	EUR 9.37

Die Versandzeiten werden von den Verk�uferinnen und Verk�ufern festgelegt. Sie variieren je nach Versanddienstleister und Standort. Sendungen, die den Zoll passieren, k�nnen Verz�gerungen unterliegen. Eventuell anfallende Abgaben oder Geb�hren sind von der K�uferin bzw. dem K�ufer zu tragen. Die Verk�uferin bzw. der Verk�ufer kann Sie bez�glich zus�tzlicher Versandkosten kontaktieren, um einen m�glichen Anstieg der Versandkosten f�r Ihre Artikel auszugleichen.