Meeting guide · command 3

Rejoice when Persecuted

When suffering comes because of faithfulness to Jesus, receive His promise and rejoice in God’s future reward rather than answering evil with despair.

Read

Read the complete passage aloud.

Primary passage

Matthew 5:11–12

11 “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

World English Bible

In the Beatitudes Jesus addresses disciples who are insulted, falsely accused, and persecuted because of Him.

Discuss

Listen carefully to what Jesus says.

  1. What does Jesus command?
  2. What does this passage reveal about Him?
  3. Where do we resist this command?
  4. What is difficult or unclear?
  5. How is rejoicing in persecution different from pretending pain is good or ignoring injustice?

Practice

Choose one specific act of obedience.

Bring one experience of rejection for faithfulness before God. Refuse retaliation, bless the person involved, and ask a trusted believer to pray with you.

Return

Come back and discuss what happened.

Where did bitterness or fear surface, and what helped you remain faithful without denying the hurt?

Close together

Pray. Then prepare to teach.

Pray

Jesus, keep us faithful when obedience costs us. Guard us from bitterness and anchor our joy in your kingdom.

Teach

Teach that Jesus names the pain honestly while directing disciples toward God’s promise, faithfulness, and non-retaliation.