The Beatitudes and Francis of Assisi: Bible Study of Matthew 5 (The Hagios Study Series)

The Beatitudes and Francis of Assisi is an 8-part Bible Study of Matthew 5:1-12, the section of scripture referred to as “The Beatitudes.” These eight principles are explored through a pilgrimage of study with full-color images of the real places discussed in each section. In this book, you’ll also explore how these teachings influenced St. Francis of Assisi, a true example of a holy and intentional response to God’s word. Pairing this Christian saint with how he responded to scripture gives us perspective on how we can apply Christ’s teaching to our time and culture. The Beatitudes and Francis of Assisi is the first study in the Hagios Study Series. The name come from the Greek word hagios meaning “holy, set apart by God, saint.” This perfect-bound full color148-page 8×11 book includes: Four sections in each week for well-paced progression Read – Explore the featured verse by viewing it alongside supporting verses. By comparing verses that share the same words across the Greek versions of the Old and New Testament you will better understand the English translation and how these parallel verses give insight into the main reading. Reflect – View a skillfully crafted meditation video on the Hagios Study mobile app along with short reflections from early Church Fathers to aid you in journaling your thoughts on the readings. Respond – Discover the story of a Christian brethren and how they responded to the main scripture for the week. Approachable questions will aid you in prayerfully determining application to your life. Rest – The final section brings together all the previous three sections for a moment of final considerations. Begin by listening to a contemporary praise song on the mobile app while meditating on the verses from the week. Then finish with an inspired prayer from our communion of saints. Discussion questions for small groups or personal reflection Journal pages Audiovisual meditations in The Hagios Study mobile app (the free mobile app companion for the study) How is the study structured? The study is broken down into 8 parts with one Beatitude for each part. The study presents these parts as “weeks” however, there’s no restriction on how quickly or slowly you execute each part. Each week’s four sections follow the ancient monastic form of studying scripture called Lectio Divina, Latin for “divine reading.” This prayerful practice was first established in the 6th century by Benedict of Nursia and then fleshed out into a four-step process by the Carthusian monk Guigo II in the 12th century. The purpose of the format for Lectio Divina is to enter into a conversation with God. Since this study is a scripture study it’s uses the Lectio Divina scholastic format of Read, Reflect, Respond, and Rest. In each section, you will seek to be guided by the Holy Spirit. There’s plenty of flexibility in how you execute your week. If you’d like to do one section a day or all four in one day, that’s up to how the Spirit is leading you. The goal of Lectio Divina is to make scripture come alive and provide a way for you to connect with God’s Word on a level that is both personal and convicting. Who is this study for? This study was written to be sensitive to all Christian denominations. It is are ideal for both men and women in small group ministries. Although initially for Catholic small group study, these studies can easily be embraced by all Christian denominations that 1) believe scripture is the inspired word of God 2) Jesus is the Son of God and 3) Jesus’ words in the Gospels apply to our lives today.