It’s been more than twenty years since I first preached through the Beatitudes. That series marked a major turning point in my ministry and the life of our church. The poignant message of these verses seemed to jolt our congregation with a new sense of urgency and seriousness about the discipleship to which our Lord calls us. It also awakened my heart as never before to the profound privilege Christians have as citizens of a heavenly kingdom. And at the same time, the spirit of our fellowship seemed to be infused with a vibrant, unprecedented joy that, thankfully, has never diminished.