left shape

The Poverty
Principle

It's not difficult to have the wrong mind-set and perspective about how we are meant to live as followers of Jesus. Jesus knew that this would be difficult for us so at the beginning of His public ministry, He preached a sermon. It is called the Sermon on the Mount. It begins with what are known as the Beatitudes. The first Beatitude is "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." This verse holds the revolutionary understanding of what Jesus meant when He says, "Follow me!"
Buy for $24.99 Learn More
  • cover
  • author A book by
    Greg Huffer
bottom shape

What Will You Get From This Book?

In our world, we've been ingrained with the idea to try hard, try harder, just keep trying, even in the Christian life. But The Poverty Principle from Matthew 5:3 and throughout the Scriptures reveals a completely different understanding of the Christian journey to follow Jesus. Seeing how the Beatitudes relate to each other, helps us understand each individual Beatitude on its own. 'Self' is such a powerful and pervasive element that we all fight against in this world and in our flesh. Jesus taught us here with the very first words of The Sermon on the Mount (as well as elsewhere) that the way to find intimacy and blessing in our Christian lives is by denying self and seeking after Jesus and all that He offers us.

The Poverty Principle Chapters

  • cover
  • author A book by
    Greg Huffer
  1. Introduction
  2. Beatitude Basics
  3. Poverty of Spirit
  4. Mourning
  5. Meekness
  6. Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness
  7. Mercy
  8. Purity
  9. Peacemaking
  10. Persecuted for Righteousness
  11. A Case Study- David and Goliath
I want this book

Why I wrote this book:

I began my study of the Beatitudes during a particularly difficult time of life and ministry while serving on the mission field in Monterrey, Mexico. I had ‘accidentally’ come across David Martyn Lloyd-Jones book “Studies in the Sermon on the Mount” and it changed my life. As I read and re-read the brilliant and insightful words of Lloyd-Jones, my perspective on the essence of the Christian life changed.

And for me, the crux of the matter was the depths of the first Beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” As I grew in knowledge and understanding of the Beatitudes, and particularly this one verse, my eyes were opened to how fundamentally essential the truth of this verse toward the posture and self-perceived status of anyone who wants to follow Jesus must be. I have a yearly habit of reading through the Bible and as I did so in the following years, I found the elemental truths of the poverty of spirit principle present from cover to cover, from Creation to Glory.

From both first-hand experience as well as an observant eye on the common practices that so many Christians have in our own Christian journeys, I was hit between the eyes at how our approach to the Christian life is more of a mix of the good ol’ can do spirit and the American dream, tempered with a bit of Christian ideals of morality and half-hearted pursuits of Jesus.

In Jesus’ first sermon, with the very first words of the famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses our misconceptions head on and makes it clear for us just who it is who will inherit the kingdom of heaven and eternal life.

I wrote this book because my study into this truth set me free from the erroneous attitudes that can govern our lives and our spiritual pursuits. The Sermon on the Mount deals squarely with the devastating concept of self, and it begins with “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”. Getting rid of self is the hardest thing we will ever do. But it is also the most wonderful thing we can. Because only when I am done with self, will I be able to have open eyes and a pure heart to see and experience the blessings of Jesus.

Get A Free Preview

Sign up to get a free preview of the book.
You can offer visitors free book previews to generate leads.
image

About The Author

Greg Huffer currently serves as pastor of New Life Church in Michigan and has served in the pastorate and on the mission field in Mexico for nearly 2 decades. He has been studying and teaching on the Beatitudes for over 15 years and writes to share the insights he has learned with others seeking to grow in their intimacy with Jesus. He lives with his wife of 31 years, Cathy and their yellow lab Maizey. They have three grown sons each in their own pursuits, Ben, Luke and Mark.

Follow Me