Message: Palm Sunday given by Stuart Briscoe
Leaders - read Matthew 21:1-22
• Palm Sunday signifies the beginning of Holy Week
• Hosanna = you can be our deliverer, meet our needs, fix our problems
• Superficiality – the crowd’s enthusiasm for Jesus turned to wanting him murdered.
a. They think their needs are fundamentally political, temporal, and material.
b. Jesus knows their needs are spiritual
• Jesus was fulfilling prophetic words from hundreds of years prior
a. Zechariah 9:9 (donkey)
b. Jeremiah 7:11 (Turned the Temple into a den of robbers)
• The fig tree with leaves, but no fruit was like the people in Jerusalem
a. They were going through the motions and making huge professions, but were superficial and devoid of reality.
Questions
1. What does superficiality in the church look like today?
2. Are there any areas of your life/relationship with Christ that are superficial? Are you just going through the motions?
3. Jesus is part of a grand, universal plan that began before creation. Do you feel caught up in this grand plan?
4. In prayer, do you tend to place greater emphasis on your political, temporal, and material needs or your spiritual needs?
Sermon on the Mount: Part 9
Message: Love your enemies
Leaders - read Matthew 5:43-48
• Christianity is the only world religion that calls you to love your enemies. We all have enemies.
• Our enemies are people who have hurt us, betrayed us, wounded us.
• To “love” is a verb, not a feeling. You love your enemies by:
a. Praying for them
b. Blessing them
c. Doing kindnesses to them
d. Forgiving them
• God has always loved us, even when we were enemies. (Romans 5:8)
• The only way to love the unlovable is to be overflowing with God’s love.
Questions
1. Has your understanding of “love your enemies” changed?
2. Who are your enemies?
3. How can you maintain authenticity when blessing or doing acts of kindness for an enemy?
4. Are you so filled with God’s love that it is spilling out to others? Why? Why not?
5. Think of an enemy you have right now and determine the first step you are going to take in loving him/her.
Leaders - read Matthew 5:43-48
• Christianity is the only world religion that calls you to love your enemies. We all have enemies.
• Our enemies are people who have hurt us, betrayed us, wounded us.
• To “love” is a verb, not a feeling. You love your enemies by:
a. Praying for them
b. Blessing them
c. Doing kindnesses to them
d. Forgiving them
• God has always loved us, even when we were enemies. (Romans 5:8)
• The only way to love the unlovable is to be overflowing with God’s love.
Questions
1. Has your understanding of “love your enemies” changed?
2. Who are your enemies?
3. How can you maintain authenticity when blessing or doing acts of kindness for an enemy?
4. Are you so filled with God’s love that it is spilling out to others? Why? Why not?
5. Think of an enemy you have right now and determine the first step you are going to take in loving him/her.
Sermon on the Mount: Part 8
Message: Marriage & Divorce
Leaders - read Matthew 5:31-32
• The human heart is not made for the pain and trauma caused by divorce
• Jesus says the focus of marriage should be on staying married for life rather than what constitutes grounds for divorce
• Varying views as to whether or not it is okay to divorce and remarry
WoodsEdge believes there are certain grounds for divorce
Seven ways to build a thriving marriage:
1. Get marriage mentor couple
2. Get help sooner rather than later
3. Decide divorce is not an option
4. Do conflict well
5. Be two awfully good forgivers
6. Husbands: Love your wives
7. Wives: Respect your husbands
Discussion Questions
1. Where were you in your walk with Jesus the day you were married?
2. How has your walk with Jesus changed throughout your marriage? How has that changed your marriage?
3. In what areas of conflict do you need to improve?
4. How do you prevent the tempting thought of divorce?
5. What does it look like to seek help without violating the privacy of a marital relationship?
6. When is it appropriate to give marriage advice?
Additional verses:
• Phil 3:13 (healing and grace)
• Deut 24:1-5 (passage Jesus is quoting)
• Matt 19:7-9 (marry for life)
• Eph 5:33 (Love & Respect)
Leaders - read Matthew 5:31-32
• The human heart is not made for the pain and trauma caused by divorce
• Jesus says the focus of marriage should be on staying married for life rather than what constitutes grounds for divorce
• Varying views as to whether or not it is okay to divorce and remarry
WoodsEdge believes there are certain grounds for divorce
Seven ways to build a thriving marriage:
1. Get marriage mentor couple
2. Get help sooner rather than later
3. Decide divorce is not an option
4. Do conflict well
5. Be two awfully good forgivers
6. Husbands: Love your wives
7. Wives: Respect your husbands
Discussion Questions
1. Where were you in your walk with Jesus the day you were married?
2. How has your walk with Jesus changed throughout your marriage? How has that changed your marriage?
3. In what areas of conflict do you need to improve?
4. How do you prevent the tempting thought of divorce?
5. What does it look like to seek help without violating the privacy of a marital relationship?
6. When is it appropriate to give marriage advice?
Additional verses:
• Phil 3:13 (healing and grace)
• Deut 24:1-5 (passage Jesus is quoting)
• Matt 19:7-9 (marry for life)
• Eph 5:33 (Love & Respect)
Sermon on the Mount: Part 7
Message: Lust ≠ Love
Matthew 5:27-30
• God was not embarrassed to create what many are embarrassed to talk about.
• Sex is a powerful gift to express love and unity in marriage.
• “Do not commit adultery” includes lust in the mind and heart.
• The problem with lust is dwelling on the thoughts and fantasies.
• Sexual sin never satisfies.
• Look at one another as brothers and sisters.
• There are many ways to “deal with” lust. God’s grace is bigger than your sin.
• God can deliver you.
Discussion Questions
1. Why are people embarrassed to talk about sex?
2. Do you notice the sexual temptations that bombard you on a daily basis?
3. What kinds of sexual relationships are exemplified in the shows you watch? Music you listen to?
4. What kinds of steps do you take to battle sexual sin?
5. How can you protect your marriage from sexual sin?
6. Take time for silent, written, or shared confession of lust.
Matthew 5:27-30
• God was not embarrassed to create what many are embarrassed to talk about.
• Sex is a powerful gift to express love and unity in marriage.
• “Do not commit adultery” includes lust in the mind and heart.
• The problem with lust is dwelling on the thoughts and fantasies.
• Sexual sin never satisfies.
• Look at one another as brothers and sisters.
• There are many ways to “deal with” lust. God’s grace is bigger than your sin.
• God can deliver you.
Discussion Questions
1. Why are people embarrassed to talk about sex?
2. Do you notice the sexual temptations that bombard you on a daily basis?
3. What kinds of sexual relationships are exemplified in the shows you watch? Music you listen to?
4. What kinds of steps do you take to battle sexual sin?
5. How can you protect your marriage from sexual sin?
6. Take time for silent, written, or shared confession of lust.
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