Sermon on the Mount: Part 12

Message: Generosity
Matthew 6:19-24

• This is the most important passage about money in the Bible.
• Treasure on earth doesn’t last. Treasure in heaven is forever.
• Money rivals God for our hearts.
• Generosity is the key to your spiritual health.
• Find your significance in God and place your trust in God, not money.

Questions
1. How would you define “greed”?
2. How have you struggled with greed in the past?
3. How is greed manifesting itself in your life today?
4. In what ways do you allow money to define who you are?
5. Did you realize that the use of your money is so closely tied to your spiritual life?
6. Where do you feel you are generous? Where would you like to be generous?

Sermon on the Mount: Part 11

Message: Prayer
Matthew 6:9-15

• The Lord’s Prayer is the way to learn about how to pray.
• There are three main parts:

1. Opening

2. Six Requests
a. God’s Name: Glorify God
b. God’s Kingdom: Advancing the Kingdom through Christ
c. God’s Will: Fully surrender to God
d. Give Us: God cares and wants to hear your requests for the present
e. Forgive Us: Forgive our past sins, give us the ability to forgive others, restore relationships
f. Deliver Us: Protection during spiritual battle
3. Closing: It’s all about God. Amen = so be it/may it be
• When praying: remember who you are talking to, focus on the glory of God, and bring your needs to God.
• Never forget the goodness and greatness of God. He is the perfect Father.

Questions
1. What is the first thing you say when you start to pray?
2. How much of your prayer is dedicated to focusing on God vs. your needs?
3. Do you think of God as, “Father, Abba, Daddy, Papa?”
4. Do you view prayer as the most exciting privilege on earth? Why? Why not?
5. How are you using prayer to fight spiritual battles?
6. Does this message bring a new perspective to the Lord’s Prayer?
7. As a group, openly pray through the six requests in the Lord’s Prayer.

Sermon on the Mount: Part 10

Message: Motives

Leaders - read Matthew 6:1-18

· Why do you do what you do in your spiritual life. Are your motives pure?

· Acts of giving, serving, and kindness can be done in public, but they need to be for a one-person audience…Jesus.

· Go after Biblical rewards (Intimacy with God and serving God). They last an eternity.

· Rewards are motivation in the spiritual life.

· Example 1: Giving

a. If you give to be seen, your only rewards will be earthly

· Example 2: Prayer

a. Most prayers in the Bible are public; however, you should only be praying for God when you pray.

· Example 3: Fasting

a. Jesus assumes His followers fast.

b. When you fast, do it for Jesus – to seek God and express your love for Him.

· We are to be a mirror that reflects the image of Jesus.

· Live our lives to please Jesus, not for the approval of others. This requires sacrifice.

Questions

1. Are aspects of your spiritual life a performance rather than an act of worship?
2. Why do you go to church? Read the Bible? Pray at meals? Serve in ministries?
3. How can you achieve greater purity in your motives? Which area in your spiritual life is most impure?
4. How can you embrace this struggle to achieve purity without getting discouraged?
5. When you are around certain people, do you find your motives become less about God and more about those around you or yourself? Are they believers?
6. In what ways are you living for this world? The next world?
7. What has your experience been with fasting? Did you realize Jesus “assumes” we fast?
8. What areas of your life are you reluctant to sacrifice in order to live and die for Jesus?

Easter

Message: Easter

• Easter is the story of the amazing grace of God and the resurrection power given to us for salvation and daily life.
• Resurrection power is available in Jesus. It breathes new life into dead souls.
• God can change a human life no matter how flawed. Allow God to transform you and use you for His Kingdom.
• The disciple Peter underwent a transformation from before the resurrection to after.
• Verses that show Peter’s character before the resurrection:
• Luke 5:5-8 (humble and broken before Jesus)
• Matthew 14:27-28 (speaks before thinking)
• Matthew 16:16-17 (first disciple to respond)
• Matthew 16:22 (tries to instruct Jesus about his actions)
• Luke 9:33 (spoke even when there was nothing to be said)
• Matthew 26:34-35 (over-confident)
• John 18:10 (impulsive/hot tempered)
• Luke 22:62 (heart-broken over his sin)
• Peter after the resurrection:
• Peter led the early church and went all out for Jesus
• Died the death of a martyr (upside down on cross b/c he didn’t feel worthy of dying the same way Jesus did)
• Addresses thousands and is fearless to share about Jesus
• Acts 2: 23-24; 36
• Acts 3: 13-15
• Acts 4:8-13; 19-20

Questions

1. Have you ever felt so wounded by life that you don’t need anyone, not even God?
2. How has God transformed you?
3. Do you feel like God can use you or do you feel too imperfect?
4. In what ways can you relate to Peter’s character? Before the resurrection? After?
5. After hearing the story of Easter, why do you think some people are still not compelled to receive Jesus as their Savior?
6. Did you invite anyone to church this Easter? How did that go?
7. Was anything new revealed to you this Easter?