Sermon on the Mount: Part 15

Message: Ask

Matthew 7:7-12

· This is a stunning promise.

· Prayer is mysterious; however, we are told to pray throughout the Bible.

· Who is God making this promise to?

o Christians who are fully surrendered to Jesus.

o Believers who live for Jesus, not themselves.

o John 1:12

· What exactly is He promising?

o God’s heart, as a Father, is to say “yes” to His children; however, He will say “no” when it is not good for them.

o God should determine “yes” or “no”, not the human, because the knowledge gap is infinite.

o Sometimes we don’t find out why God says “no” until we are in heaven.

· We tend to start playing God when we don’t get what we want. Start trusting God. God knows better.

· Ask. Wait. Trust. (Prov. 3:5)

Questions

1. When you hear God’s promise in these verses, into which category do you fall?
1. That’s incredible!
2. That’s encouraging, but puzzling.
3. I don’t buy it.
2. Are you willing to fully surrender your life to Jesus?
3. We all stumble at times. What have been some of your stumbling blocks?
4. What changes do you need to make in your life to fully surrender?
5. Looking back on things you wanted, what are you now glad God said “no” to?
6. When God said “no”, did you interfere?
7. Share the fruits of a situation when you waited on God’s timing.
8. What do you think of the statement, “One of the best things for your spiritual life is to wait on God.”?
9. Ask in prayer. Trust that God will give you the answer that is best for you. Do you find this message encouraging?

Sermon on the Mount: Part 14

Message: Judging

Matthew 7:1-6

· There is a difference between passing judgment and being judgmental.

· Making judgments is a necessary part of life. (Matt 7:6, 15; John 7:24; 1John 4:1)

· Two principles of judging:

1. The way you judge others is the way they will judge you and the way God will judge you. (Matt 7:2)

§ Be gentle and gracious in your judging, not harsh and severe. (Gal 6:1)

2. Look at yourself first because you may have a worse problem. (Matt 7:3)

§ Be easy on others, hard on yourself.

§ Go gently and humbly to help a brother who is in need of correction.

§ We are called to “go” as an act of love. (Prov. 27:5-6)

· Don’t be naïve (Matt 7:6). There are times when you have to walk away from an enemy of God.

· We can only stop being judgmental by asking God to change us through His grace and humility.

· If you have a deep sense of God’s love for you, then you will feel secure and will not have the need to be judgmental of others.

Questions

1. List examples of judging and being judgmental.
2. What comes up daily that demands our judgment?
3. In what ways are you judgmental? Do you find you are more judgmental in certain situations or toward certain people?
4. When you are being judgmental, what insecurities are you demonstrating?
5. Share examples of judging with a large, medium, and small measure.
6. Do you go to friends/loved ones to point out change needed or do you tend to mind your own business?
7. Are there people who challenge you in areas of your life? If not, think of who you may approach and ask them to do so.
8. Do you have a deep sense of God’s love for you? In what ways does God’s love make you more secure?

Mother's Day

Message: Mother’s Day

· Live our lives intentionally in faith and in dependence on God.

a. We have to be who we want our children to become. (2 Timothy 1:5)

b. Eunice shaped Timothy’s heart spiritually. (Acts 16:1)

· Help your children know and understand scripture.

a. Eunice passed on her legacy by being well versed in scripture. (2 Tim 3:14-17; Deut 6:6-9)

· Pray for your children and teach them how to pray.

a. Dependence on God comes first.

Questions

*For anyone without children, consider those around you with whom you interact, mentor, lead, or to whom you are a spiritual parent.

1. What has your mom taught you?
2. What do you hope to teach your children?
3. How can you foster emotional independence and spiritual dependence in your children? What characteristics define each state?
4. Are you “being” what you want your children to become?
5. How do your challenges/failures help shape your children’s hearts?
6. If Paul were writing a letter to your children, what would he say?

Sermon on the Mount: Part 13

Message: Worry

Matthew 6:25-34

We tend to live in a state of worry. Four reasons Jesus says not to worry:

1. You have a Master (6:25)

2. You have a Father (6:26-30)

3. Our faith (6:31-32)

4. We have a future yet to come (6:33-34)

To worry is to say you do not trust God. God owns, controls, and provides everything. We act like the world when we worry - - as if we do not believe in God.

Seek & Surrender > Live Holy Lives > You will receive all that you worry about

Focus on today. Seek God today. Run after the kingdom today.

Questions

1. Fill in the blank: I am anxious about_______________.
2. Verse 24 tells us we only have one Master. What else in your life are you trying to serve?
3. Do you see worrying as being sinful?
4. In what ways are you consumed with making your life matter? In what ways are you consumed with living for God?
5. How can you become a person of radical dependence on God?
6. Fill in the blank: God, I can’t wait to see how you deliver me from___________.