Check here each week for information to prepare your heart for the upcoming sermon and follow-up questions you can use after the sermon to dig deeper and disciple your family!
Love Your Enemies
Love Your Enemies – Matthew 5:43-48
Sermon Notes:
1) World’s Standard – Only love those _____________. _____________your enemies.
2) Christ’s Command – Love_____________, including_____________.
3) God’s Character – Loving your enemies demonstrates you are_____________.
Discussion Questions:
- How did God show love to you when you were His enemy?
- What does it look like to love our enemies? What examples does Jesus give in this text?
- How does Jesus enable us to keep this command?
- What “enemies” could you begin praying for?
Other Passages to Consider:
Lev 19:1-18; Mt 5:10-12; Lk 10:25-37; 23:34; Acts 7:60; Rom 5:1-11; 12:14-21; Eph 4:29-5:2; 1 Jn 4:7-12
Overcome Evil with Good
Overcome Evil with Good – Matthew 5:38-42
Sermon Notes:
Instead of ______________________, Jesus calls us to be willing to abandon our ______________________.
Four examples:
1) Turn the other cheek – v39b.
2) Let him have your cloak – v40.
3) Go the extra mile – v41.
4) Give to those who beg & borrow – v42.
Digging Deeper:
- How is God glorified when we choose not to retaliate when we are done wrong?
- In addition to God being glorified, what other results can occur when we return good for evil?
- What attributes of God encourage us to not retaliate?
- How does the example of Christ help you obey this teaching in Matthew 5?
Other Passages to Consider:
Ex 21:22-25; Matt 26:52-54; Rom 12:9-21; 1 Cor 6:7; Phil 2:1-11; 3:20-21; 2 Thess 3:10; 1 Pet 2:18-25.
Holiness of Heart
Holiness of Heart: Anger – Matthew 5:21-26
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 4:17-32
Digging Deeper:
- Am I harboring anger against anyone? What would God have me do about that?
- How does this passage cause me to be thankful for the work of Christ?
- Is my relationship with God based more on externals, or is it from the heart? How can I cultivate a heart-felt relationship with God?
Other Passages to Consider:
1 Sam 16:7; Ps 15:1-3; 130:3; Mt 5:17-20; Lk 6:45; Rom 3:20-26; Eph 4:17-32
The Abounding Grace of Jesus
The Abounding Grace of Jesus – 1 Timothy 1:14-17
Digging Deeper:
- What is Christ’s mission? How does Paul underscore it in this text?
- What does Christ’s mission tell us about God?
- How did God’s sovereign grace overcome Paul’s unbelief? What did God’s grace provide?
- How did Paul’s testimony encourage others to believe in Christ?
- Even though we are forgiven, why is it appropriate to remember our former life without Christ?
Other Passages to Consider:
Ps 86:12-13; Mark 10:45; Luke 5:31-32; Acts 9:1-19; 26:9-18; Eph 2:1-10; Titus 3:3-7; Luke 19:10