Arise and Abide

Reading from The Gospel According Matthew 6:24-34 (NLT) ~Teaching about Money and Possessions Cont.~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. Our heart and focus shift away from God when we worry. God is asking you to have faith (trust in Him). When your mind is consumed about the things that can cause worry, we lose focus. Missing out on life experiences working towards your material legacy. Focusing on the kingdom of God that is right around us.

Reading from The Gospel According Matthew 6:22-23 (NLT) ~Teaching about Money and Possessions Cont.~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. Imagining hearing this teaching after receiving sight back from Jesus. False light is isolating and focused on self. Healthy souls are generous. The Pharisees caught up in doing their version of “the right thing”.

Reading from The Gospel According Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT) ~Teaching about Money and Possessions ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. When your treasures can be lost, you will always live with a sense of worry in a state of threat. Storing treasures in Heaven is investing in relationships i.e. loving God, and loving people. Investing in relationship builds emotional equity, building a space for challenge and growth. Difficulty of building relationships with PTSD.

Reading from The Gospel According Matthew 6:14-18 (NLT) ~Teaching about Giving Prayer and Fasting Cont.~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. The teaching about forgiveness linking the teaching on the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting. Forgiveness paves the way for restoration of relationship. The reward of God seeing you vs the reward of human praise.

Reading from The Gospel According Matthew 6:9-13 (NLT) ~Teaching about Giving Prayer and Fasting Cont.~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. Remembering who God is, His character, that He alone is good, and living a life that reflects His love. Connection to the Ten Commandments. Reflecting God as images of God. The physical repercussions of spiritual truths in your life. A day-by-day mind frame. The plans and tactics of the enemy. The abundant life God has for us is not in our selfish plans or ideas.

Reading from The Gospel According Matthew 6:5-8 (NLT) ~Teaching about Giving Prayer and Fasting~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. Not babbling on and on when praying and not overthinking what words you use. Loving to pray because everyone would pay attention to the prayers. The same temptation the devil used against Jesus in the desert. The Devil is always trying to get us to think about our self. Quiet time with the Father.

Reading Psalms 15 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. Defining good through scripture. Loving others requires speaking with a sincere heart. The order to be blameless is so big, we need the Holy Spirit to bring us through. Living and speaking in a way that displays God’s love towards other. Keeping your promises when it hurts. Bonus at the end.

Reading from The Gospel According Matthew 6:1-4 (NLT) ~Teaching about Giving to the Needy~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. Giving to help someone in need and not to make yourself look good. Corporate sponsor ship not the same as personal egos. Changing perspective to focus on the betterment of others. Helping others makes you feel good. We get rewards from God. Aspiring to be like others who are charitable.

Reading from The Gospel According Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT) ~Teaching about Love for Enemies~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. Leviticus 19:18 Says love your neighbor as yourself, hate your enemy was inferred by the people. Our enemy is not flesh and blood. Jesus expanded the family of God. Being set apart as God’s, not belonging to the worlds. Responding out of love instead of circumstance.

Reading from The Gospel According Matthew 5:38-42 (NLT) ~Teaching about Revenge~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. Surrendering to the Words of Jesus brings peace inside. A line was drawn but not for the reasons we naturally come to. Changing your perspective in hard situations can shift the relationship dynamics. Breaking the cycle of violence. How things can get in the way of relationships.