How do you respond to other people's sin?  For most of us, judgment, and a critical eye is the default response.  How do we help someone who is in sin?  For most of us, this is a challenge.  Often the key issue in our relationships, whether in friendship, in church, in family, or in marriage have to do with how we answer these questions.  In this text Jesus forbids two responses and commends a third to his disciples.  What does it mean, "judge not"?  How can we be helpful not harmful in this sensitive area of our relationships?

What do you worry about?  What makes you anxious?  What stresses you out?  Do you struggle to live in "the moment"?  Is it possible to live a care-free life?  According to Jesus, the Christian can live a care free life.  The answer is not so much in worrying less, or solving all of life's problems, but it's found in worshiping more.  The most significant reality of the Christian life answers our greatest concerns.  What is it, and how can we spend spend more of our energy on what matters most, and less on worry?

What to you value most?  What do you think about most?  What do you serve the most?  Where is it leading your life?  The answer to these questions are extremely important.  This week Jesus talks about the treasure that in the end will not disappoint, the treasure worth cherishing above all else, the only treasure to that will satisfy the searching heart. 

Do you pray?  When do you pray?  Why do you pray?  What comes to your mind when you think of God hearing your prayers?  AW Tozer has famously said: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” (A.W. Tozer)  This couldn't be more true when it comes to the subject of prayer. In this passage Jesus presents his disciples with a radical perspective on their relationship with God and how they get to approach him in prayer.  What makes Christian prayer different than all other kinds of prayer?  How might The Lord's Prayer inform and even revolutionize how we pray?  

The sin of pride can spoil the best of things, even our devotion

No one but Jesus has ever said "Love your enemies." The normal and accepted way to live is to endure your enemies at best.  This week Jesus invites his disciples to the summit of the Christian's character and conduct.  According to Jesus, this is one of the chief aims of the Christian life.  The summit is glorious but it is also difficult to get to.  Curiously, for the first time in the sermon Jesus mentions the world "Love". Why?  And why does Jesus command his followers to love their enemies?  How might we actually live out this incredibly difficult and lofty command? Surprisingly, Jesus gives one of the most beautiful incentives in all of scripture.  

How do you respond to personal offense?  How we handle the offenses in our lives can make a tremendous difference on our quality of life.  The natural reaction is often to retaliate, and not just retaliate but escalate.  Take it up a notch.  In our text this week, Jesus encourages his disciples to not only avoid retaliation, but to also pursue a creative response to people who offend them.  He gives several examples to help them apply it to every day life.  How can Jesus call his disciples to such a radical response?  Is it even possible?  And why would Jesus' way lead to life and freedom?  

While there are more ways to communicate with people today, it seems good communication is harder and harder to come by.  What is the value of a person's word, does it matter anymore?  In today's text Jesus talks about the importance of truthfulness in our speech.  Why does truthfulness matter?  What affect does it have on our lives and relationships with others?  Jesus offers his followers a very simple way to approach communication.  At first glance, it seems obvious, at second glance it is a truly radical approach to life, an approach much needed today.  

Most people today have been impacted one way or another by the effects of divorce.  In today's text Jesus speaks about this complex and sensitive subject.  The goal of his command is not just to avoid divorce, but to encourage life long love of marriage partners.  Matthew 19 flushes out more fully Jesus' teaching on the subject.  What are Jesus' thoughts on divorce and marriage?  Is it ever ok to divorce?  Is it ok to remarry?  And how does the gospel speak to not only divorce and adultery, but to marriage as well?  

"Stop doubting and believe!" Is it possible today in an age of skepticism, in an age of cynicism to believe fully from the heart in the living Jesus?  Many people find themselves tormented by doubts and questions, and at the very least, feel the pressure of culture to question everything.  Thomas was one of Jesus' disciples, and he was a questioner.  He even questioned the resurrection. And yet, after Jesus appeared to Thomas, it was as if his heart finally sang..."My Lord and My God!"  Do you believe?