John 10:1-21

What did the Holy Spirit speak to you about today?

John 10:10; Ephesians 1:3, 3:20

Questions/Notes:

What do you know about __________?  Isaiah 55:7

God is _______________ with ___________________.   Eph. 1:3

2. God exists in ____________________ ___________________.

Superabundant ______________ I John 3:1

Superabundant _______________Phil. 4:6, 7

Superabundant ________Psalm 16:11,  John 15:11

The size of your ______ determines the size of your _______________.

God welcomes you to a life of _________________ ________________.

Distinguish between ____________ and _____________ abundance.

Experiencing the abundance of God does not depend on ____________ _________________.

The abundance of God is received through ________________

 If you want _________ _______________ you must want __________!

1 Corinthians 15:16-20; Romans 8:22-25

The Resurrection Changes Everything; it gives us Hope!

The Resurrection Changes Everything; it brings real life now!

Purpose for living!

Power for living!

Presence constantly!

The Resurrection Changes Everything; it brings a promise for the future!

Matthew 7:13-29

In His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us His way of living in the Kingdom.

1. Did the Holy Spirit speak to you about anything today?

2. Read verses 13-14. How are the two ways different? What does it mean to enter through the narrow gate? What does it mean to go on the broad road? If the majority is not right, how can we find the right road? (Jn 14:6)

3. Read verse 15. What is Jesus’ warning? What characterizes a false prophet? Read verse 16-20. How can false prophets be recognized? What does this mean? What is the only thing to do with a bad tree?  How can you identify false teaching?

4. Read verses 21-23. What do false disciples have in common with real disciples?  What is the difference? How is it that those who know the Bible well and engage in many good activities can fail to enter the kingdom? What is the will of the Father? (Mt 6:10; 26:39; Jn 17:3,4) What does “I never knew you” mean?

5. Read verses 24-27. What do the wise man and the foolish man have in common? How are they different? What happens to the two houses when the rains and floods come? What do the rains and floods represent in our lives?  Can you recognize a time when you built on the sand?

Matthew 7:1-12

In His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us His way of living in the Kingdom.

Did the Holy Spirit speak to you about anything today?

What does Jesus really mean here when he talks about judging? Never evaluating?  Always accepting everything?  What does the plank and sawdust tell us about the attitudes behind judging?

Has God ever brought home the truth of what Jesus is saying in verses 1 -5 to you in a very personal way? What was that lesson like for you?

6 is a bit of a puzzler. One key to understanding it is the idea behind a pearl or something sacred, as is mentioned in Matthew 13:45-46.  What is Jesus saying in verse 6?

This whole portion of the sermon is about relationships. How does the “ask, seek, knock” type of persevering prayer fit into this context?

What are some conclusions you can draw about prayer from these verses? Do you always get what you ask for?  Why not?  What does this mean then?

Matthew 6:19-34

In His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us His way of living in the Kingdom.

Did the Holy Spirit speak to you about anything today?

What does it mean to store up treasures in heaven? Is Jesus saying we shouldn’t have or enjoy material things?

Jesus uses the words “can not” instead of “should not” when it comes to serving two masters. What are the implications of this?  (Consider that the word serve means to be enslaved).

The definition of the word “anxious “(or worry) in this passage is a combination of two smaller words. It means, “to divide the mind.” How does worry divide the mind?Philippians 4:6–7, 12–13, 19, Proverbs 30:7–8, 1 Timothy 6:9–10 

In verse 21 Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The word treasure here means, “a place where good and precious things are stored.” Discuss this verse. What does the heart have to do with worry?

In verses 25-32, Jesus builds a case for not worrying. What are some of the reasons that worry for a Christ follower does not make sense?

Matthew 6: 9-13

In His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us His way of living in the Kingdom.

Have you ever tried to pray in the 1st person plural? (That is, praying for "we" and "us" as opposed to "me")  How has it changed your perspective?

What term do you usually use for God?  "God"?  "Father"?  "Dear Lord"?  Others?  Why do you use those terms, do they serve you well in your prayer life, or could you stand to change them?

What is the first thing you usually talk about in your prayers?  Your thoughts and needs, or God's character?  Have you felt your prayers become "run away" prayers?

Do you feel comfortable being bold in your prayers?  Does it seem out of place to do so?

How comfortable are you with the idea that the Lord would lead you into a place of temptation?  Do you see those times in your life as being formative and landmark?

How have you thought about forgiveness up to this point?  Have you though of it as a feeling, or a decision?  Have you felt trapped by your feelings?

How does the gospel release you to be able to forgive?

Matthew 6:7-15

In His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us His way of living in the Kingdom.

Matthew 6:1-8; 16-18

In His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us His way of living in the Kingdom.

Did the Holy Spirit speak to you about anything today?

How do the commands in this section relate to “performing for the audience of One”? What is the antidote for the chief sin that is addressed here? Are there moments in our public worship when our chief interest is in making an impression and not on genuine worship?

Compare and contrast the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5 - “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl” and “let your light shine before others” - to his teaching in Matthew 6 - “your Heavenly Father who sees in secret will reward you” and “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” What is the difference between the two?

What are the masks of performance before others that you struggle with? What is behind those masks?  How does knowing the “God who sees” free you?

Read ahead in next week’s text:  Matthew 6:9-17

Matthew 5:38-48

In His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us His way of living in the Kingdom.

Did the Holy Spirit speak to you about anything today?

Which of Jesus’ stories about a better way to respond to conflict resonated with you?

What did you learn about the three.

Read Romans 12:17-21. How does Matthew 5:38-41 and this passage inform a Biblical view of retaliation and vengeance?

What is your instinctive response to insults and demands on your goods/possessions? How do these verses challenge that instinct?

Where do you love only those who love you? To whom are you kind? For whom do you pray, share life with, even greet/acknowledge?

Read Matthew 5:48, I Peter 1:14-16, and I Peter 2:9-10. God was, is, and always will be perfect. When we become followers of Jesus we do not become perfect. So how do you reconcile these three passages of scripture? Note the relationship of a father and son.

Read ahead in next week’s text:  Matthew 6:1-6;16-18