How do you define covenants and commitments? In Matthew 5, we learn Christians keep their covenants, consider remarriage carefully, and know the importance of having credibility to point others to Christ.

Christians keep our covenants 

Consider remarriage carefully

A Christian’s credibility points to Christ

Life Group Discussion:

Does marriage really matter? How important are the marriage vows? Why do you say that?

When you say, “yes”, do you mean it? Is your “yes” trustworthy? 

Share a time when you broke a commitment? How did you handle it? When you need to break a commitment, discuss together the best way.

God requires perfect holiness to be in His presence. We are imperfect and in need of a sinless sacrifice because of sin. Jesus is the sinless sacrifice and comes into our mess to rescue us! We can enter in the presence of God by the name of Jesus. 

Jesus is the Sinless Sacrifice

For Sin from Anger

Commands Amends from Sin

Life Group Discussion:

Where in my life am I relaxing in areas of sin?

Has God ever brought someone to your mind that you needed to seek out forgiveness? Did you obey? Share this experience. 

Is it hard to say, “Will you please forgive me?” What relationships are the hardest to say this phrase? 

Jesus is calling us to a higher standard of living and what we need is not to try harder to modify our behavior, rather we need heart transformation that comes from fully surrendering our entire lives to Jesus’ authority. In this sermon we learn from Joshua Broome, a former pornstar turned pastor, who points us towards Jesus' words on these truths.

1. Authority Reassigned

2. Adultery Redefined

3. The Adulterous Heart Redeemed

Life Group Discussion:

- How do you put up guardrails to protect your heart from tripping up?

- Do you bring your struggles to your heavenly Father? Or do you try to hide your struggles from God and others? 

- Do you take inventory of your life? What are you watching? What are you reading? What are you listening to? Who are you hanging out with? What do you need to stop doing that keeps you from becoming the likeness of Christ?

You have a purpose to preserve the world that’s been entrusted to you by sharing the Gospel. You have a place and a people to shine your light in the darkness. In Matthew 5, Jesus reveals how we can feel alive!

Know your purpose

Know your place

Know your people

Life Group Discussion:

Have you ever toured old church buildings that are now museums? What do you think happened to those churches? 

Considering the idea of being light that God specifically placed, in what area of your life (work, family, friendships, etc.) could you put that into practice of being light? Share a specific situation.

What is one new way you could begin loving the people God has placed in your life? Are you asking God to show you the people you need to shine a light in darkness? 

Do you feel like the world is going backwards? How did this happen? The world is going backwards because we’re not living the upside-down life. When we walk among the people of God, as the people of God we preserve our land. And fortunately, Jesus shows us the path!

The path is among the poor in spirit

The path is among the pure in heart

The path is among those peaceful in persecution

Life Group Discussion:

What do you picture when you think of the phrase “poor in spirit”?

What type of situations or relationships are difficult for you to be pure in heart?

Do you know someone that doesn’t bring peace to a situation? What is it about them that makes you say that?

We are in a real war, and if we don’t realize it, then we are losing. Once we learn to watch for it, we begin to see it. Once we see it, we can’t unsee it. Paul writes in Ephesians 6 everything we need to know to resist temptation when the enemy attacks.

Stand strong against Satan’s schemes

Stand firm and suited up

Stay praying in The Spirit and share

Life Group Discussion:

Do you recognize when the enemy attacks? Why is it important to stay on guard?

What is a moment you stood strong against the enemy? 

What is a moment you failed, but you felt the grace of Jesus that he’s already won the battle?

Let your life be a life of worship as you obey your parents, guide your children, and work in the role God has placed you in. Live a life of worshipping Jesus in your home and at your workplace.

Children: Honor and Obey

Dads: Discipline and Disciple

Workers: Worship 

Life Group Discussion:

How old should children be to continue to obey their parents?

What areas in your life do you model well for your children? What areas do you struggle with? 

Do you feel like your work is a place that you can “worship” unto the Lord? If not, how can you make it a place you can worship while you work?

A marriage cannot be happy or healthy without Christ at the center of it. In this message, Jonathan Pokluda teaches us that (1) the mindset of marriage must be sacrifice and submission, (2) the mission of marriage is sanctification through service, and (3) the mystery of marriage is that it showcases our savior.

Paul reminds us in today’s text the antidote to spiritually sleepwalking is to walk in love, walk in the light, and walk in wisdom. 

1. Walk in Love

2. Walk in Light 

3. Walk in Wisdom 

Life Group Discussion:

What have you put behind you and fully surrendered to walk in love?

When someone brings sin into the light? How should you respond?

What do you daily allow to fill your heart? What influences your flesh?

To live a Christian life, we have to imitate Christ. One place where some struggle is with forgiveness of others who have committed a wrong against them. Rather than holding grudges, quiet judgment, and anger in our hearts, we are called to forgive in the same way that Jesus forgave us. God deeply cares about how we are able to forgive others and let go of our anger. 

Life Group Questions: 

Are there any unresolved conflicts or feelings of resentment towards others in your life?

How can you take the first step towards resolution?

How does our anger towards others often reveal other sin within us?