PREACHING POINT: To pray effectively about your needs, you must keep God's economy at the forefront of your prayers.

MAIN TEXT: Matthew 6:9–15 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Teaching Points:

1. Pray with a High View of God vv9-10
2. Our Father In Heaven
3.  Holy is your name
4. Your Kingdom Come
5. Your will be done
6. Pray for Daily Provisions vv11-15
7. Daily Sustenance 
8. Daily forgiveness
9. Daily Deliverance 

Application Questions: 

1. Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon. 
2. Read Matthew 6:9 and Isaiah 57:15. What is at stake if you don’t pray with God’s transcendence and holiness in mind? 
3. In what ways can you incorporate the concept of God’s holiness and transcendence into your prayers?
4. Read John 1:11–13 and 1 John 3:1-3. How does the title of God as our Father influence the way you pray and relate to God? 
5. Read 1 John 5:14. Why do you believe Jesus wants you to pray with God’s coming Kingdom and God’s will at the forefront of your mind? 
6. How does a focus on God’s eschatological Kingdom and His will alter your daily prayers? 
7. Read Matthew 6:11-15. What does the simplicity of these three petitions teach you about what God prioritizes in your daily life? 
8. Read Matthew 6:14-15 and Mark 11:25-26. What is the relationship between interpersonal forgiveness in the community of believers and your prayers?
9. Why does God care so much about you forgiving others when He has already forgiven you? 
10. Read Lamentations 3:22-23 and Psalm 32:5. What are the benefits of regular repentance when you pray to God? 
11. Read Psalm 19:13 and Matthew 6:13. How might praying for deliverance from temptations impact your ability to focus on God’s Kingdom and His will? 
12. On the other hand, how does falling into temptations often hinder you from focusing on God’s will?

Preaching Point: Your generosity should never be motivated by human recognition but by your commitment to God, who sees your generosity and rewards you as His child.

Main Text: Matthew 6:1–4

Teaching Points:

1. Check Your Motives v1
2. Don’t Settle for Less v2       
3. Give to Glorify God vv3-4

Application Questions: 

1. Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week sermon. 
2. Read Matthew 6:1-2. What is God's motivation for caring so much about your motives when your actions appear to be good at face value?
3. Read Isaiah 1:10–20. What does this passage in Isaiah teach you about God’s perspective on doing “good things” with wrong motives? 
4. What questions can you ask yourself that can help you regularly check to ensure that you are 1. Regularly generous, and 2. Have the proper motivations for your generosity? 
5. Read John 12:43. How does seeking praise from people cause you to settle for less than God desires for you? 
6. In what ways does keeping an eternal perspective prevent you from seeking instant gratification through praise from others? 
7. Read Colossians 3:23–24 and Matthew 6:3-4. According to God's word, what are the appropriate motivations for generosity?

Text 1: 1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

Point 1: Placing your trust in the person and work of Christ

Point 2: The God-given capacity and desire to follow Christ faithfully

Point 3: Persevering in the faith

Application Questions:

1. What is one observation or application you found helpful or encouraging from this week’s

baptisms and sermon?

2. Read Acts 4:10-12 and Romans 10:9. What is meant when someone says, “the person

and work of Jesus”?

a. How does biblically defining the person and work of Jesus help you see the gospel of

Jesus clearly?

b. How does this definition help you see that responding to the gospel is not an

ambiguous or otherwise subjective experience, but a clearly defined propositional

truth that requires a response?

3. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:2–8 and Ezekiel 36:26-27. Have you seen someone whose

life was completely transformed by the Holy Spirit once the person surrendered their

life to Christ?

a. How did their transformation give you confidence in that person’s genuine

salvation?

b. If you have professed faith in Jesus, how does watching the Holy Spirit change

your own life grow your assurance of genuine salvation?

4. Read Hebrews 10:19–39. How do these verses explain the connection between

persevering in the faith and having confidence in your relationship with God in Christ?

Preaching Point: As a Christian, you have a responsibility to display your relationship with God by reflecting His benevolence and concern for all people, including your enemies.

Main Text: Matthew 5:43–48

Teaching Points:   

1. Love Others Indiscriminately vv43-45
2. Reject the World’s Superficial Definition of Love vv46-47
3. Intentionally Pursue Progressive Holiness v48

Application Questions:

1. Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon. 
2. Read Romans 5:8–11. Why is defining love according to this passage significant both in your relationship with God and your relationship with others?
3. What does loving indiscriminately look like practically? 
4. Read Matthew 5:46–47. Does your love tend to look more like how the world defines love than how God defines love? How so?
5. Who do you need to specifically improve on loving in a self-giving, self-sacrificial way that seeks their good?
6. What are three practical ways you can accomplish that this week?
7. Read 1 John 3:10 and 1 Timothy 6:11. Why should you intentionally pursue holiness? 
8. Why would believing that you have no part to play in progressing in holiness be biblically misinformed? Look up and write down a Bible reference that addresses your part in pursuing holiness.  
9. How can correctly understanding the role of the Holy Spirit give you confidence that your cooperation with the Holy Spirit to make you progressively holy is God’s plan for every Christian?

Preaching Point: God’s displeasure with word manipulation should cause you to think carefully before making frivolous promises you are not committed to keeping. 

Main Text: Matthew 5:33–37 33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Teaching Points:

1. Recognize Every Commitment is Made in God’s Presence vv33-36
2. Communicate Simply and Sincerely v37a
3. Distance Yourself from Satanic Practices v37b

Application Questions:

1. What is one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon?
2. Read Psalm 139:1–12 and Matthew 12:36–37. How should recognizing God’s omnipresence cause you to increase the care you put into making commitments and promises that would please God?
3. What are some examples of subtle verbal manipulations that can be utilized to gain the upper hand in relationships with others?
4. Why are these examples counter to gospel-centered relationships?
5. Read Genesis 3:1–6. How are these examples more akin to what Satan tries to do to people than what Christians should do?
6. Read Philippians 2:3. How does counting others as more important than yourself change the way you communicate with them, especially in regard to making promises? 
7. Read James 5:12 and 1 Peter 3:10. What long-term benefits are there in communicating simply and sincerely in contrast to communicating in a way that gives you loopholes to get out of a commitment?  
8. What temptations exist that might motivate you to use ambiguous statements that do not clearly state your level of commitment to someone or something?
9. How do these kinds of ambiguous or subtle evasive statements harm the progression of otherwise healthy, godly relationships? 
10. What are some ways you can keep your communications with others simple and sincere in a way that honors God and others?
11. How can you utilize these principles in the area of an invitation to an event, party, or hang out?
12. How about in a larger commitment like weekly one-on-one discipleship?

Preaching Point: A personal commitment to God’s original intent for marriage is a necessary component of faithfully following Jesus.

Main Text: Matthew 5:31–32 31

Teaching Points:

1. Recover God’s Permanent Design for Marriage
2. Honor Marriage as a Reflection of Christ and the Church 
3. Tenaciously Guard Your Marriage Covenant

Application Questions:

1. Write down one observation or application you made from this week’s sermon. 
2. Read Malachi 2:14-16 and Matthew 19:3–8. Throughout history, man has done his best to lower the standard of marriage and create an abundance of loopholes to dissolve the marriage covenant. How does a biblical view of God’s permanent design for marriage challenge the prevailing idea of divorce and remarriage? 
3. Read Ezekiel 11:19–20. How does recognizing that sinful hearts are at the bottom of every divorce give genuine hope that as the heart is redeemed so the marriage can be redeemed?
4. Read Ephesians 5:22–33 and 2 Corinthians 11:2–3. What changes in your commitment to the marriage covenant once you recognize that our earthly marriage is designed to reflect Jesus’ permanent love for the church and the church’s eternal commitment and obedience to Jesus?   
5. Read Genesis 2:18–25 and Hebrews 13:4. What are some priority shifts you can make to better guard and honor your marriage?

Preaching Point: Your struggle with lust will often require the Spirit-empowered employment of extreme measures that are well worth the sacrifice and energy you expend to kill your sin.

Main Text: Matthew 5:27–30 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.​​

Teaching Points:

1. Increase Your Sensitivity Toward the Prevalence of Adultery vv27-28
2. Trust in Christ as Your Only Solution for Purity v28
3. Employ Extreme Measures to Deal with Lust vv29-30

Application Questions:

1. Write down one helpful observation or application you made from this week’s sermon.
2. Read Matthew 5:27-28. How does Jesus’ words cause you to reconsider what God views as sinful when it comes to lust? 
3. How does your view on lust need to change to align with Jesus?
4. How does an accurate view of lust help you take captive your thoughts and intentions? 
5. Read Ezekiel 36:25–27. Why is a new heart through the work of the Holy Spirit your only hope for any lasting solution for purity?
6. If you are a Christians, how have you experienced the work of the Holy Spirit in your life when it comes to empowering you to overcome sin?
7. Read Proverbs 6:25–29 and Colossians 3:5–6. As a Christian, in what ways can you admit to not taking the task of killing your lust as seriously as Jesus commands? 
8. What are practical tools you can employ in your fight against lust?
9. Read Hebrews 12:4. What sacrifices do you need to make in your battle against lust? 
10. How can you help others in their struggle with lust?

Preaching Point: If we want to sufficiently deal with the hatred in our hearts we must trust in the righteousness of Christ who cleanses us from our guilt and and empowers us to love others.

Main Text: Matthew 5:21–26

Teaching Points:

1. Abhor Your Unrighteous Anger (vv. 21-22)
2. Pursue Proper Worship Through Your Reconciliation with Others (vv. 23-24)
3. Reconcile with Others Now (vv. 25-26)

Application Questions:

1. Write down one helpful observation or application from this week’s sermon. 
2. Read Genesis 9:6, Exodus 21:14 & Numbers 35:30-34. Why does God deal with murder so severely? 
3. Read 1 John 3:15 & Matthew 5:22. Since God considers our anger toward someone else murder, in what specific ways do you need to address your anger toward others?  
4. Read Proverbs 29:11 & 22, Ecclesiastes 7:9, & James 1:19-22. How do the truths in these verses challenge your outlook on anger? 
5. Read Isaiah 1:11-17, Psalm 66:18 & Psalm 51:16–17. How do you need to approach corporate and individual worship differently in light of these verses?   
6. Read Ephesians 4:31-32, Colossians 3:12-14, & Romans 12:17-21. What are the tools given to Christians to help them reconcile with others? Which tools have you been neglecting to use? 
7. Read Matthew 5:23-26 & John 13:34-35. Why does our reconciliation with others bring God glory?  
8. If there is anyone in this church you need to reconcile with, make it a point to reach out this week and coordinate a time to meet with them. Use the passages in Question 5 to help you reconcile with this person. 
9. If you have questions about what to do, talk with your LifeGroup leader or one of the pastors.

Preaching Point: Christ’s righteousness produces obedience from the inside out concerning all that Jesus commands and even comes with a warning to those who reject absolute obedience to the commands of Christ.

Main Text: Matthew 5:17–20

Teaching Points:

1. Eradicate Legalistic Ideas of Righteousness V20
2. Fear Invalidating Any of Jesus’ Commands V19a
3. Desire an Honorable Position in God’s Kingdom V19b

Application Questions:

1. Write down one helpful observation or application from this week’s sermon. 
2. Read Romans 3:20 and Romans Romans 10:4. How does righteousness that is acceptable to God demolish any feeble attempt to gain favor from God outside of trusting in Jesus for your right standing with God? 
3. Read Matthew 5:19 and Matthew 28:18–20 (emphasis on v20). What are some consequences if Christians do not have a healthy fear of misrepresenting Jesus’ teaching? 
4. Read Matthew 23:23–24. In what ways would the Pharisees have benefited if they had a healthy fear of invalidating God’s commands? 
5. What can you do to keep from falling into the temptation of nullifying Jesus’ commands?
6. Read 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Matthew 19:28–30. Scripture is clear that honor in the Kingdom of Heaven has varying degrees based on how one responds to God’s written revelation. With that in mind:
7. Why is desiring an honorable position in God’s Kingdom a good thing? 
8. How does this truth change how you see your daily life as consequential to eternity?
9. Read Matthew 20:20–28. How can you keep from making the same mistake the disciples did in thinking you could even attempt to manipulate your way into an honorable position in Christ’s coming Kingdom?

Preaching Point: A proper understanding of Jesus' relationship to the Law is crucial for believers to grasp the significance of the work of Christ and the usefulness of the whole Bible in the church's life.

Main Text: Matthew 5:17–18 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Teaching Points:

1. Reevaluate Your View of the Old Testament v17a
2. Elevate Your View of Jesus v17b
3. Apply all Scripture in Light of Jesus v18

Application Questions

1. What is one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon?
2. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. In light of Jesus’ own admission on the significance of the Old Testament (Law), how are you reevaluating or building on your own view of the significance of the Old Testament (Law) in your life? 
3. Read Colossians 1:15–20 and Philippians 2:9–11. What changes can you make in how you think about Jesus that will help you elevate your view of Jesus in light of what Scripture teaches about Him? 
4. Read Colossians 2:16–17 and Hebrews 10:1. How do these verses and Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:17–18 cultivate the expectation that learning the Old Testament (law) is beneficial to grow in your faith in Jesus? 
5. Why is learning about the “shadow” and the “Copy” of the ultimate realities found in Jesus from the Old Testament (Law) significant for providing confidence and assurance in God’s never changing plan throughout history to make Jesus the center of worship?