Sunday, March 31, 2024
Thursday, March 28, 2024
#064 Jesus Teaches About Asking, Looking, Knocking (Matthew 7:7-12) - Life of Christ = Week 13 - Thursday
Matthew 7:7-12
"Golden Rule"
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
#063 Jesus Teaches About Judging Others (Matthew 7:1-6; Luke 6:37-42) - Life of Christ = Week 13 - Wednesday
Matthew 7:1-5
Luke 6:37-42
- God is ... What do we learn about God?
- We are ... What do we learn about people?
- What activities does Jesus condemn and commend (Luke 6:37-38)? What does the promise (v. 38) mean in this context?
- Does Luke 6:37 say that we must love others before God will love us? Why or why not?
- What’s the point of this parable (Luke 6:39-40) in this context?
- What is the point of the speck and the plank?
- How does the tree and its fruit (Luke 6:43-45) help you recognize a “kingdom person”? How does this relate to (vv 37-42)
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
- In light of this three-fold passage (Luke 6:41-45), how would you recommend approaching people who need help or correction?
- What quality of fruit would your acquaintances say you are producing: Grade A-1? So-so? Wormy? Why? What would Jesus need to do to make it good?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Matthew 7:6
- God is ... What do we learn about God?
- We are ... What do we learn about people?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
#062 Jesus Teaches About Worry (Matthew 6:25-34) - Life of Christ = Week 13 - Tuesday
The Cure for Anxiety
25“This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the sky: they don’t sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?
27“Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying? 28And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! 30If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you—you of little faith? 31So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34
Jesus says, Do not worry about tomorrow or get stuck in the past. There is abundant Life in My Presence today.
Series: King Jesus “Submitting to
the Reign of Christ”
The circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus do not seem
consistent with that of royalty, and the kingdom he described does not sound
like an empire of politics and power. Perhaps Jesus is a different kind of king
and his kingdom is not of this world. What does it mean to let King Jesus reign
in your life?
Title: “Seek First” (Matthew 6:25-34)
Bookmark: Click Here
Opening Thoughts: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus revealed
the upside-down nature of God's kingdom. Life in His kingdom means having our
lives ordered by a different set of priorities and principles.
v Recipes for this time of year.
o Jesus gives the recipe for Kingdom Living.
o
Pineapple upside-down cake or
the DQ Blizzard
·
This helps us understand the
upside-down nature of the Kingdom of God.
v Matthew 5:38-45 NIV - "You have
heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do
not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them
the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand
over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two
miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who
wants to borrow from you. "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your
neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He
causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the
righteous and the unrighteous.
v Matthew 6:19-20 NIV - "Do not
store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and
where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break
in and steal.
v “Yeah, but…”
o Matthew 5:21 NIV -
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall
not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'
o Matthew 5:27 NIV -
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
o Matthew 5:31 NIV -
"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a
certificate of divorce.'
o Matthew 5:33 NIV -
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do
not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.'
o Matthew 5:38 NIV -
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for
tooth.'
o Matthew 5:43 NIV -
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your
enemy.'"
===============================================================
Text: Matthew 6:25-34
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you
will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more
than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look
at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and
yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than
they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a
single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the
field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I
tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of
these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of
the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he
not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So
do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What
shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all
these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But
seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things
will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not
worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough
trouble of its own.
===============================================================
Summarize
the main story: Describe the events of the story in your own words.
v Review and
retell the story.
Reflections
for applications:
v God’s Recipe:
o
The first thing
is …Matthew 6:33
v World’s Recipe:
o
Material Success
& Physical Comfort
§ Matthew 6:25-26, 31-32
§ Matthew 6:27, 34 is God’s challenge.
v God’s Recipe:
o
Be attitudes
§ Matthew 5:3, 10 NIV - "Blessed are the poor
in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ... Blessed are those who are
persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
§ Matthew 6:10, 33 NIV - your kingdom come, your
will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ... But seek first his kingdom
and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
v Philippians
4:11b, 12b-13 I have learned
to be content whatever the circumstances. … I have learned the secret of being
content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living
in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
==============================
Digging
Questions:
·
How will you
respond to God “As King Jesus”? What transformative move needs to be made?
·
What do
these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
·
What is
God calling us (me and you individually) to do?
Take
Away Challenges
·
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage?
How will you apply it to your life this week?
·
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
·
What is
God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or
actions need to be addressed or changed?
Hashtags #KingJesus #Priorities #Seek #First
Sunday sermon link https://youtu.be/W9-TfuUhOD0
Kevin’s Blog Link to more
resources: Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes
Comments
and resources with some more resources:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A25-34&version=NIV
Monday, March 25, 2024
#061 Jesus Teaches About Money (Matthew 6:19-24) - Life of Christ = Week 13 - Monday
19“Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is generous, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eye is stingy, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness—how deep is that darkness!
24“No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money.
Matthew 6:19-24
Value of Spiritual Insight
Matthew 6:22,23
Need for Undivided Loyalty
Matthew 6:24
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Christ Test - Life of Christ = Week 12 - Saturday
Jesus Test
Friday, March 22, 2024
#060 Jesus Teaches About Fasting (Matthew 6:16-18) - Life of Christ = Week 12 - Friday
Matthew 6:16-18
Thursday, March 21, 2024
#059 Jesus Teaches About Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15) - Life of Christ = Week 12 - Thursday
How to Pray
5“Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! 6But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.
9“Therefore, you should pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.’*
14“For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.
Matthew 6:5-15
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
#058 Jesus Teaches About Giving to the Needy (Matthew 6:1-4) - Life of Christ = Week 12 - Wednesday
Matthew 6:1-4
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
#057 Jesus Teaches About Loving Enemies (Matthew 5:38-48; Luke 6:27-36) - Life of Christ = Week 12 - Tuesday
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye’ and ‘a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love Your Enemies
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Lk 6:30“Give to everyone who asks from you, and from one who takes away your things, don’t ask for them back. Mt 5:46–47For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Lk 6:32–34If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. Mt 5:48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect [Lk 6:36Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful].
Matthew 5:38-42
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- Why has Jesus made a shift in the object of love (Leviticus 19:18)? What specifically are we to do to enemies?
- Since applying verses (Luke 6:29-30) literally could reinforce someone's bad behavior, what is Jesus' point (Luke 6:31, 36)?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
- How does this description of love challenge you?
- How can that be a model for retaliating to someone you find difficult?
- Have you ever shown love to an enemy? How?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Matthew 5:43-48
Luke 6:32-36
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Series: Be Different “Making
Transformative Moves” Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of
this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind.
Title: Different Heart
Bookmark: Click Here
Opening
Thoughts: Being different
demands that we not conform to the harshness and hatred of the world but rather
that we walk with Jesus across enemy lines and demonstrate a heart of genuine
love.
v Love over Hate
o Shape
your heart and keep in balance
o Kingdom
Living
§ Love,
good deeds, give
===============================================================
Text: Luke
6:27-36
Love for
Enemies
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If
someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If
someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give
to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do
not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you
would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to
you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And
if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And
if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to
you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and
lend to them without
expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and
you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful
and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your
Father is merciful.
God’s Love
and Ours
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for
love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows
God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God,
because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among
us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through
him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but
that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear
friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No
one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his
love is made complete
in us.
13 This is how we know that we live in him
and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And
we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior
of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus
is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And
so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in
them. 17 This is how love is made complete among
us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this
world we are like Jesus. 18 There
is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to
do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever
claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For
whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have
seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And
he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their
brother and sister.
===============================================================
Summarize the main
story: Describe the events of the story in your own words.
v Review and
retell the story.
Reflections
for applications:
v
Actions:
o
Love
o
Do Good
o
Give
§
Bless
§
Pray for
o
Keep you heart in
balance, equal, and symmetric.
v
Digging
Questions:
·
How
will you respond in being different? What transformative move needs to be made?
·
What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
·
What is God calling us to do?
Take Away
Challenges
·
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in
this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
·
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
·
What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What
beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?
Hash tags #Give #Generosity #Do Good
Sunday sermon link
https://youtu.be/x4h4fX3pVZ4
Kevin’s Blog Link to more resources: Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes
Comments and
resources with some more resources:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A27-36&version=NIV
Series Questions Jesus Asked
Title: What Reward Will You Get?
Bookmark: Click Here
Opening Thoughts:
We all have to answer questions.
o Game: “ Would You Rather?
Text: Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Summarize main story: Describe the events of the story in your own words.
Review and retell the story.
Reflections for applications:
Love your neighbor
o Leviticus 19:18 “ Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself I am the Lord ”
Enemies “ Love all that God has chosen and hate all that he has rejected … Love all the sons of light and hate all the sons of darkness. ” -Rule of the Community, Qumran
o Leviticus 19:33-34 “‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?
Luke 6:32-34 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
Why?
o God’s kingdom is a kingdom of inclusion.
o Loving your enemy embodies the gospel.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
o Unconditional love reflects the heart of our heavenly Father.
Luke 6:35-36 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Digging Questions:
How will you respond to this question Jesus asked?
What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
What is God calling us to do?
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?
Hash tags #Reward #Jesus #enemies
Sunday sermon link https://youtu.be/kUV3KoTeXR0
Kevin’s Blog Link to more resources: Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes
Comments and resources with some more details:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A43-48&version=NIV