Matthew
The Gospel of Matthew
Matthew 8.1-17
April 28, 2024 • Cody Wilbanks • Matthew 8:1–17
Sermon Discussion Questions 1. Who might be considered modern-day “lepers?” How does Jesus change our thinking about them? 2. How should the global nature of the Church shape our view of the Church? 3. Do you agree that “the appropriate expression of gratitude is shown in service”? What would a lack of service communicate? 4. Have you ever heard that divine healing is dependent on your faith? How would you answer that? 5. Pray for any physical needs in the group and then pray for trust as you await God’s answer.
Matthew 7:21-29
April 14, 2024
Sermon Discussion Questions: 1: What role do good works play in a Christian’s life according to Ephesians 2:8-10? 2: How do good works relate to our salvation? 3: How can heavy involvement in Christian ministry numb us to our need for Jesus? 4: Discuss the books in Revelation 20:11-15. What does this scene tell us about the way to salvation? 5: How can we avoid being among the ones who are surprised not to “make it” on judgment day?
Matthew 7:15-23
April 7, 2024 • Kevin Maloney
Sermon Discussion Questions: 1: What does it mean to live as a true Christian counter-culture, according to the sermon? How do you see this concept reflected in your own life or in the broader Christian community? 2: The sermon highlights the importance of listening to the right voices along our Christian journey. How do you discern who the right teachers and guides are in your life? What criteria do you use to evaluate their influence? 3: What are some potential dangers of seeking guidance solely from human teachers rather than relying on personal study of the Bible and guidance from the Holy Spirit, as discussed in the sermon? 4:m How can we recognize false prophets or misleading guidance in our lives, according to the criteria outlined in Matthew 7:15-20? Have you ever encountered situations where you had to discern between genuine and false teaching? 5: The sermon emphasizes the importance of looking at the fruit in the lives of those who influence us. How can we practically apply this principle in evaluating the guidance we receive from others? 6: Discuss the balance between respecting and learning from human teachers and ultimately relying on Jesus as the ultimate guide. How can we ensure that our reliance on human guidance does not overshadow our dependence on Christ? 7: Share your thoughts on the statement, "Good leaders lead you to admire Jesus more, not them." How can leaders and mentors effectively point others to Christ rather than drawing attention to themselves? 8: Reflect on the role of humility in seeking guidance and learning from others. How does acknowledging our own limitations and need for grace impact the way we approach teaching and guidance within the Christian community?
Palm Sunday, Matthew 7:12-14
March 24, 2024 • Cody Wilbanks • Matthew 7:12–14
SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1: Did you learn the “Golden Rule” growing up? 2: What contributes to us being so self-obsessed? 3: Why is the active nature of the Golden Rule so important? 4: What are practical ways you can put this into practice this week? 5: In what ways is life in the “narrow gate” so difficult for you? 6: How can the church community help as we sense the weight of being in the minority in this age?
Matthew 7:7-11
March 17, 2024 • Kevin Maloney • Matthew 7:7–11
Sermon Discussion Questions: 1: Why do you suppose so many who claim to become Christians do not persevere in the faith? 2: What resources does God give so that we might persevere? 3: How does our view of God’s generosity affect our persevering in the faith? How does it affect our prayer lives? 4: Why do you think we are repeatedly reminded to pray in the sermon on the mount? What in this context do we need help with?
Matthew 7:1–6 Judge Not
March 10, 2024 • Kevin Maloney • Matthew 7:1–6
Sermon Discussion Questions: 1: Consider what it means to never judge in a way that we would not to be judged. How would it change your approach to some of your present circumstances if you were to live this way? 2: Discuss the principle of charity (as presented on page 5 of this sermon.) 3: Do you have any experiencing “steel-manning” the argument someone is making against you? How does that help? 4:Why is judging motives of others accurately so difficult and dangerous? 5: Do you ever struggle with having a critical spirit? 6: What judgments of others should we be making? 7: How can you apply Jesus’s teaching that we are not to cast our pearls before swine?
Matthew 6:25-34
March 3, 2024 • Kevin Maloney • Matthew 6:25–34
Group Discussion Questions 1: As you have thought about the sermon, what needs in your life evoke anxiety in you? 2: In what ways have you seen anxiety spread in a community? 3: What has caused you to doubt that God is greater than your worries? Is your doubt tied to the existence of God, the nature of God, or the love of God? 4: How can we encourage one another to trust and not be anxious? Is there anything mentioned during question one that we can be of help with as a group? 5: How could a lack of anxiety and worry be a witness to others?
Matthew 6:19-24
February 25, 2024 • Kevin Maloney • Matthew 6:19–24
Sermon Discussion Questions: 1: Discuss the ways money masquerades as God. 2: Can we have career and financial ambitions, desiring more, without violating Matthew 6:19-24? How? 3: What stops us from giving generously to the church, to missions, and to those in need? 4: Is your job good? How, then, should you view occasionally having to work extra hours? How does that affect how you work? 5: How would you know if money had become your ultimate treasure? 6: How does the gospel work to change our view of money?
Matthew 6:14
February 18, 2024 • Kevin Maloney • Matthew 6:14–15
Sermon Discussion Questions: 1: What is forgiveness? 2: How is it possible to pursue justice and forgiveness at the same time? 3: Have you ever been confronted, forgiven, and restored? Describe that, if possible, and the effect it had on you. 4: When should we just ignore a sin committed against us and let it go? 5: When must we confront? 6: How do we do the “internal work” of forgiveness? 7: How do we do the external work?
Matthew 6:9-13
February 11, 2024 • Kevin Maloney • Matthew 6:9–13
Sermon Discussion Questions: 1: Discuss the “pre-amble” to the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:5-8. 2: How is the Lord’s prayer different from the prayers of the hypocrites and from the prayers of the pagans? 3: How does God being our Father change how we pray? 4: What is the “daily bread” we pray for? 5: Why do you suppose Jesus has to clarify his statement about forgiveness in verse 14? 6: How does the Lord’s prayer factor in to your prayer life?
Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18 Showing Off
February 4, 2024 • Kevin Maloney • Matthew 6:1–8, Matthew 6:16–18
Questions for Sermon Discussion: 1: Discuss the contrast between Matthew 5:16 and Matthew 6:1. How can both of these commands be kept? 2: What is the reward from the Father that Jesus promises in Matthew 6:1-18? 3: Should we pray in public? 4: Why do we fast? 5: How can the cross drive some of our false motives for obedience away?
Matthew 5:38-48
January 28, 2024 • Cody Wilbanks • Matthew 5:38–48
SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Which do you think is Jesus’ hardest teaching? Why? 2. Why is loving our “enemies” so difficult? 3. What should we pray for when we pray for our “enemies?” 4. Why might we prefer to overcome evil with evil, rather than good? 5. What was meant when God’s love was described as “contra-conditional?”
Matthew 5:33-37
January 21, 2024 • Zach Hanje • Matthew 5:33–37
Sermon Discussion Questions: 1. Read Matthew 5:33-37 again. Are there any parts of the text that still remain confusing? 2. Where do you notice deceitful speech in your own life? How has that had an affect on people around you? 3. Read 2 Corinthians 5:15 again. In what way does selfishness motivate deceitful speech? 4. Discuss if there are any situations that might necessitate untruthfulness. How are we to navigate those situations? How might the principle of “love as the fulfillment of the law” help? 5. "God means for you to have as much confidence in him and his promises as is possible to have.” In this season of life, what level of confidence do you have in God’s promises to you? Discuss the correlation between trusting in his truthfulness and our being truthful in speech.