THE WAY JESUS - Calvary Chapel Ontario

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THE WAY

OF JESUS

g

The Sermon on the Mount by Sue LeBoutillier

CopyrightÊ©Ê2021ÊSueÊLeBou llier PublishedÊby:

CalvaryÊChapelÊÊ—ÊOntario,ÊOregon

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g The Way of Jesus g The Sermon on the Mount

TheÊbookÊofÊProverbsÊspeaksÊofÊmanyÊpossibleÊpathsÊaÊpersonÊmightÊtakeÊinÊlife.ÊTheseÊpathsÊareÊcalledÊways —Êthe way of evil — the way of the wise — the way of folly — the way of the sluggard — the way of the righteous — the way of death — the way of life. InÊfact,ÊtheseÊways areÊmen onedÊ50+Ê mesÊinÊProverbs.ÊTheyÊalwaysÊreferÊtoÊaÊperson’sÊcourse of life whichÊisÊbasedÊonÊcumula veÊdecisions. I’veÊo enÊsaidÊthatÊaÊperson’sÊen reÊcourseÊofÊlifeÊisÊnotÊcastÊbasedÊonÊoneÊorÊtwoÊdecisions.ÊBut,ÊoverÊ me,ÊourÊaccumulatedÊdecisionsÊandÊhabitsÊandÊmodeÊofÊopera onÊdoÊdetermineÊourÊcourseÊofÊlife. ThroughÊJesus’ÊwordsÊinÊMa hewÊ5-7Ê(thatÊweÊreferÊtoÊasÊtheÊSermonÊonÊtheÊMount)ÊHeÊgaveÊinstruc onÊaboutÊaÊway of life thatÊwouldÊbringÊblessingÊtoÊtheÊfollowerÊonÊearthÊandÊgloryÊtoÊGodÊinÊHeaven. FollowingÊtheÊWay of Jesus wouldÊnotÊreplaceÊScripturesÊlikeÊtheÊTenÊCommandments,ÊwhichÊwereÊfamiliarÊtoÊhisÊaudience;ÊratherÊtheÊWay of Jesus wouldÊbreatheÊfreshÊlifeÊintoÊthatÊancientÊpathÊandÊbringÊnewÊperspec veÊtoÊGodlyÊprinciplesÊthatÊmayÊhaveÊgrownÊcoldÊandÊstale.Ê IfÊaÊpersonÊfollowedÊtheÊWay of Jesus,ÊtheyÊwouldÊbeÊdifferent...Ê

…ÊthanÊtheÊreligiousÊpeopleÊlikeÊtheÊScribesÊorÊPharisees,Ê …ÊthanÊtheÊpagansÊwhoÊhadÊnoÊunderstandingÊofÊtheÊtrueÊGod,Ê

FollowingÊtheÊWay of Jesus wouldÊgiveÊpurposeÊtoÊtheirÊlivesÊonÊearthÊandÊpleaseÊtheirÊFatherÊinÊHeaven! TheseÊthreeÊchaptersÊfromÊtheÊgospelÊofÊMa hewÊcanÊhaveÊtheÊsameÊeffectÊonÊusÊthatÊtheyÊdidÊonÊtheÊoriginalÊhearers.ÊWheneverÊweÊsenseÊthatÊourÊspiritualÊpathÊhasÊbecomeÊaÊli leÊcold,ÊorÊaÊli leÊblack-and-white;Êit’sÊ meÊtoÊdwellÊinÊtheÊred-le erÊwordsÊofÊtheÊBibleÊandÊdiveÊstraightÊintoÊwhatÊJesusÊsaid.ÊTHATÊisÊwhatÊtheÊSermonÊonÊtheÊMountÊisÊallÊaboutÊ—ÊtheÊheartÊofÊtheÊma er!ÊÊ

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TakeÊaÊlookÊatÊourÊtopicsÊforÊtheÊnextÊ8Êweeks: ÊWeekÊ1 Introduc on TheÊWayÊofÊJesus ÊWeekÊ2 Ma hewÊ5:1-16Ê TheÊWayÊofÊBlessing ÊWeekÊ3 Ma hewÊ5:17-32Ê TheÊWayÊofÊRighteousness ÊWeekÊ4 Ma hewÊ5:33-48Ê TheÊWayÊofÊHumility ÊWeekÊ5 Ma hewÊ6:1-18Ê TheÊWayÊofÊPrayer ÊWeekÊ6 Ma hewÊ6:19-34Ê TheÊWayÊofÊPeace ÊWeekÊ7 Ma hewÊ7:1-20Ê TheÊWayÊofÊSeeking ÊWeekÊ8 Ma hewÊ7:21-29Ê TheÊWayÊofÊWisdomÊ

ThisÊwillÊbeÊaÊverse-by-verseÊBibleÊstudyÊinÊaÊfour-day-a-weekÊformat.ÊÊÊAsÊaÊbonus,ÊoverÊtheÊcourseÊofÊtheseÊeightÊweeks,Êyou’llÊwriteÊoutÊtheÊen reÊSermonÊonÊtheÊMountÊinÊyourÊownÊhand.ÊSo,ÊpickÊupÊaÊnote-bookÊorÊpre yÊjournalÊforÊwri ngÊyourÊversesÊeachÊday.ÊÊ ThisÊstudyÊguideÊisÊintendedÊtoÊbeÊcompletedÊindependentlyÊbeforeÊyouÊa endÊaÊgroupÊorÊwatch/listenÊtoÊtheÊteaching.ÊIfÊyou’reÊmee ngÊwithÊaÊfriendÊorÊsmallÊgroupÊtheÊidealÊmethodÊwouldÊbeÊtoÊstudyÊtheÊScripturesÊonÊyourÊownÊfirstÊ(includingÊwri ngÊinÊyourÊjournal),ÊthenÊwatch/listenÊtoÊtheÊteachingÊ(privatelyÊorÊinÊyourÊgroup),ÊthenÊdiscussÊtheÊweek’sÊlessonÊandÊprayÊtogetherÊaboutÊapplyingÊtheÊpassagesÊtoÊyourÊlife. MayÊtheÊLordÊrichlyÊblessÊyouÊasÊyouÊstudyÊHisÊWord!

Sue LeBoutillier

[email protected]

TheÊbestÊtransla onÊofÊtheÊBibleÊtoÊuseÊisÊtheÊoneÊyouÊunderstandÊbestÊandÊusingÊmoreÊthanÊoneÊtransla onÊcanÊbeÊaÊusefulÊ aidÊInÊyourÊstudy!ÊThisÊstudyÊguideÊwasÊcreatedÊusingÊ theÊESVÊ(EnglishÊStandardÊVersion).

ToÊwatchÊtheÊvideoÊteachingsÊforÊthisÊBibleÊStudyÊgoÊto:ÊÊccontario.com/womens-studiesÊÊ

orÊÊÊ YouTube.com/calvarychapelontario

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UseÊtheseÊpagesÊasÊyouÊlistenÊtoÊtheÊWeekÊOneÊteachingÊvideo.Ê(www.ccontario.com/wow-sermon-on-the-mount)Ê

IfÊyouÊareÊstudyingÊinÊaÊgroup,ÊtheÊques onsÊonÊpageÊ6ÊmayÊ provideÊsomeÊgoodÊdiscussionÊstartersÊfollowingÊtheÊvideo.

a TheÊWay of Jesus conveysÊtheÊsameÊcontentÊasÊtheÊlawÊgivenÊtoÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊIsraelÊthroughÊMoses.ÊButÊthatÊlawÊwasÊexternalÊandÊchallengingÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊtoÊfollow.ÊGodÊpromisedÊinÊJeremiahÊ31:31ÊthatÊsomethingÊnewÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊwouldÊbeÊcomingÊ—ÊtheÊNewÊCovenant.ÊThisÊwouldÊbeÊdifferentÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊfromÊtheÊOldÊCovenantÊinÊthatÊHeÊwouldÊputÊHisÊlawÊ_________ÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_______ÊÊandÊwriteÊitÊonÊtheirÊ________________.Ê a St.ÊAugus neÊsaidÊtheÊSermon on the Mount wasÊprobablyÊthe:

ÊÊÊbestÊ_____________ leastÊÊ____________________Ê

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊandÊtheÊleastÊ_________________

a AmongÊtheÊfirstÊred-le erÊwordsÊofÊJesusÊinÊtheÊgospelÊof ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊMa hew,ÊtwoÊthatÊweÊshouldÊtakeÊnoteÊofÊare: ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ______________ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊandÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_________________

a Ma hewÊ5:3-11ÊareÊcalledÊTheÊBea tudesÊfromÊtheÊLa nÊwordÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ______________,ÊwhichÊmeansÊ________________________.

a TheÊfirstÊbea tudeÊisÊBlessed are the _________ in ___________.

Week One — Introduction

Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is;

and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” JeremiahÊ6:16 Ê

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Notes for Introduction

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Questions for Thought & Discussion

1. WhatÊisÊitÊaboutÊtheÊSermonÊonÊtheÊMountÊthatÊmakesÊitÊsoÊinter-es ngÊforÊpeopleÊtoÊstudyÊandÊsoÊdifficultÊtoÊobey?

2. HowÊdidÊyouÊrespondÊtoÊrulesÊwhenÊyouÊwereÊaÊchild?ÊHaveÊthoseÊresponsesÊcreatedÊhabitsÊtowardÊeitherÊlegalismÊorÊrebellionÊthatÊÊhinderÊyouÊfromÊapplyingÊtheÊWay of Jesus now?

3. Jesus’ÊpublicÊministryÊbeganÊwithÊtheÊinvita onÊtoÊRepentÊ(Ma hewÊ4:17).ÊWhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊsomeÊmayÊfindÊthisÊunneces-saryÊorÊevenÊoffensive?

4. YouÊprobablyÊknowÊwhatÊitÊisÊtoÊbeÊpoor in bank account;ÊbutÊhowÊwouldÊyouÊdescribeÊsomeoneÊwhoÊisÊpoor in spirit?

5. ReadÊ1ÊPeterÊ5:5-6ÊandÊexplainÊwhyÊbeingÊpoorÊinÊspiritÊisÊessen alÊtoÊbeÊincludedÊinÊtheÊkingdomÊofÊheaven?Ê

Blessed:ÊMore than a temporary or circumstan al feeling of happi-ness, this is a state of well-being in rela onship to God that belongs to those who respond to Jesus’ ministry. The poor in spirit are those who recognize they are in need of God’s help. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.1 —ESV Study Bible

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BeforeÊyouÊevenÊbeginÊyourÊfirstÊlessonÊonÊtheÊnextÊpage,ÊsetÊasideÊaboutÊtwentyÊminutesÊtoÊreadÊthroughÊallÊthreeÊchaptersÊinÊoneÊsi ng:ÊAsÊyouÊreadÊtheÊtext,ÊignoreÊtheÊverseÊandÊchapterÊsepara onsÊandÊconsiderÊthisÊaÊmessageÊstraightÊfromÊJesus.ÊPictureÊyourselfÊsi ngÊonÊtheÊhillsideÊandÊconcentra ngÊonÊeveryÊwordÊthatÊJesusÊwasÊsharing,ÊjustÊlikeÊaÊdiscipleÊonÊaÊretreatÊwithÊJesus.Ê AnyÊdiscipleÊwhoÊwouldÊrepentÊandÊfollowÊJesusÊandÊtakeÊtoÊheartÊtheÊmessageÊHeÊwasÊconveyingÊwouldÊhaveÊaÊroadmapÊforÊtheÊwayÊinÊwhichÊtheyÊwereÊtoÊliveÊ—ÊTheÊWayÊofÊJesus.Ê

Poor in Spirit

The Beatitudes

Possess Kingdom of Heaven

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DoÊyouÊeverÊwonderÊifÊyou’reÊonÊtheÊrightÊtrackÊinÊyourÊspiritualÊlife?ÊIÊmean,ÊyouÊbelieveÊJesusÊisÊGod’sÊsonÊ—Êyou’veÊaskedÊhimÊtoÊforgiveÊyourÊsinsÊ—Êyou’reÊtryingÊtoÊmakeÊgoodÊdecisionsÊinÊlife,ÊbutÊthereÊisÊaÊnaggingÊli leÊvoiceÊthatÊs llÊques onsÊwhetherÊyou’reÊmissingÊsome-thingÊbecauseÊyouÊdon’tÊalwaysÊfeelÊsuperÊblessed.ÊAndÊChris ansÊareÊsupposedÊtoÊbeÊblessedÊpeople. MaybeÊyouÊdon’tÊoverthinkÊlifeÊquiteÊthatÊmuch;ÊbutÊit’sÊnotÊnecessari-lyÊaÊbadÊthingÊtoÊaskÊyourself,Ê“am I truly following the Way of Jesus and am I happy about it — am I blessed?” Remember,ÊtheÊphraseÊblessed alsoÊmeansÊhappy or fortunate.ÊSoÊYOU,ÊmyÊfriend,ÊareÊoneÊfortunateÊgirlÊsimplyÊbecauseÊyouÊareÊfollow-ingÊtheÊWay of Jesus!ÊIÊknowÊit’sÊnotÊallÊthatÊsimple,ÊIÊknowÊourÊfeel-ingsÊgetÊinÊtheÊway,ÊIÊknowÊweÊhaveÊdifficul esÊandÊdisappointments,ÊbutÊthisÊfirstÊlessonÊshouldÊhelpÊusÊtoÊrememberÊhowÊblessedÊweÊtrulyÊareÊasÊweÊdwellÊonÊallÊofÊtheÊwonderfulÊbenefitsÊofÊfollowingÊChrist.Ê

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ5:1-6ÊinÊyourÊjournal.

InÊHisÊopeningÊwords,ÊwhichÊweÊcallÊthe bea tudes, JesusÊdefinedÊsomeÊcharacteris cs followedÊbyÊsomeÊbenefits thatÊwouldÊbeÊtrueÊofÊHisÊfollowers.ÊThereÊareÊnineÊofÊtheseÊuniqueÊstatementsÊandÊeachÊoneÊbeginsÊwithÊ“Blessed are.”

InÊyourÊjournal: · UnderlineÊeachÊcharacteris c (i.e.,Êpoor in spirit) andÊprintÊitÊonÊ

theÊle ÊmostÊpor onÊofÊtheÊstairÊstepsÊonÊp.7. · CircleÊtheÊconjunc onÊ‘for’ÊinÊeachÊofÊtheÊsentencesÊwhichÊhelpsÊ

youÊdis nguishÊtheÊcharacteris cÊphraseÊfromÊtheÊbenefit phrase. · UnderlineÊeachÊbenefitÊ(possess the kingdom of heaven) andÊprintÊ

itÊonÊtheÊrightÊmostÊpor onÊofÊtheÊcorrespondingÊstepÊonÊpageÊ7.Ê WeÊworkedÊthroughÊverseÊthreeÊinÊourÊintroduc on,ÊsoÊthisÊweekÊwe’llÊpickÊupÊtheÊtextÊfromÊthere.

Week Two — The Way of Blessing

Day 1:

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(v.4)ÊItÊseemsÊsomewhatÊridiculousÊtoÊsayÊ‘happy are those who mourn’, butÊessen ally,Êthat’sÊwhatÊJesusÊsaid,Ê‘happy are the unhap-py’.ÊÊButÊtheÊcrucialÊques onÊisÊwhat are we unhappy about?ÊInÊtheÊcontextÊofÊthisÊmessage,ÊandÊno ngÊtheÊfirstÊcharacteris cÊ‘poor in spirit’, whatÊtypeÊofÊmourningÊisÊJesusÊtalkingÊabout?ÊWhatÊisÊbeingÊmournedÊover?Ê(ReadÊ2ÊCorinthiansÊ7:10ÊforÊinsights.) (v.4)ÊWhatÊblessingÊdoesÊGodÊofferÊforÊthoseÊwhoÊmournÊinÊthisÊway?ÊÊ · HowÊcanÊthisÊposi velyÊaffectÊyourÊlife? (v.5)ÊUsingÊaÊdic onary,ÊdefineÊmeek orÊmeekness.Ê · ThinkÊofÊwaysÊinÊwhichÊJesusÊdemonstratedÊmeeknessÊwhileÊonÊ

thisÊearth: (v.5)ÊWhatÊblessingÊareÊthe meekÊtoÊreceive?Ê(ReadÊMa hewÊ19:28-30ÊforÊinsights.)

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(v.6)ÊAÊsincereÊhunger/thirstÊforÊrighteousnessÊmightÊbeÊunderstoodÊfromÊaÊcoupleÊofÊdifferentÊaspects.ÊLet’sÊconsiderÊsomeÊofÊthem: · First,ÊwhenÊaÊpersonÊcomesÊtoÊtheÊendÊofÊthemselves,Ê(o enÊ

throughÊdifficul es)Êit’sÊcommonÊforÊthemÊtoÊdevelopÊaÊsuddenÊhungerÊforÊGodÊinÊtheirÊlife.ÊReadÊPsalmÊ107:5-9ÊandÊsummarizeÊthisÊexampleÊofÊhungeringÊinÊthisÊwayÊfollowedÊbyÊsa sfac on.

· Second,ÊwhenÊweÊwalkÊwithÊJesusÊweÊhaveÊaÊlongingÊtoÊbeÊrightÊ

withÊGod.ÊReadÊRomansÊ3:21-24ÊandÊexplainÊhowÊourÊhungerÊtoÊbeÊrighteousÊinÊGod’sÊeyesÊisÊsa sfied:

· Lastly,ÊweÊalsoÊfindÊthatÊweÊdevelopÊaÊgreaterÊdesireÊ(hungerÊandÊ

thirst)ÊtoÊbeÊinÊrightÊstandingÊwithÊpeople.ÊReadÊEphesiansÊ4:21-29ÊandÊlistÊaÊfewÊofÊareasÊwhereÊweÊmightÊbeÊconvictedÊtoÊdealÊmoreÊrighteouslyÊwithÊpeople.

OurÊappe teÊforÊallÊofÊtheÊaboveÊmayÊebbÊandÊflow,ÊbutÊGodÊisÊfaithfulÊinÊourÊlives.ÊHeÊwillÊgentlyÊconvictÊus,ÊhelpÊusÊgrowÊourÊappe tesÊandÊthenÊworkÊinÊourÊlivesÊtoÊsa sfyÊourÊhungerÊandÊthirstÊforÊwhatÊisÊright.Ê

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a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ5:7-10ÊinÊyourÊjournal.Ê

(FollowÊtheÊsameÊinstruc onsÊasÊyesterdayÊforÊmarkingÊinÊyourÊjournalÊandÊfillingÊinÊtheÊchartÊonÊpageÊ7.)

Let’sÊdigÊintoÊtheÊnextÊfourÊBea tudes today…

(v.7)ÊThisÊisÊtheÊonlyÊbea tudeÊthatÊpromisesÊreapingÊwhatÊhasÊbeenÊsown!Ê · DefineÊmercy: · ExplainÊwhyÊyouÊwouldÊwantÊtoÊreceiveÊit: (v.8)ÊWhatÊisÊtheÊblessingÊpromisedÊforÊtheÊpure in heart? · ItÊmakesÊaÊpersonÊwonderÊhowÊyouÊgetÊaÊpure heart.ÊReadÊPsalmÊ

32:1-5.ÊWhatÊdidÊtheÊPsalmistÊdoÊthatÊenabledÊhisÊheartÊtoÊbeÊmadeÊpureÊagain:Ê

· HowÊdoesÊclearingÊyourÊheartÊofÊthingsÊthatÊstandÊbetweenÊyouÊ

andÊGodÊhelpÊyouÊtoÊsee God, or hear God?

Day 2:

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(v.9)ÊÊThereÊisÊaÊblessingÊpromisedÊtoÊpeacemakers.Ê

· ItÊisÊtrueÊthatÊChris ansÊcanÊplayÊaÊroleÊinÊkeeping peaceÊbetweenÊpeople.ÊReadÊJamesÊ3:17-18ÊandÊbulletÊpointÊsomeÊofÊtheÊcharac-teris csÊthatÊpromoteÊpeaceÊbetweenÊpeople:

· ButÊthereÊisÊanotherÊaspectÊofÊbeingÊaÊpeacemakerÊandÊthatÊisÊ

helpingÊpeopleÊmakeÊpeace with GodÊ—ÊhelpingÊpeopleÊtoÊknow God.ÊReadÊDanielÊ12:3.ÊWhatÊareÊpeopleÊwhoÊturn many to right-eousnessÊlikenedÊtoÊinÊthisÊpassage?

AsÊweÊarriveÊatÊtheÊeighthÊbea tudeÊthereÊisÊaÊsharpÊchangeÊinÊtoneÊfromÊtheÊmoreÊgentleÊChris anÊa ributesÊlikeÊmercy,Êpurity,ÊandÊpeaceÊtoÊpersecu on. AnyoneÊwhoÊfollowsÊJesusÊwillÊbeÊpersecuted—itÊisÊpartÊofÊtheÊkingdom!Ê (v.10)ÊÊWeÊcanÊbeÊrightlyÊorÊwronglyÊpersecutedÊforÊmanyÊthingsÊinÊlife,ÊbutÊthisÊpassageÊisÊtalkingÊaboutÊfollowersÊofÊJesusÊbeingÊperse-cutedÊbecauseÊofÊwhat? ReadÊJohnÊ15:18-20.ÊFromÊthisÊpassage,ÊandÊtheÊ8thÊbea tude,ÊwhatÊtypeÊofÊpersecu onÊshouldÊweÊexpectÊifÊweÊwalkÊinÊtheÊWay of Jesus?ÊWhy?

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a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ5:11-13ÊinÊyourÊjournal.Ê

(MarkÊtheÊfinalÊbea tudeÊfollowingÊtheÊsameÊinstruc onsÊasÊpreviousÊdays.ÊCircleÊtheÊphraseÊsalt of the earthÊinÊorange.)

InÊthisÊworldÊthereÊareÊnaturalÊforcesÊlikeÊgravityÊthatÊsilentlyÊholdÊourÊuniverseÊtogether.ÊTheseÊforcesÊtakeÊplaceÊinÊtheÊbackgroundÊofÊourÊlivesÊwithoutÊourÊno ce.ÊThereÊisÊalsoÊaÊspiritualÊforceÊinÊtheÊback-ground,ÊasÊcommonÊasÊgravityÊandÊasÊinfrequentlyÊno ced.ÊItÊcouldÊbeÊdescribedÊasÊtheÊtensionÊbetweenÊtheÊsupporters of the kingdom of God andÊtheÊsupporters of the kingdom of this world.

(v.11)ÊExplainÊtheÊspiritualÊtensionÊweÊshouldÊbeÊexpec ng: (v.12)ÊWeÊshareÊourÊexperienceÊofÊpersecu onÊwithÊwhatÊancientÊgroupÊofÊpeople?

NowÊweÊtransi onÊintoÊtheÊfirstÊofÊtwoÊmetaphorsÊthatÊhelpÊusÊunder-standÊourÊprivilegeÊtoÊinfluenceÊpeopleÊalongÊourÊpath. (v.13)ÊInÊtheÊdaysÊofÊJesus,ÊbeforeÊrefrigera on,ÊsaltÊwasÊusedÊasÊaÊpreservingÊagentÊtoÊkeepÊmeatÊfromÊro ng.ÊWhatÊotherÊposi veÊquali esÊofÊsaltÊcanÊyouÊthinkÊof?

JesusÊsaidÊtoÊbeÊhappyÊwhenÊwe'reÊpersecutedÊforÊourÊfaith,Êbecause:Ê1)ÊitÊtakesÊourÊeyesÊoffÊearthlyÊrewards,Ê2)ÊitÊstripsÊawayÊsuperficialÊbelief,Ê3)ÊitÊstrengthensÊtheÊfaithÊofÊthoseÊwhoÊendure,ÊandÊ4)ÊourÊa -tudeÊthroughÊitÊservesÊasÊanÊexampleÊforÊothers.ÊWeÊcanÊbeÊcomfort-edÊknowingÊthatÊGod'sÊgreatestÊprophetsÊ(Elijah,ÊJeremiah,ÊDaniel)ÊwereÊpersecuted.ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ—LifeÊApplica onÊStudyÊBible2

Day 3:

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(v.13)ÊWithÊtheÊbenefitsÊofÊsaltÊinÊmind,ÊexplainÊwhyÊsaltÊisÊaÊgreatÊanalogyÊofÊaÊbeliever’sÊroleÊinÊsociety? · ListÊoneÊorÊtwoÊprac calÊandÊspecificÊwaysÊyouÊcanÊactÊasÊsaltÊ

whereÊyouÊspendÊmostÊofÊyourÊ meÊ(work,Êschool,Êfamily): (v.13)ÊOneÊconcernÊthatÊisÊexpressedÊinÊthisÊverseÊisÊthatÊofÊsaltÊlosingÊit’sÊtasteÊorÊsal ness.Ê · WhatÊmightÊcauseÊthisÊtoÊhappenÊinÊaÊbeliever’sÊlife? · WhatÊstepsÊcanÊyouÊpersonallyÊtakeÊtoÊguardÊagainstÊthis?

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ5:14-16ÊinÊyourÊjournal.Ê(CircleÊtheÊphraseÊlight of the worldÊinÊorange.)

Today’sÊversesÊareÊveryÊpopular!ÊChildren’sÊsongs,Êdevo onÊbooksÊandÊalbumÊ tlesÊhaveÊallÊbeenÊinspiredÊbyÊtheÊideaÊofÊJesusÊfollowersÊbecomingÊtheÊlight of the world.Ê

Day 4:

15

ReadÊJohnÊ8:12Ê—ÊWhoÊisÊtheÊlight of the world? ReadÊMa hewÊ5:14ÊÊ—ÊWhoÊisÊtheÊlight of the world? (v.14)ÊÊHowÊcanÊweÊbeÊac velyÊspreadingÊtheÊlightÊofÊtruthÊinÊtheÊworld?ÊListÊspecificÊways: Walking in the light andÊle ng your light shine areÊcommonÊsayings,ÊbutÊbecomingÊaÊlight-bearerÊisn’tÊalwaysÊfunÊandÊgames,ÊasÊtheÊfinalÊbea tudeÊaboutÊpersecu onÊtaughtÊus.Ê ReadÊJohnÊ3:19-21ÊÊÊSaltÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊisÊtoÊÊÊÊÊÊtheÊpreven onÊofÊdecay ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊasÊLightÊÊÊÊÊisÊtoÊÊÊÊÊÊ_______________________ · WhyÊwouldÊallowingÊtheÊlightÊofÊChristÊtoÊshineÊinÊourÊlivesÊtendÊtoÊ

drawÊpersecu on? (v.16)ÊWhatÊisÊtheÊul mateÊgoalÊofÊallowingÊourÊlightÊtoÊshine? WhenÊweÊconsiderÊallÊtheseÊversesÊthisÊweekÊandÊallÊtheÊwaysÊweÊareÊblessedÊinÊourÊwalkÊwithÊJesus,ÊitÊseemsÊlikeÊaÊveryÊsmallÊthingÊtoÊgiveÊinÊreturnÊtoÊmakeÊsureÊourÊlivesÊareÊbothÊsaltyÊandÊbrightÊsoÊthatÊÊÊothersÊmayÊgiveÊgloryÊtoÊGodÊtheÊFather!Ê

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Notes from Teaching on Week 2 —

17


1. CanÊyouÊhonestlyÊsayÊthatÊyouÊhaveÊanÊappe teÊforÊtheÊthingsÊre-latedÊtoÊGod’sÊkingdom;ÊorÊdoÊyouÊmoreÊo enÊcraveÊthingsÊper-tainingÊtoÊtheÊkingdomÊofÊthisÊworld?ÊÊ

2. IfÊyouÊdon’tÊhunger and thirst for righteousness,ÊwhatÊmightÊyouÊbeÊfillingÊupÊonÊthatÊdullsÊyourÊappe te?Ê

3. ReadÊColossiansÊ3:1-2.ÊWhatÊsimpleÊtruthÊcontainedÊinÊtheseÊvers-esÊmightÊsetÊyourÊappe teÊonÊtheÊrightÊtrack?

4. SaltÊcausesÊpeopleÊtoÊcraveÊwater.ÊGiveÊanÊexampleÊofÊhowÊtheÊsaltyÊlifeÊofÊaÊChris anÊmayÊcauseÊsomeoneÊtoÊcraveÊliving water.

5. WhatÊsitua onsÊtemptÊyouÊtoÊput your lamp under a basket?

6. AskÊtheÊLordÊforÊspecificÊdirec onÊonÊhowÊtoÊbeÊsalt and light inÊyourÊcornerÊofÊtheÊworldÊandÊshareÊyourÊplansÊwithÊyourÊgroup:ÊÊÊÊÊ

18

ThoseÊlisteningÊtoÊJesusÊwereÊlikelyÊfamiliarÊwithÊHebrewÊScriptures.ÊWhenÊJesusÊsaidÊtheyÊwereÊtoÊbeÊtheÊsalt of the earth orÊtheÊlight of the worldÊthatÊdidÊNOTÊsoundÊfamiliar.ÊTheyÊmayÊhaveÊwonderedÊifÊJesusÊwasÊbringingÊanÊen relyÊnew teachingÊorÊevenÊaÊnew religion.Ê AsÊifÊHeÊcouldÊreadÊtheirÊminds,ÊJesusÊbeganÊtoÊfor fyÊHisÊmessageÊwithÊfamiliarÊScripturesÊtoÊclearÊupÊanyÊconfusion.ÊHeÊassuredÊthemÊHeÊwasÊnot bringingÊaÊnewÊteachingÊthatÊabolishedÊtheÊlaw,ÊbutÊra-ther,ÊHeÊwouldÊfulfill theÊlaw.ÊByÊfollowingÊtheÊWay of Jesus,ÊtheyÊcouldÊexperienceÊanÊevenÊdeeperÊandÊstrongerÊrighteousnessÊthanÊwhatÊtheyÊlearnedÊfromÊtheÊreligiousÊpeopleÊaroundÊthemÊ—ÊtheÊscribesÊandÊPharisees.Ê TheÊWay of Jesus wouldÊeventuallyÊallowÊtheirÊrighteousnessÊtoÊbub-bleÊupÊfromÊtheÊlifeÊofÊtheÊspiritÊthatÊwouldÊbeÊwithinÊthemÊratherÊthanÊfromÊtheÊlawsÊthatÊhadÊbeenÊforcedÊuponÊthem.ÊItÊwasÊtheÊsameÊrighteousnessÊbutÊfromÊaÊdifferentÊsource.

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ5:17-20ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊanyÊwordsÊrelatedÊtoÊtheÊlawÊorÊcommandmentsÊwithÊaÊ

greenÊunderline. · PutÊaÊsquareÊaroundÊtheÊcontras ngÊwordsÊabolishÊandÊfulfill.

TheseÊversesÊlayÊaÊmeaningfulÊfounda onÊforÊallÊtheÊpassagesÊthatÊbegin:Ê’you have heard that it was said’ (referencingÊwhatÊwasÊwri enÊinÊtheÊLawÊandÊProphets).ÊAsÊeachÊnewÊtopicÊwasÊmen oned,ÊJesusÊelaboratedÊonÊtheÊheartÊofÊtheÊma erÊandÊhowÊtoÊliveÊitÊthroughÊtheÊSpiritÊratherÊthanÊthroughÊtheÊle er.Ê ThereÊareÊtwoÊdis nctÊpartsÊtoÊtheseÊfourÊverses: · V.17-18ÊspeaksÊofÊJesus’Êrela onshipÊtoÊtheÊlawÊ · V.19-20ÊexplainsÊourÊrela onshipÊtoÊtheÊlaw (v.17-18)ÊJesusÊdidÊnotÊcomeÊtoÊabolishÊtheÊlawÊbutÊtoÊ____________.ÊÊHeÊdidÊnotÊintendÊforÊHisÊlifeÊandÊmessageÊtoÊbeÊaÊreplacementÊforÊtheÊLaw,ÊbutÊratherÊaÊcomple onÊbyÊdemonstra ngÊGod’sÊHolyÊcharacter.Ê

Week Three — The Way of Righteousness

Day 1:

19

ReadÊGala ansÊ3:23-26:ÊÊ

· WhatÊwasÊtheÊroleÊofÊtheÊlaw? · WhatÊeventÊchangedÊtheÊroleÊofÊtheÊlawÊinÊpeople’sÊlives? · HowÊwouldÊyouÊsayÊJesusÊfulfilledÊtheÊlaw? (v.19-20):ÊÊIfÊweÊonlyÊpossessedÊtheseÊtwoÊversesÊtoÊunderstandÊGod’sÊplan,ÊweÊwouldÊbeÊinÊtrouble.ÊPraiseÊGod,ÊweÊhaveÊtheÊwholeÊBible!ÊWeÊknowÊthatÊJesusÊisÊtheÊfulfillment of the law,ÊnotÊitsÊkiller.ÊOurÊre-sponseÊshouldÊbeÊsimilarÊ—ÊratherÊthanÊthinkingÊtheÊlawÊofÊGodÊisÊoldÊandÊoutdated,ÊweÊrealizeÊthatÊitÊs llÊrepresentsÊtheÊholinessÊofÊGod.ÊÊ ReadÊMa hewÊ23:25-26:Ê

· ExplainÊtheÊrighteousnessÊofÊtheÊscribesÊandÊPharisees.ÊWhereÊwasÊtheirÊfocus?

· HowÊwouldÊitÊbeÊpossibleÊforÊaÊfollowerÊofÊChristÊtoÊexceedÊthatÊ

righteousness?ÊExplainÊtheÊnecessaryÊshi ÊinÊfocus.

20

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ5:21-26ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊyou have heard it was saidÊinÊgreenÊunderline · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊbut I say to youÊinÊredÊunderline · PutÊaÊboxÊaroundÊtheÊwordsÊmurder,ÊangryÊandÊinsults andÊcon-

nectÊtheÊboxesÊwithÊaÊlineÊtoÊshowÊtheirÊrela onship

TodayÊweÊstudyÊtheÊfirstÊofÊsixÊfamiliarÊtopicsÊfromÊtheÊHebrewÊScrip-tures.ÊEachÊnewÊsubjectÊinÊthisÊchapterÊbeginsÊ“you have heard that it was said.”ÊRemember,ÊJesusÊwasn’tÊdestroyingÊtheÊlaw,ÊbutÊratherÊdeepeningÊourÊunderstandingÊofÊitÊsoÊthatÊweÊcouldÊappreciateÊhowÊperfectlyÊitÊdescribedÊtheÊcharacterÊofÊGod. WhatÊisÊtheÊkeyÊtopicÊofÊthisÊpassage?ÊÊ_________________________

ReadÊExodusÊ20:1-17.ÊWhichÊcommandmentÊwasÊbeingÊreferenced? (v.22)ÊJesusÊlikenedÊmurder withÊ______________.ÊExplainÊwhatÊthoseÊtwoÊhaveÊinÊcommon:

Anger,Êinsults, andÊname-calling areÊconsideredÊbadÊmannersÊbyÊany-one.ÊParentsÊcorrectÊtheirÊchildrenÊforÊsuchÊbehavior;ÊbutÊtheÊpunish-mentÊgivenÊforÊinsultsÊorÊname-callingÊisn’tÊanythingÊlikeÊtheÊpunish-mentÊthatÊwouldÊbeÊgivenÊforÊmurder!ÊSoÊitÊmightÊbeÊchallengingÊtoÊconnectÊangerÊtoÊmurder.Ê TheÊreasonÊit’sÊdifficultÊisÊthatÊweÊtendÊtoÊcategorizeÊsinsÊinÊourÊownÊway.ÊWeÊthinkÊangerÊisÊkindaÊbad,ÊbutÊnotÊreallyÊbad.ÊInÊotherÊwords,ÊifÊweÊindulgeÊinÊaÊli leÊverbalÊmeltdownÊ—ÊnoÊharm,ÊnoÊfoulÊ—ÊweÊjustÊtellÊourselfÊtoÊbeÊmoreÊcarefulÊnextÊ me.Ê ButÊwhatÊJesusÊexpressedÊhereÊwasÊthatÊanger contains the seeds of murder and under the proper condi ons may germinate and spout.Ê

Day 2:

21

· WhatÊareÊtheÊproper condi ons thatÊmayÊcauseÊyou toÊbecomeÊangryÊandÊflareÊupÊagainstÊothers?

ThisÊcanÊbeÊaÊsensi veÊtopicÊforÊsomeÊwomenÊwhoÊhaveÊstruggledÊtoÊÊsubmitÊtheirÊthoughtsÊandÊtheirÊtongueÊtoÊtheÊrulershipÊofÊChrist.ÊManyÊofÊusÊhaveÊsufferedÊbruisedÊorÊbrokenÊrela onshipsÊthatÊmayÊhaveÊbeenÊini allyÊdamagedÊinÊanger.ÊNotÊeveryÊstrainedÊrela onshipÊisÊtheÊresultÊofÊanger; butÊangerÊwillÊmakeÊeveryÊrela onshipÊstrained.

(v.23-24)ÊTheÊstrainedÊrela onshipÊinÊtheseÊversesÊseemsÊtoÊbeÊbe-tweenÊwhatÊtypesÊofÊpeople? (v.23-24)ÊDescribeÊaÊmodernÊparallelÊforÊthisÊtypeÊofÊsitua on: ReadÊ1ÊCorinthiansÊ11:17-22.ÊCombinedÊwithÊMa hewÊ5,ÊexplainÊGod’sÊperspec veÊonÊChris ansÊpar cipa ngÊinÊworshipÊorÊcommun-ionÊ(describedÊasÊofferings inÊv.23)ÊwhenÊtheyÊaren’tÊevenÊonÊspeakingÊtermsÊwithÊaÊbrother/sister? NowÊforÊtheÊdifficultÊapplica on:Ê · Is there someone who has something against me? · Do I owe someone an apology? · Have I damaged a rela onship with my tongue?

TodayÊisÊtheÊdayÊtoÊtakeÊstepsÊtoÊrepairÊandÊreconcile!

22

(v.25-26)ÊTheÊstrifeÊdescribedÊisÊbetweenÊwhatÊtypesÊofÊpeople?Ê (v.25-26)ÊHowÊdoesÊthisÊsitua onÊdifferÊfromÊthatÊinÊv.23-24? V.26ÊleadsÊusÊtoÊbelieveÊtheÊaccusedÊmayÊactuallyÊbeÊguilty.ÊHaveÊyouÊknownÊpeopleÊwhoÊsimplyÊcannotÊsayÊ‘I was wrong’ orÊ‘I’m sorry I messed that up?’ÊAdmi ngÊfaultÊorÊculpabilityÊisÊaÊrungÊonÊtheÊladderÊofÊhumilityÊthatÊweÊcannotÊskip. · Have you recently done something wrong either inten onally or

uninten onally and need to admit your fault to someone? · Do you owe someone an apology for your error? · Is there a situa on where you just need to be humble?

TodayÊisÊtheÊdayÊtoÊtakeÊstepsÊtoÊrepairÊandÊreconcile!

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ5:27-30ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊyou have heard it was saidÊinÊgreenÊunderline · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊbut I say to youÊinÊredÊunderline · PutÊaÊboxÊaroundÊtheÊwordsÊadultery, lust, andÊsin andÊconnectÊ

theÊboxesÊwithÊaÊlineÊtoÊshowÊtheirÊrela onship

WhatÊisÊtheÊkeyÊtopicÊofÊthisÊpassage?Ê_________________________

ReadÊExodusÊ20:1-17.ÊWhichÊcommandmentÊisÊbeingÊreferenced? LookÊupÊaÊdefini onÊofÊbothÊadulteryÊandÊlustÊandÊexplainÊtheÊsimilari-esÊandÊdifferences:

InÊtheÊsameÊwayÊthatÊanger containsÊtheÊseedsÊofÊmurder,ÊcouldÊweÊsayÊthatÊlust containsÊtheÊseedsÊofÊadultery?ÊHowÊdoÊthoseÊseedsÊger-minateÊandÊsprout?Ê(ReadÊJamesÊ1:14-15ÊforÊmoreÊinsights.)

Day 3:

23

(v.29-30)ÊWhatÊisÊtheÊliteralÊremedyÊgivenÊbyÊJesusÊforÊtheÊbodyÊpartsÊthatÊleanÊtowardÊthisÊsin? Obviously,Êcu ngÊoffÊaÊbodyÊpartÊisÊnotÊtheÊanswerÊhere.ÊExplainÊwhatÊtypesÊofÊac onsÊJesusÊmeantÊbyÊHisÊillustra on.ÊBeÊspecificÊsoÊyouÊcanÊdiscussÊinÊyourÊgroup. ReadÊtheseÊversesÊandÊmakeÊnoteÊofÊanythingÊthatÊgivesÊyouÊfurtherÊÊÊÊinsightÊorÊinspira on:

PsalmÊ101:2-3Ê—Ê RomansÊ13:11-14Ê—Ê Ê TitusÊ2:11-13Ê—Ê

WeÊcanÊappreciateÊtheÊpoten alÊforÊourÊeye to cause us to sin;ÊbutÊÊÊÊÊhonestly,ÊasÊwomen,ÊweÊknowÊthatÊtheÊvisual arenaÊisÊprobablyÊnotÊasÊbigÊofÊaÊtempta onÊforÊusÊasÊmental areas.ÊWeÊknowÊthatÊourÊthoughtÊlifeÊisÊprimarilyÊwhereÊtheÊseedsÊofÊadulteryÊmightÊfindÊgoodÊsoil.

MakingÊtheÊapplica on:Ê · Is there anything that I indulge in that could lead me to lust? · Is there anything I say or wear or do that could lead men to lust? · Do I entertain vain imagina ons that I need to cut out of my life? TodayÊisÊtheÊdayÊtoÊtakeÊimportantÊstepsÊtowardÊinnerÊrighteousness!

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a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ5:31-32ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊit was also saidÊinÊgreenÊunderline · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊbut I say to youÊinÊredÊunderline · PutÊaÊboxÊaroundÊtheÊwordsÊdivorce andÊadultery andÊconnectÊtheÊ

boxesÊwithÊaÊlineÊtoÊshowÊtheirÊrela onship

WhatÊisÊtheÊkeyÊtopicÊofÊthisÊpassage?Ê_________________________ SomeÊsitua onsÊinÊourÊlivesÊhaveÊtheÊtendencyÊtoÊgerminateÊinÊtheÊheart,ÊandÊthenÊquicklyÊoutgrowÊtheÊboundariesÊofÊtheÊheart.ÊTheyÊspillÊoutÊandÊaffectÊpeopleÊaroundÊusÊ—ÊmostÊo enÊwithÊtragicÊresults. ThatÊisÊtheÊcaseÊwithÊtoday’sÊtopicÊ—Êdivorce!ÊHardlyÊanyone’sÊlifeÊhasÊescapedÊtheÊsorrowÊofÊmaritalÊconflict,Êinfidelity,ÊorÊdivorceÊ—ÊeitherÊpersonallyÊorÊthroughÊfamilyÊmembers.ÊForÊthisÊreason,ÊweÊproceedÊwithÊtendernessÊandÊsensi vityÊsoÊasÊnotÊtoÊinflictÊpainÊuponÊpain. (v.31-32)ÊWhichÊmarriageÊpartnerÊwasÊJesusÊtalkingÊto? ReadÊMa hewÊ19:3-9.ÊTheÊJewishÊmenÊofÊJesusÊdayÊwereÊintroducedÊtoÊvariousÊmethods,ÊpopularizedÊinÊreligiousÊcircles,ÊthatÊallowedÊthemÊtoÊdoÊwhatÊtheyÊwantedÊANDÊlookÊasÊthoughÊtheyÊwereÊs llÊhon-oringÊGod.ÊNoÊdoubtÊthisÊcer ficate of divorceÊhadÊbeenÊsuggestedÊasÊtheÊmeansÊforÊaÊmanÊtoÊputÊawayÊhisÊwifeÊwhileÊmaintainingÊaÊgoodÊstandingÊwithÊGod.Ê · AccordingÊtoÊv.8ÊwhyÊdidÊMosesÊallowÊdivorce? · AccordingÊtoÊv.9ÊwhatÊwasÊJesus’ÊconcessionÊregardingÊdivorce?

Day 4:

25

ReadÊDeuteronomyÊ24:1-4ÊtoÊunderstandÊwhatÊJesusÊmayÊhaveÊbeenÊÊÊreferringÊtoÊwithÊHisÊwordsÊ‘it was also said.’ÊIfÊthoseÊwereÊtheÊonlyÊÊÊÊversesÊinÊtheÊBibleÊonÊmarriageÊandÊdivorce;ÊwhatÊsortÊofÊmisuseÊmightÊhaveÊsprungÊfromÊthem? RatherÊthanÊDeuteronomyÊ24ÊgivingÊpermissionÊforÊdivorce,ÊperhapsÊitÊcouldÊbeÊparaphrasedÊthisÊway:ÊÊ“Husbands, if you are so heartless as to put your wife away, at least give her a legal cer ficate so she can remarry and will not become a des tute woman. Oh, and by the way, if you make that decision—it’s for good! You can’t say ‘I don’t want her’ one day and ‘maybe I’ll take her back’ on the next day.”

ReadÊGenesisÊ2:21-25.ÊWhatÊareÊtheÊinstruc onsÊforÊtheÊhusbandÊinÊthatÊpassage,ÊandÊbyÊimplica onÊforÊbothÊpartners?Ê

It’sÊobviousÊthatÊmanyÊmenÊhadÊjus fiedÊtheirÊbehaviorÊandÊperhapsÊevenÊmisusedÊtheÊJewishÊScripturesÊtoÊsupportÊtheirÊac ons.ÊRela on-shipÊresponsibili esÊaren’tÊalwaysÊeasyÊtoÊuphold.ÊBothÊmenÊandÊwomenÊo enÊactÊonÊtheÊwhisperingsÊofÊourÊsinfulÊheartsÊratherÊthanÊdiggingÊdeeperÊforÊtheÊpowerÊofÊtheÊHolyÊSpirit.ÊJustÊlikeÊtheÊJewsÊofÊJesus’Êday,ÊweÊwantÊtoÊmakeÊourÊac onsÊappearÊasÊthoughÊallÊwasÊdone properlyÊonÊtheÊexterior.Ê TheÊen reÊSermon on the Mount wasÊintendedÊforÊusÊtoÊtakeÊinven-toryÊofÊtheÊmo vesÊofÊourÊheart.ÊAÊmarriageÊrela onshipÊisÊaÊbondÊbetweenÊaÊmanÊandÊwomanÊthatÊshouldÊreflectÊChristÊandÊtheÊchurch.ÊJesusÊ(ourÊgroom)ÊwillÊneverÊcastÊusÊaside.ÊWeÊmayÊwillinglyÊwalkÊawayÊ—ÊbutÊheÊwillÊnotÊdivorceÊusÊfromÊhisÊfamily.ÊAsÊaÊfollowerÊofÊChrist,ÊourÊlivesÊshouldÊrepresentÊtheÊsameÊa tude.Ê

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27


1. ReadÊRomansÊ8:2-4.ÊExplainÊhowÊthisÊpassageÊhelpsÊusÊunderstandÊhowÊweÊfulfillÊtheÊrighteousÊrequirementsÊofÊtheÊlaw.

2. WhatÊareÊsomeÊsubtleÊwaysÊweÊmightÊactuallyÊencourageÊeachÊotherÊtoÊbendÊorÊbreakÊGod’sÊlaw,ÊthereforeÊdishonoringÊhim?

3. WeÊknowÊthatÊbeingÊangryÊwithÊsomeoneÊleadsÊdownÊaÊdanger-ousÊpath.ÊButÊwhatÊaboutÊthoseÊinnocuousÊinsultsÊthatÊcanÊseemÊmoreÊlikeÊcomplaining. DiscussÊtheÊdangerÊofÊspeakingÊcasuallyÊofÊanotherÊinÊsuchÊaÊmanner.ÊHowÊdoesÊthisÊdesensi zeÊusÊtowardÊthoseÊseeds of murder?

4. ExplainÊtheÊeffectÊitÊwouldÊhaveÊonÊaÊChris an’sÊspiritualÊlifeÊtoÊÊÊÊÊÊconformÊtoÊculture’sÊbroadÊdefini onÊofÊsexualÊpurityÊandÊnarrowÊdefini onÊofÊsexualÊsin.Ê

5. HowÊwouldÊyouÊanswerÊaÊChris anÊfriendÊwhoÊsaysÊsexualÊfanta-siesÊareÊhealthyÊbecauseÊtheyÊmayÊpreventÊphysicalÊaffairs?

6. DiscussÊsomeÊwaysÊyouÊmightÊencourageÊaÊChris anÊfriendÊwhoÊhasÊbeenÊonÊtheÊreceivingÊendÊofÊanÊunwantedÊdivorce.

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InÊthisÊlessonÊJesusÊadvancedÊthreeÊmoreÊtopics:Êoaths,Êretalia on,ÊandÊtreatmentÊofÊenemies.ÊJustÊasÊweÊwouldÊexpect,ÊtheÊWay of JesusÊexaltsÊtheÊheartÊofÊtheÊma erÊaboveÊtheÊrequirementsÊofÊtheÊLaw.Ê

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊÊ5:33-37ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊyou have heard is was saidÊinÊgreenÊunderline · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊbut I say to youÊinÊredÊunderline · PutÊaÊboxÊaroundÊtheÊwordsÊswear/sworn, oath andÊsay WhatÊisÊtheÊkeyÊtopicÊofÊthisÊpassage?Ê_________________________

ThisÊisÊtheÊfourthÊtopicÊthatÊreachesÊbackÊintoÊtheÊHebrewÊlaws.ÊIt’sÊnotÊaÊdirectÊreferenceÊtoÊaÊcommandment;Êhowever,ÊthereÊareÊtwoÊOldÊTestamentÊScripturesÊthatÊareÊworthÊreadingÊatÊthisÊpoint:

Levi cusÊ19:12 NumbersÊ30:2 It’sÊclearÊthatÊGodÊneverÊintendedÊforÊhisÊpeopleÊtoÊgoÊaroundÊmakingÊÊpromisesÊandÊthenÊnotÊfollowÊthrough.ÊAnÊaccurateÊsummaryÊmightÊbe:Ê“if you promise it — do it!” ÊHereÊinÊMa hew,ÊJesusÊchallengedÊtheÊextravagantÊoath-makingÊthatÊhadÊbecomeÊfashionableÊ—Êswear-ingÊbyÊheaven,ÊorÊbyÊGod’sÊthrone,ÊorÊbyÊHisÊfootstool,Êetc.Ê ReadÊMa hewÊ23:16-22.ÊWriteÊaÊsentenceÊorÊtwoÊaboutÊtheÊgamesÊthatÊtheÊScribesÊandÊPhariseesÊwereÊplayingÊwithÊtheirÊpromises:

Oath taking is really a pathe c confession of our own dishonesty. Why do we find it necessary to introduce our promises by some tre-mendous formula...unless we know our simple word is not likely to be trusted. —JohnÊR.ÊW.ÊSto 4

Week Four — The Way of Humility

Day 1:

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WhatÊconnec onÊdoÊyouÊseeÊbetweenÊtakingÊoathsÊorÊmakingÊvows,ÊandÊtheÊpreviousÊsubjectÊofÊmarriage/divorce?

JesusÊalwaysÊgoesÊrightÊtoÊtheÊheartÊofÊtheÊma erÊ—Êse ngÊasideÊtheÊgames,ÊtheÊtechnicali es,ÊtheÊescapeÊclauses.Ê ReadÊJamesÊ5:12ÊandÊcompleteÊthisÊsentence:ÊÊÊ

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ“let your ______ be ______ and your ______ be ______.”

GiveÊthatÊaÊtryÊthisÊweekÊ—ÊnoÊlengthyÊexplana onsÊ—ÊnoÊpromisesÊ—ÊnoÊexclama onÊforÊbelievabilityÊ—ÊjustÊanswerÊwithÊaÊsimpleÊyesÊorÊnoÊandÊthenÊfollowÊthroughÊandÊdoÊwhatÊyouÊsaidÊyouÊwouldÊdo.

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ5:38-42ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊyou have heard is was saidÊinÊgreenÊunderline · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊbut I say to youÊinÊredÊunderline

ThisÊfi hÊsubjectÊcan’tÊbeÊdescribedÊquiteÊasÊneatlyÊasÊpreviousÊones,ÊbutÊconsiderÊoneÊorÊtwoÊwordsÊthatÊmightÊrepresentÊtheÊsubjectÊma erÊwell: Ê ReadÊLevi cusÊ24:17-20.ÊJesusÊreferencedÊthisÊLevi calÊlawÊbutÊthenÊshi edÊtheÊa en onÊtoÊaÊheartÊa tudeÊwhichÊwouldÊeclipseÊtheÊlawÊ—Êa willingness to suffer personal loss rather than cause another to suffer. TheÊpurposeÊofÊtheÊLevi calÊlawÊwasÊtoÊserveÊjus ceÊandÊlimitÊcom-pensa onÊforÊvic msÊtoÊrealis cÊpropor onsÊ—ÊifÊsomeoneÊbrokeÊyourÊarm,ÊtheÊlimitÊofÊpunishmentÊwouldÊbeÊtheirÊbrokenÊarmÊ—ÊbutÊhonestly,ÊwhatÊwouldÊthatÊaccomplishÊanyway!ÊOverÊ me,ÊpeopleÊÊbeganÊtoÊuseÊthisÊprincipleÊasÊjus fica onÊforÊrevenge.

Day 2:

30

Retribu onÊdoesn’tÊusuallyÊbringÊoutÊtheÊbestÊinÊpeople.ÊThoseÊwhoÊÊÊbelieveÊthemselvesÊtoÊbeÊvic msÊrarelyÊactÊwithÊsoundÊjudgment.ÊÊ ReadÊRomansÊ12:14-21.ÊNow,ÊreadÊtheÊimportantÊphraseÊearlierÊinÊtheÊsameÊchapterÊ(v.2)ÊDo not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. TheÊtransforma onÊofÊourÊmindÊisÊtheÊfirstÊstepÊtoÊfollowingÊtheÊWay of Jesus! WeÊsoÊdesperatelyÊneedÊtheÊmindÊofÊChristÊtoÊleadÊusÊinÊde-cidingÊhowÊtoÊtreatÊthoseÊwhoÊhaveÊmistreatedÊusÊ—ÊorÊevenÊjustÊan-noyedÊusÊ(likeÊoneÊwhoÊbegsÊorÊoneÊwhoÊasksÊtoÊborrow).

· ToÊreflectÊGod’sÊcharacter,ÊhowÊshouldÊweÊtreatÊourÊenemies? · HowÊshouldÊweÊrespondÊtoÊourÊenemy’sÊneeds? · WhenÊisÊitÊokayÊtoÊavengeÊourselves? · WhatÊisÊtheÊdangerÊ(v.21)ÊifÊweÊdoÊnotÊfollowÊtheseÊprecepts? (v.39-42)ÊRe-readÊtheÊexamplesÊgivenÊbyÊJesusÊandÊwriteÊtwoÊmodern-dayÊequivalents:

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a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ5:43-45ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊyou have heard it was saidÊinÊgreenÊunderline · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊbut I say to youÊinÊredÊunderline · PutÊaÊboxÊaroundÊtheÊphrasesÊthatÊrepresentÊdifficultÊpeople:Êone

whoÊbegs/borrows; enemyÊand those who persecute WithÊeachÊnewÊtopic,Êwe’veÊlookedÊtoÊtheÊOldÊTestamentÊtoÊgetÊaÊglimpseÊintoÊJewishÊthinking.ÊThisÊ meÊyouÊmightÊask,Êwhere in the world does it say to love your neighbor and hate your enemy—is that really in the Old Testament?ÊTheÊanswerÊisÊNO.ÊButÊonceÊagain,ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊhumanÊnatureÊhasÊaÊtendencyÊtoÊhearÊwhatÊitÊwants. ReadÊPsalmÊ139:19-22.ÊIfÊyouÊwantedÊtoÊbuildÊaÊcaseÊforÊha ngÊsome-one,ÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊyouÊcouldÊfindÊaÊwayÊtoÊtwistÊaÊPsalmÊlikeÊthis?Ê · WhoseÊenemiesÊareÊreallyÊspokenÊofÊinÊthisÊPsalm? · NowÊgoÊonÊtoÊreadÊv.23-24ÊofÊthatÊsameÊPsalm.ÊWhatÊwasÊtheÊ

PsalmistÊreallyÊexpressingÊthroughÊtheÊen reÊtext? · SpeakingÊofÊtheÊlaw—readÊExodusÊ23:4-5ÊandÊsummarizeÊwhatÊ

theÊlawÊDIDÊcommandÊforÊpeopleÊwhoÊliveÊinÊcommunityÊwithÊÊothers:

Day 3:

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BackÊinÊMa hewÊ5:44—whatÊtwoÊthingsÊdidÊJesusÊcommandÊregard-ingÊourÊenemies?

...soÊthatÊyouÊmayÊbeÊ____________________________Ê(v.45)

HowÊisÊGodÊleadingÊyouÊtoÊactÊonÊthisÊpassage?ÊPerhapsÊanÊactÊofÊkindnessÊtowardÊaÊdifficultÊperson?ÊMaybeÊanÊolive-leaf toÊbeginÊres-tora onÊofÊaÊbrokenÊrela onship?ÊNoteÊwhatÊGodÊisÊshowingÊyou:

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ5:46-48ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · PutÊaÊheartÊoverÊtheÊwordsÊloveÊinÊv.43-46

EvenÊthoughÊthereÊisn’tÊtechnicallyÊanÊOldÊTestamentÊlawÊthatÊsaysÊ‘love your enemies’, itÊisÊtheÊheartÊofÊGodÊtoÊloveÊandÊshowÊmercyÊtoÊallÊÊÊÊÊpeopleÊ—ÊtoÊcause the sun to rise and send rainÊonÊtheÊjustÊasÊwellÊasÊtheÊunjust.ÊInÊfact,ÊtheÊideaÊofÊloveÊforÊneighborÊ(whetherÊfriendÊorÊfoe)ÊisÊfounda onalÊtoÊtheÊWay of Jesus.Ê ReadÊMa hewÊ22:36-40.ÊWhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊJesusÊsaidÊthatÊallÊofÊtheÊLawÊandÊtheÊProphetsÊdependÊonÊtheseÊtwoÊcommandments? (v.46-47)ÊJesusÊdescribedÊaÊcertainÊgroupÊofÊpeople—thoseÊwhoÊareÊeasyÊtoÊloveÊandÊeasyÊtoÊgetÊalongÊwith.ÊNameÊaÊfewÊofÊtheseÊtypesÊofÊpeopleÊinÊyourÊlife:

Day 4:

33

YouÊprobablyÊhaveÊanotherÊgroupÊofÊpeopleÊinÊyourÊlifeÊ—ÊirregularÊÊpeopleÊ—ÊdifficultÊtoÊbeÊinÊtheÊsameÊroomÊwithÊmuchÊlessÊlove.ÊÊ AsÊyouÊreflectÊonÊtheseÊtwoÊgroupsÊaskÊyourself: · In what way have I treated people in these categories differently? · What adjustments does God want me to make as I walk more in

the Way of Jesus? Some mesÊweÊgetÊtheÊmistakenÊno onÊthatÊac ngÊlikeÊJesusÊshouldÊcomeÊnaturallyÊtoÊChris ans.ÊA erall,ÊweÊhaveÊtheÊSpiritÊofÊJesusÊliv-ingÊinÊusÊ—Êshouldn’tÊweÊbe perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect?Ê WhenÊourÊrela onshipsÊsufferÊweÊwonderÊwhat’sÊwrongÊwithÊusÊandÊweÊmayÊevenÊbeginÊtoÊworryÊthatÊwe’reÊjustÊnotÊcutÊoutÊforÊtheÊChris-anÊlife.Ê

ReadÊTitusÊ2:11-12.ÊThatÊverseÊremindsÊusÊthereÊisÊtrainingÊinvolved.ÊTrainingÊisÊinten onalÊ—ÊitÊdoesn’tÊjustÊcomeÊaboutÊonÊit’sÊown.ÊListÊtwoÊareasÊofÊrela onshipÊwhereÊyouÊthinkÊGodÊwantsÊyouÊtoÊtrain in godliness andÊnoteÊhowÊyouÊintendÊtoÊdoÊthatÊtraining. 1) 2)

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1. DoÊyouÊhaveÊaÊreputa onÊofÊdoingÊwhatÊyouÊsayÊyouÊwillÊdo?ÊIfÊnot,ÊinÊwhatÊarea(s)ÊdoÊyouÊdesireÊtoÊimproveÊyourÊdependability?

2. ReadÊPhilippiansÊ2:3-8ÊwhichÊmightÊbeÊdescribedÊasÊtheÊway of the cross ratherÊthanÊtheÊway of revenge.ÊShareÊaÊsitua onÊwhereÊyouÊhaveÊbeenÊclearlyÊwrongedÊandÊGodÊhasÊshownÊyouÊhowÊtoÊre-spondÊwithÊhumility.

3. AsÊaÊChris an,ÊhowÊdoesÊoneÊbalanceÊprotec onÊofÊhomeÊandÊfamilyÊwithÊJesusÊwordsÊinÊv.39Ê“Do not resist the one who is evil?”

4. WhatÊencouragementÊwouldÊyouÊgiveÊtoÊaÊfriendÊwhoÊsaid,Ê“I simply cannot even be kind to my enemy, much less love them”?

5. TheÊcharacterÊofÊGodÊisÊsuchÊthatÊHe sends rain on the just and on the unjust.ÊWhatÊhindersÊusÊfromÊdoingÊtheÊsameÊandÊhowÊcanÊweÊbeginÊtoÊovercomeÊthoseÊhinderances?

6. ExplainÊhowÊtheÊsimpleÊactÊofÊprayingÊforÊyourÊenemyÊmayÊenableÊyouÊtoÊloveÊthem.

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We’veÊarrivedÊatÊtheÊmostÊfamiliarÊandÊmaybeÊtheÊmostÊmisusedÊÊversesÊofÊtheÊSermonÊonÊtheÊMountÊ—ÊTheÊLord’sÊPrayer.ÊTheÊsameÊchapterÊthatÊcontainsÊtheÊfamiliarÊOur Father who art in Heaven alsoÊcontainsÊaÊwarningÊagainstÊreci ngÊemptyÊphrases!Ê

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ6:1-4ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊwhen you giveÊinÊgreenÊunderlineÊ(circleÊgive) · MarkÊeachÊwordÊsecretÊwithÊaÊgreenÊcircle · MarkÊeachÊwordÊrewardÊorÊno reward withÊaÊredÊcircle · PutÊanÊ“H”ÊoverÊtheÊwordÊhypocriteÊ · MarkÊtheÊlastÊ10ÊwordsÊofÊv.4ÊwithÊaÊsquigglyÊunderline

AnyÊhonestÊChris anÊcanÊadmitÊtheyÊsome mesÊhaveÊaÊpropensityÊtoÊbeÊmoreÊconcernedÊaboutÊhowÊspiritualÊtheyÊappearÊtoÊothersÊthanÊhowÊinten onallyÊtheyÊliveÊtoÊpleaseÊGod.ÊWeÊjustÊnaturallyÊloveÊtoÊreceiveÊa en onÊandÊadmira onÊfromÊotherÊpeople.ÊÊÊÊ (v.1)ÊWeÊneedÊwarningsÊinÊlife,ÊsoÊit’sÊfi ngÊthisÊchapterÊbeginsÊwithÊtheÊword:Ê______________.ÊAccordingÊtoÊthisÊverseÊandÊfromÊperson-alÊexperienceÊ—ÊwhatÊareÊsomeÊbadÊmo vesÊforÊdoingÊgoodÊthings? (v.1)ÊWhatÊisÊtheÊresultÊofÊdoingÊgoodÊthingsÊwithÊbadÊmo ves? Re-readÊMa hewÊ5:16.ÊAtÊfirstÊglanceÊitÊcouldÊseemÊlikeÊaÊcontradic-onÊtoÊourÊcurrentÊverse,ÊbutÊlet’sÊthinkÊaÊli le...

· WhatÊisÊtheÊheartÊofÊtheÊexhorta onÊinÊMa hewÊ5:16?

Week Five — The Way of Prayer

Day 1:

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· WhatÊmightÊthatÊmeanÊinÊyourÊday-to-dayÊlife? · WhatÊisÊtheÊheartÊofÊtheÊexhorta onÊinÊMa hewÊ6:1? · WhatÊmightÊthatÊmeanÊinÊyourÊday-to-dayÊlife? VerseÊ1ÊisÊaÊthesisÊstatementÊforÊaÊtrioÊofÊdevo onalÊprac ces.ÊReadÊtheÊversesÊindicatedÊandÊwriteÊeachÊtopicÊonÊthisÊchart:Ê Chris anÊPrac ces

Ma .Ê6:3-4 ____________________________

Ma .Ê6:5-6 ____________________________

Ma .Ê6:16-18 ____________________________

WriteÊtheÊlastÊtenÊiden calÊwordsÊinÊeach ofÊthoseÊpassages:Ê

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

AsÊJesusÊsharedÊonÊthoseÊaspectsÊofÊdevo on,ÊHeÊdidn’tÊsuggestÊthatÊHisÊdisciplesÊbegin toÊgiveÊorÊprayÊorÊfast;ÊHeÊseemedÊtoÊassumeÊtheyÊwereÊalready doingÊthoseÊthings.ÊTheÊpointÊwasÊhow theyÊwouldÊdoÊthem.ÊAsÊalways,ÊJesusÊwentÊrightÊtoÊtheÊheartÊofÊtheÊma er. (v.2)ÊWriteÊaÊhandfulÊofÊwords/phrasesÊthatÊdescribedÊhowÊtheÊhypo-critesÊwouldÊgive:Ê(forÊexampleÊ“loudly”)

(v.2)ÊInÊwhatÊwaysÊhaveÊweÊadoptedÊanyÊsimilarÊmethodsÊinÊourÊcul-ture?ÊÊ

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(v.3)ÊWhatÊdidÊJesusÊmeanÊwhenÊheÊsaidÊ‘when you give to the needy, do not let your le hand know what your right hand is doing’? JesusÊusedÊtheÊwordÊhypocriteÊinÊeachÊofÊtheÊpassagesÊonÊgiving,Êpray-ingÊandÊfas ng.ÊWriteÊaÊdic onaryÊdefini on:

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ6:5-8ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊtheÊphrasesÊwhen you prayÊinÊgreenÊunderlineÊ(circleÊpray) · MarkÊeachÊwordÊsecretÊwithÊaÊgreenÊcircle · MarkÊeachÊwordÊreward withÊaÊredÊcircle · PutÊanÊ“H”ÊoverÊtheÊwordÊhypocriteÊ · MarkÊtheÊlastÊ10ÊwordsÊofÊv.6ÊwithÊaÊsquigglyÊunderline

TheÊsecondÊtopicÊofÊthisÊsec onÊisÊprayer.ÊAssumingÊweÊalreadyÊpray,ÊÊtheÊfocusÊhereÊisÊonÊhow weÊpray.Ê

(v.5)ÊDescribeÊhowÊtheÊhypocritesÊprayed:Ê (v.5)ÊWhatÊseemedÊtoÊbeÊtheirÊmainÊconcern? (v.7)ÊDescribeÊhowÊtheÊGen lesÊ(pagans)Êprayed:

Day 2:

39

(v.8)ÊSinceÊJesus’Êdirec veÊwasÊ‘do not be like them’; howÊshouldÊaÊtrueÊdiscipleÊofÊJesusÊbeÊdifferentÊinÊtheÊma erÊofÊprayer? (v.6)ÊJesus’ÊfollowersÊshouldÊbeÊdrivenÊbyÊdifferentÊmo ves,ÊtheyÊshouldÊwalkÊinÊaÊdifferentÊway.ÊListÊasÊmanyÊsingleÊwordsÊasÊyouÊcanÊthatÊwouldÊdescribeÊprayingÊwithÊaÊheartÊofÊtrueÊdevo on:Ê (v.6)ÊEachÊ meÊJesusÊcommentedÊonÊtheÊac onsÊofÊtheÊhypocrites,ÊheÊalsoÊmen onedÊtheirÊreward.ÊContrastÊtheÊrewardÊofÊtheÊhypocriteÊcomparedÊtoÊtheÊtrueÊdiscipleÊofÊJesus:


IfÊyouÊhadÊneverÊheardÊtheÊphraseÊThe Lord’s Prayer youÊwouldÊas-sumeÊitÊwasÊtheÊprayerÊthatÊThe Lord prayed.ÊThatÊwouldÊbeÊaÊgoodÊguessÊ—ÊbutÊactually,ÊtheÊprayerÊourÊLordÊprayedÊwasÊrecordedÊbyÊJohnÊinÊhisÊgospelÊasÊJesusÊwasÊprayingÊtoÊHisÊFatherÊinÊHeavenÊbeforeÊheÊwasÊbetrayed. ThisÊprayerÊisÊmoreÊlikeÊaÊblueprintÊgivingÊus anÊoutlineÊofÊhowÊweÊshould prayÊa erÊhearingÊtheÊcontrastÊofÊhowÊweÊshouldn’t prayÊ(noteÊtheÊPhariseesÊandÊGen lesÊinÊv.5-7).ÊÊLet’sÊstudyÊthisÊprayerÊasÊaÊpa ern—notÊaÊrecita on:

Day 3:

40

(v.9) “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name” ÊExplainÊhowÊourÊprayersÊshouldÊbeÊdirectedÊandÊwhy.ÊWithÊwhatÊtypeÊofÊa tude,Êrela-onshipÊorÊapproachÊshouldÊweÊbegin?

(v.10)Ê“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heav-en” A erÊworship,ÊwhoseÊcause shouldÊweÊbeÊinterestedÊin?ÊToÊwhoseÊwill areÊweÊtoÊsurrenderÊourÊday,ÊourÊambi ons,ÊourÊlife?Ê (v.11)ÊJesusÊencouragedÊHisÊfollowersÊtoÊbringÊtheirÊpe onsÊtoÊtheÊthroneÊofÊGod.ÊBesideÊbeingÊaÊbasicÊneed,ÊwhatÊdoesÊdaily bread implyÊtoÊyou? ReadÊExodusÊ16Ê(theÊaccountÊofÊGodÊgivingÊdaily bread toÊHisÊpeopleÊinÊtheÊwilderness).ÊWithÊthisÊinÊmind,ÊwhatÊwasÊJesusÊteachingÊaboutÊourÊfrequencyÊinÊprayer? WhatÊaspectsÊofÊourÊdailyÊlives/dailyÊneedsÊdoÊtheseÊversesÊaddress:

v.11 __________________________________________

v.12 __________________________________________

v.13 __________________________________________

InÊtheÊsameÊwayÊthatÊweÊneedÊdailyÊsuppliesÊforÊphysicalÊlifeÊ(v.11Êfood,Êshelter),ÊweÊalsoÊneedÊdailyÊsuppliesÊforÊrela onalÊlifeÊ(v.12ÊÊÊÊwisdom,Êpa ence,Êforgiveness);ÊANDÊweÊneedÊdailyÊsuppliesÊforÊÊÊÊÊspiritualÊlifeÊ(v.13ÊtoÊovercomeÊtempta on)!

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IÊloveÊhowÊJesusÊmakesÊeverythingÊsimpleÊandÊgenuine.ÊPrayerÊisÊÊhonoringÊourÊFatherÊinÊHeaven;ÊseekingÊHISÊwillÊasÊpartÊofÊHISÊking-dom,ÊandÊaskingÊthatÊourÊphysical,Êrela onalÊandÊspiritualÊneedsÊbeÊmetÊwithÊHISÊgrace.ÊPrayerÊisÊnotÊmindlessÊbabblingÊlikeÊtheÊheathen,ÊasÊifÊtoÊimpressÊGod;ÊorÊaÊdramaÊmeantÊtoÊimpressÊpeople.ÊIt’sÊjustÊauthen c,ÊdailyÊcommunica onÊwithÊourÊFather. (v.14-15)ÊWeÊonlyÊhaveÊoneÊsentenceÊle ÊforÊtoday.ÊAsÊweÊtryÊtoÊfig-ureÊoutÊwhatÊaÊpassageÊmeans,ÊitÊcanÊsome mesÊbeÊhelpfulÊtoÊelimi-nateÊwhatÊitÊdoesÊNOTÊmean.

1) WeÊknowÊthisÊisÊnotÊaÊformulaÊforÊsalva onÊbecauseÊweÊknowÊourÊsalva onÊisÊaÊfreeÊgi ÊbasedÊonÊGod’sÊgrace.ÊItÊisÊNOTÊbasedÊonÊourÊchoiceÊtoÊeitherÊforgiveÊorÊnotÊforgiveÊotherÊpeopleÊinÊourÊlife.Ê(ReadÊRomansÊ10:9,ÊEphesiansÊ2:4-6)

2) WeÊalsoÊknowÊthatÊthisÊsentenceÊdoesÊnotÊmeanÊthatÊGodÊrefusesÊtoÊforgiveÊindividualÊsinsÊwe’veÊcommi edÊun lÊweÊperfectlyÊfor-giveÊothersÊaroundÊus.Ê(ReadÊ1ÊJohnÊ1:9)

So,ÊwhatÊDOESÊitÊsay?ÊLet’sÊaskÊanotherÊques onÊ—ÊwhatÊhappensÊbetweenÊtwoÊpeopleÊwhenÊthereÊisÊaÊtrespass (aÊcarelessÊwordÊforÊexample)?ÊWhatÊisÊthatÊrela onshipÊlike?ÊWhatÊisÊfellowshipÊlike? OnceÊthatÊtrespass isÊconfronted,Êresolved,ÊandÊforgivenÊhowÊdoesÊtheÊrela onshipÊimprove?

If I am not in fellowship with God, I cannot pray effec vely. But fellowship with my brother helps to determine my fellowship with God; hence, forgiveness is important to prayer. ÊÊ—WarrenÊWiersbeÊ5

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a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ6:16-18ÊÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊtheÊphrasesÊwhen you fastÊinÊgreenÊunderlineÊ(circleÊfast) · MarkÊeachÊwordÊsecretÊwithÊaÊgreenÊcircle · MarkÊeachÊwordÊreward withÊaÊredÊcircle · PutÊanÊ“H”ÊoverÊtheÊwordÊhypocriteÊ · MarkÊtheÊlastÊ10ÊwordsÊofÊv.18ÊwithÊaÊsquigglyÊunderline TheÊfinalÊtopicÊisÊfas ng,ÊwithÊtheÊsameÊconsistentÊpa ern:

· HowÊtheÊhypocriteÊconductsÊhimselfÊinÊChris anÊprac ce, · TheÊhypocrite'sÊreward,

· HowÊsomeoneÊfollowingÊtheÊWay of JesusÊisÊdifferent, · TheÊfollower’sÊreward.Ê

(v.16)ÊWriteÊaÊhandfulÊofÊwords/phrasesÊthatÊdescribeÊhowÊtheÊhypo-critesÊfasted:Ê(forÊexampleÊ“sad face”) (v.16)ÊWhatÊwasÊthisÊperson’sÊmo ve: (v.17)ÊWhatÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊJesusÊreallyÊmeantÊwhenÊheÊsaidÊ‘anoint your head and wash your face’?ÊÊ OfÊtheseÊthreeÊChris anÊprac cesÊinÊthisÊweek’sÊlesson... a) WhichÊisÊtheÊeasiestÊorÊmostÊcommonÊforÊyouÊtoÊpar cipateÊin? b) TheÊleastÊcommon—mostÊdifficult?

Day 4:

43

c) WhichÊisÊtheÊeasiestÊprac ceÊforÊyouÊtoÊbecomeÊhypocri cal—likeÊanÊactor,ÊorÊstageÊplayer,ÊallÊshowÊandÊnoÊheart?

InÊwhatÊwaysÊdoÊyouÊsenseÊGodÊrefiningÊyourÊmo vesÊtoÊbe erÊena-bleÊyouÊtoÊwalkÊinÊtheÊWay of Jesus?Ê UsingÊyourÊownÊevery-dayÊvocabulary,ÊwriteÊaÊprayerÊbelowÊthatÊfol-lowsÊtheÊmodelÊthatÊJesusÊtaught.ÊCustomizeÊitÊtoÊyourÊownÊphysical,Êrela onalÊandÊspiritualÊneeds. ________________________________________________________

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Believers do not pray with the view of informing God about things unknown to Him, or of exci ng Him to do His duty, or of urging Him as though He were reluctant. On the contrary, they pray in order that they may arouse themselves to seek Him, that they may exercise their faith in medita ng on His promises, that they may relieve themselves from their anxie es by pouring them into his bosom; in a word, that they may declare that from Him alone they hope and expect, both for themselves and for others, all good things. —JohnÊCalvin6

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45


1. WhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊit’sÊsoÊtemp ngÊtoÊmakeÊsureÊotherÊpeopleÊknowÊaboutÊourÊgivingÊandÊthinkÊwellÊofÊusÊforÊit?

2. v.8ÊsaysÊ‘your Father knows what you need before you ask’. LogicÊwouldÊreturnÊtheÊques onÊ‘then why ask’?ÊÊWhatÊareÊsomeÊcom-pellingÊreasonsÊyouÊthinkÊit’sÊgoodÊtoÊtalkÊthingsÊoverÊwithÊGod?

3. CertainlyÊprayingÊaloudÊwithÊothersÊisÊaÊgoodÊprac ce.ÊWhatÊisÊtheÊbalanceÊbetweenÊcorporate prayerÊandÊsecret prayer?

4. CanÊyouÊdescribeÊaÊ meÊorÊsitua onÊwhenÊyouÊwereÊimpressedÊbyÊsomeone’sÊprayer?ÊDoÊyouÊthinkÊitÊwasÊtheirÊinten onÊtoÊim-pressÊyouÊorÊdidÊyouÊjustÊwantÊtoÊlearnÊtoÊprayÊlikeÊthem?Ê

5. IsÊitÊalwaysÊaÊwrongÊmo va onÊtoÊprayÊsimplyÊbecauseÊit’sÊtheÊpre-arrangedÊ meÊtoÊpray?Ê

6. WhatÊareÊsomeÊprac calÊadvantagesÊthatÊcomeÊfromÊkeepingÊourÊspiritualÊdisciplinesÊsecret?

46

TheÊfirstÊhalfÊofÊchapterÊsixÊhighlightedÊtheÊWay of JesusÊinÊtheÊareasÊofÊprayer,Êgiving,ÊandÊfas ng.ÊTheÊsecondÊhalfÊcon nuesÊwithÊmoreÊprac calÊÊÊÊÊma ersÊnearÊtoÊourÊheartÊlikeÊmoney,Êpossessions,ÊandÊambi ons.ÊTheÊwayÊweÊhandleÊtheseÊaspectsÊofÊourÊlivesÊwillÊdeter-mineÊwhetherÊweÊwalkÊinÊtheÊway of peaceÊorÊinÊtheÊway of anxiety.

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ6:19-21ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊtheÊphrasesÊtreasures on earth/in heavenÊinÊgreenÊunderlineÊ · MarkÊeachÊwordÊtreasureÊandÊheart withÊaÊcircleÊandÊdrawÊaÊlineÊ

toÊdemonstrateÊtheirÊconnec on.

(v.19-20)ÊWhatÊareÊtheÊtwoÊpossibleÊdomainsÊforÊusÊtoÊinvestÊin? (v.19-20)ÊExplainÊtheÊdurabilityÊofÊtreasuresÊlaidÊupÊonÊearth:

TheÊprac calÊwisdomÊofÊlayingÊthingsÊasideÊforÊfutureÊuseÊisÊobviousÊtoÊus.ÊItÊwasÊevenÊmoreÊobviousÊforÊanÊagriculturally-basedÊsociety.ÊInÊfarming,ÊthereÊisÊaÊ meÊforÊplan ngÊandÊaÊ meÊforÊharves ng,ÊandÊtheÊharvestÊneedsÊtoÊbeÊstoredÊinÊorderÊtoÊlastÊun lÊtheÊnextÊone.Ê WithÊJesus’ÊwordsÊinÊmind,ÊreadÊtheÊfollowingÊpassagesÊandÊnoteÊwhatÊtheÊBibleÊdoesÊandÊdoesn’tÊteachÊregardingÊlayingÊupÊtreasuresÊonÊearth:

ProverbsÊ6:6-11 ProverbsÊ21:20Ê 1ÊTimothyÊ5:8

Day 1:

Week Six — The Way of Peace

47

(v.21)ÊWhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊthereÊisÊsuchÊaÊstrongÊbondÊbetweenÊourÊheartsÊandÊourÊtreasure?

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ6:22-24ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · CircleÊtheÊwordÊeyeÊandÊtheÊphrasesÊeye is healthy, eye is bad

· MarkÊtheÊcontras ngÊwordsÊdarknessÊandÊlight withÊaÊbox

· MarkÊtheÊphraseÊtwo mastersÊwithÊaÊgreenÊunderline,ÊandÊtheÊwordsÊGod andÊmoney withÊaÊbox.

JesusÊalreadyÊexplainedÊthatÊourÊheartsÊbecomeÊa achedÊtoÊourÊtreasures.ÊIfÊweÊtreasureÊthingsÊhereÊonÊearth,ÊourÊheartÊbecomesÊtrainedÊÊtowardÊthoseÊthings;ÊbutÊifÊweÊtreasureÊthoseÊthingsÊrelatedÊtoÊGod’sÊkingdom,ÊourÊheartÊwillÊfollowÊusÊthereÊasÊwell. (v.22)ÊA erÊfocusingÊonÊtheÊheart, JesusÊturnedÊtheÊa en onÊtoÊwhatÊÊotherÊbodyÊpart? (v.22)ÊWhatÊroleÊdoesÊyourÊeye playÊinÊyourÊnormalÊlife?

Worldly ambi on has a strong fascina on for us and the spell of materialism is hard to break. Jesus helps us to choose well...surely we may say that to lay up treasure in heaven is to do anything on earth whose effects last for eternity. ÊÊÊ—JohnÊR.ÊW.ÊSto 7

Day 2:

48

ItÊcanÊbeÊsaid,Êwithout light there is no sight.ÊIfÊaÊperson’sÊeyeÊisÊnotÊhealthyÊenoughÊtoÊletÊlightÊintoÊtheÊbody,ÊwhatÊwouldÊbeÊtheÊresult? (v.23)ÊNowÊconsiderÊtheÊspiritualÊanalogy:Êif your eye is healthy — if it actually lets the light in — your whole body will be full of light. ListÊsomeÊprac calÊwaysÊweÊcanÊproac velyÊhaveÊhealthyÊspiritualÊeyesÊthatÊwillÊlet the light inÊforÊourÊwholeÊbodyÊtoÊbeÊspirituallyÊhealthy:

ReadÊ1ÊJohnÊ2:15-16.ÊHereÊisÊaÊwarningÊagainstÊallowingÊtheÊinfluenceÊofÊtheÊworldÊtoÊdominateÊtheÊdesires of the eyes.ÊWhatÊresultÊwouldÊyouÊexpectÊifÊthatÊinfluenceÊwereÊallowedÊtoÊcon nueÊunchecked?

(v.24)ÊWhatÊareÊtheÊtwoÊopposingÊmastersÊweÊallÊencounterÊinÊlife? TheÊBibleÊactuallyÊspeaksÊofÊmoneyÊandÊrichesÊquiteÊaÊbit.ÊIÊthinkÊGodÊknowsÊourÊvulnerabili es.ÊHe’sÊnotÊimpa entÊorÊharshÊwithÊus,ÊbutÊasÊÊÊÊweÊstudyÊHisÊWord,ÊweÊseeÊourÊtempta onsÊmoreÊclearly.ÊReadÊtheseÊpassagesÊandÊnoteÊanyÊwisdomÊyouÊfindÊforÊyourÊownÊwayÊofÊlife:

PsalmÊ119:36Ê

49

LukeÊ16:10-14 1ÊTimothyÊ6:6-10 JamesÊ2:2-4

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ6:25-29ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊdo not be anxiousÊwithÊaÊgreenÊunderline · MarkÊeachÊanxiousÊwithÊanÊ“A”ÊaboveÊit.ÊÊ

Don’t worry! Don’t be anxious!ÊHaveÊyouÊeverÊfeltÊthoseÊexhorta onsÊwereÊuselessÊbecauseÊtheÊhabitÊofÊworryÊwasÊalreadyÊdeeplyÊrootedÊinÊyourÊlife?ÊNonetheless,ÊyouÊobedientlyÊwroteÊtheÊwordsÊdo not be anxious inÊourÊjournal.ÊButÊnoteÊofÊtheÊfirstÊwordÊyouÊwroteÊ—ÊTHERE-FORE!ÊYouÊknowÊtheÊsayingÊ‘whatÊisÊtherefore — THEREÊFOR?’ ThinkÊofÊitÊthisÊwayÊ—ÊifÊIÊsaid,Ê“I already put your clothes in the dryer, therefore, they are dry,”ÊyouÊwouldÊhaveÊdryÊclothesÊbecauseÊofÊwhatÊhappenedÊpreviouslyÊ—ÊtheyÊwereÊputÊinÊtheÊdryerÊforÊyou.ÊJesusÊwasÊexplainingÊthatÊtheirÊanxietyÊcouldÊbeÊdoneÊawayÊwith becauseÊtheÊpreviousÊques onsÊareÊse led:

· whereÊisÊyourÊheartÊandÊtreasure?ÊÊÊHeavenÊ(notÊearth) · whatÊisÊtheÊdesireÊofÊyourÊeyes?Ê ÊÊÊGod’sÊkingdomÊ(notÊpleasures) · whoÊisÊyourÊmaster?Ê ÊÊÊGodÊ(notÊmoney) DoÊyouÊseeÊtheÊgreatÊimportanceÊofÊestablishingÊtheÊloca onÊofÊyourÊtreasureÊandÊdecidingÊwhoÊisÊyourÊmaster?

· IfÊweÊareÊableÊtoÊsetÊourÊheartÊonÊheavenlyÊtreasure,ÊfixÊourÊeyesÊonÊtheÊkingdom,ÊandÊmakeÊGodÊourÊmaster…

· ThenÊ(therefore)ÊweÊdon’tÊneedÊtoÊworryÊorÊhaveÊanxietyÊaboutÊourÊlife.

Day 3:

50

CircleÊtheÊnumberÊthatÊbestÊrepresentsÊyourÊlevelÊofÊworryÊorÊanxietyÊinÊrecentÊdays:

(leastÊamount)Ê1ÊÊÊÊ2ÊÊÊÊ3ÊÊÊÊÊ4ÊÊÊÊÊ5ÊÊÊÊÊ6ÊÊÊÊÊ7ÊÊÊÊÊ8ÊÊÊÊÊ9ÊÊÊÊÊ10ÊÊ(mostÊamount) (v.25)ÊWhatÊareasÊofÊworryÊhaveÊyouÊindulgedÊinÊbeforeÊyouÊrealizedÊthisÊtruthÊexpressedÊbyÊtheÊWay of Jesus? ReadÊtheseÊpassagesÊandÊnoteÊanythingÊaddi onalÊtheyÊteachÊaboutÊÊworry,Êtrust,Êfaith,Êhealth,Êlifespan? ProverbsÊ3:5-8 ProverbsÊ14:30 1ÊPeterÊ5:6-7

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ6:30-34ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊtheÊphraseÊdo not be anxiousÊwithÊaÊgreenÊunderline · MarkÊeachÊwordÊanxiousÊwithÊanÊ“A”ÊaboveÊit.ÊÊ · InÊverseÊ26,Ê30,Ê32ÊdoubleÊunderlineÊheavenly FatherÊor God andÊÊÊ

circleÊtheÊverbÊthatÊdirectlyÊfollowsÊit.ÊLet’sÊmakeÊthatÊintoÊaÊchart:

Verse ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊSubject ÊÊÊÊÊÊGod’sÊA en on

26Ê birdsÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊHeavenlyÊFatherÊÊÊ____________

30Ê ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊlilies/grass ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊGodÊÊ ÊÊ____________Ê

32ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊyou/me ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊHeavenlyÊFatherÊÊÊÊ____________ÊÊ

Day 4:

51

ItÊmayÊbeÊtemp ngÊtoÊthinkÊofÊthisÊpassageÊasÊaÊcharmingÊli leÊpieceÊofÊpoetry.ÊWeÊallÊthinkÊourÊterriblyÊimportantÊlivesÊareÊmuchÊmoreÊcomplexÊthanÊbirdsÊorÊflowers.ÊEvenÊwhenÊJesusÊtellsÊusÊour Heavenly Father knows what we need, thatÊpromiseÊcanÊbounceÊrightÊoffÊourÊworry-filledÊheartÊandÊweÊkeepÊrightÊonÊworrying. (v.32-33)ÊByÊnature,ÊallÊhumansÊareÊseekers,ÊbutÊweÊseekÊdifferently...Ê

· TheÊpeopleÊofÊtheÊworldÊ(Gen les)ÊseekÊ_____________________Ê

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· FollowersÊofÊJesusÊseekÊ__________________________________Ê

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IfÊweÊareÊchronicallyÊanxious,ÊwhichÊofÊtheÊaboveÊdoÊweÊresemble? It’sÊlikeÊchoosingÊsportsÊteams,Êyou’reÊeitherÊonÊteamÊAÊorÊB,ÊbutÊnotÊÊboth.ÊInÊourÊseeking,Êwe’llÊeitherÊresembleÊtheÊpeopleÊofÊtheÊworldÊorÊwe’llÊdemonstrateÊtheÊnatureÊofÊaÊchildÊofÊtheÊkingdom.Ê

· HowÊmightÊseeingÊyourselfÊasÊGod’sÊchildÊinspireÊyouÊtoÊstop being anxious?

· WhatÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊJesusÊmeantÊwhenÊheÊsaidÊseek first His king-

dom?ÊÊ · Specifically,ÊisÊthereÊsomeÊaspectÊofÊworldlyÊseekingÊandÊworryingÊ

thatÊGodÊisÊencouragingÊyouÊtoÊleaveÊbehindÊtoÊseekÊkingdomÊthings?

52

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53


1. HowÊwouldÊyouÊanswerÊsomeoneÊwhoÊaskedÊyouÊhow,Êspecifical-ly,ÊtheyÊcouldÊstore up treasures in heaven?

2. WhatÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊaboutÊwhenÊyouÊareÊfreeÊtoÊthinkÊaboutÊany-thingÊyouÊwantÊto?

3. HowÊdoesÊchronicÊworryÊdemonstrateÊaÊlackÊofÊfaithÊinÊGod?

4. WhatÊeffectÊdoesÊaÊlifestyleÊofÊanxietyÊhaveÊonÊaÊpersonÊemo on-allyÊandÊphysically?

5. VerseÊ34ÊspeaksÊtoÊourÊconcernsÊforÊtheÊfuture.ÊWhatÊisÊtheÊdiffer-enceÊbetweenÊplanning for the future andÊworrying about the fu-ture?

6. InÊwhatÊareasÊhasÊtheÊHolyÊSpiritÊnudgedÊyouÊtoÊplaceÊyourÊtrustÊfirmlyÊinÊGod’sÊhandsÊandÊnotÊworryÊaboutÊtheÊoutcome?

7. It’sÊcommonÊtoÊhearÊsomeoneÊdescribeÊtheÊpowerÊthatÊanxietyÊhasÊinÊtheirÊlife.ÊInÊwhatÊprac calÊwaysÊcanÊaÊChris anÊexaltÊtheÊpowerÊofÊGodÊoverÊanxiety?

54

SeekingÊgoodÊforÊourselves,ÊseekingÊgoodÊforÊothers,ÊandÊevenÊseek-ingÊoutÊtheÊsin,ÊtheÊproblemsÊandÊtheÊcomplica onsÊinÊourÊownÊlivesÊinÊorderÊtoÊremoveÊthemÊisÊallÊpartÊofÊwalkingÊinÊtheÊWay of Jesus. ThisÊlastÊchapterÊbeginsÊwithÊanÊo en-quotedÊandÊrarely-understoodÊphraseÊaboutÊjudging.ÊEvenÊthoseÊwhoÊdon’tÊreadÊtheirÊBibleÊseemÊtoÊknowÊthisÊverseÊ—ÊandÊseemÊtoÊhaveÊanÊopinionÊaboutÊwhatÊitÊmeans!

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ7:1-5ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊtheÊwordsÊjudge/judgement/measureÊwithÊaÊblueÊunderline · MarkÊtheÊcontras ngÊwordsÊspeck/logÊwithÊanÊorangeÊunderline · MarkÊanÊ“H”ÊoverÊhypocrite.Ê

LivingÊinÊcommunityÊwithÊpeopleÊisÊtricky!ÊPeopleÊhaveÊaÊtendencyÊtoÊbeÊcomplicated,ÊandÊevenÊmisbehaveÊfromÊ meÊtoÊ me.ÊTheÊWay of Jesus showsÊusÊhowÊweÊareÊtoÊbehaveÊtowardÊpeopleÊwhoÊmisbehave.

(v.2)ÊWhatÊtwoÊwordsÊseemÊtoÊbeÊusedÊasÊsynonymsÊinÊthisÊverse? SliversÊcanÊsome mesÊbeÊtoughÊtoÊfindÊbecauseÊtheyÊareÊusuallyÊfairlyÊny.ÊInÊourÊhouse,Êwe’veÊbeenÊknownÊtoÊgetÊoutÊtheÊmagnifyingÊglassÊ

soÊourÊtweezersÊcanÊfindÊthoseÊnastyÊli leÊs ckersÊthatÊreallyÊget un-der our skinÊ(soÊtoÊspeak).ÊIÊimagineÊspecksÊareÊfairlyÊdifficultÊtoÊlocateÊasÊwell,ÊyouÊhaveÊtoÊbeÊreallyÊlookingÊtoÊfindÊthem!

(v.3)ÊWhatÊsomewhatÊhumorousÊproblemÊdoesÊtheÊpersonÊhaveÊwhoÊisÊmakingÊjudgements?

Day 1:

Week Seven — The Way of Seeking

55

(v.5)ÊWhatÊdidÊJesusÊsayÊshouldÊbeÊtheÊremedy? (v.1-2)ÊÊWhatÊreasonÊdidÊJesusÊgiveÊforÊrefrainingÊfromÊjudgingÊothers?

JesusÊusedÊtheÊwordÊhypocrite again,ÊwhichÊweÊpreviouslyÊlearnedÊmeantÊaÊplay actor—someoneÊac ngÊaÊpartÊthatÊisÊnotÊgenuine.ÊTheÊuseÊofÊthisÊwordÊhelpsÊusÊrealizeÊthatÊtheÊjudgments we’reÊtoÊrefrainÊfromÊcannotÊmeanÊtheÊmereÊdis nguishingÊfromÊrightÊandÊwrong.ÊItÊalsoÊcannotÊmeanÊdiscernmentÊbetweenÊgoodÊandÊbad.ÊIfÊthatÊwereÊtheÊcase,ÊweÊwouldÊHAVEÊtoÊbeÊplayÊac ngÊsinceÊweÊwouldÊneedÊtoÊpretendÊweÊdidn’tÊno ceÊsomeoneÊwhoÊwasÊobviouslyÊsinning—weÊwouldÊHAVEÊtoÊbeÊaÊhypocrite.Ê Let’sÊuseÊotherÊScripturesÊtoÊhelpÊusÊunderstandÊmoreÊaboutÊmakingÊaÊproperÊjudgmentÊorÊhavingÊproperÊdiscernment:

JohnÊ7:24 RomansÊ2:1-3 Ê 1ÊCorinthiansÊ6:1-3 PhilippiansÊÊ1:9-10 Ê JamesÊ4:11-12

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WhatÊcommonali esÊdoÊyouÊfindÊwithÊtoday’sÊversesÊandÊMa hewÊ5:7? WriteÊaÊshortÊsummaryÊaboutÊwhatÊjudgementÊlooksÊlikeÊforÊoneÊfol-lowingÊtheÊWay of Jesus:

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ7:6ÊinÊyourÊjournal.

Yesterday’sÊpassageÊcontainedÊoneÊofÊtheÊmostÊfrequentlyÊquotedÊsentencesÊfromÊtheÊBibleÊandÊtoday’sÊverseÊisÊoneÊofÊtheÊstrangest.ÊIt’sÊaÊbitÊstartlingÊtoÊhearÊJesusÊreferÊtoÊpeopleÊasÊdogs andÊpigs.ÊLet’sÊtryÊtoÊdiscoverÊwhatÊitÊdoes meanÊbyÊelimina ngÊwhatÊitÊdoesn’t mean. (v.7)ÊBasedÊonÊwhatÊyouÊmightÊknowÊaboutÊcleanÊandÊuncleanÊanimalsÊinÊtheÊJewishÊdiet,ÊwhoÊmightÊbeÊtheÊpeopleÊreferredÊtoÊasÊdogs orÊpigs?

Day 2:

TheÊcommandÊtoÊjudgeÊnotÊisÊnotÊaÊrequirementÊtoÊbeÊblind,Ê butÊratherÊaÊpleaÊtoÊbeÊgenerous.ÊÊÊÊÊ—JohnÊR.ÊW.ÊSto Ê7ÊÊÊ

57

(v.7)ÊWhatÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊpearlsÊmightÊbeÊaÊsymbolÊof? ReadÊMa hewÊ28:19-20ÊandÊsummarizeÊtheÊcommandÊgiven: ThisÊcouldÊleadÊsomeÊtoÊthinkÊthatÊallÊevangelismÊisÊgood evangelism,ÊwhereasÊJesus’ÊwordsÊhereÊhelpÊusÊunderstandÊthereÊcomesÊaÊ meÊforÊdiscernmentÊtoÊbeÊappliedÊtoÊsharingÊtheÊvaluableÊmessageÊofÊhope.ÊEvenÊJesusÊhimselfÊwasÊsilentÊonÊsomeÊoccasions,ÊandÊtoldÊhisÊdisciplesÊtoÊturnÊandÊsymbolicallyÊshake the dust fromÊtheirÊfeetÊifÊmetÊwithÊanÊunreasonablyÊhardÊheart.Ê(MarkÊ6:11) ReadÊActsÊ18:5-6.ÊExplainÊhowÊtheÊApostleÊPaulÊusedÊthisÊprincipleÊwithÊtheÊJewsÊinÊCorinth: ReadÊColossiansÊ4:5-6.ÊExplainÊhowÊyouÊmightÊputÊintoÊprac ceÊtheÊApostleÊPaul’sÊexhorta onÊinÊyourÊlife:

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a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ7:7-11ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · DoubleÊunderlineÊtheÊphraseÊFather who is in heaven.

OurÊdailyÊinterac onÊwithÊpeopleÊrequiresÊaÊbigÊdoseÊofÊdiscernment.ÊThereÊisÊnoÊbe erÊplaceÊtoÊreceiveÊwhatÊweÊneedÊthanÊtoÊheadÊstraightÊtoÊourÊheavenlyÊFather.Ê TheÊWay of Jesus meansÊthatÊweÊareÊinvitedÊto...

(v.7)Ê_________ÊÊandÊitÊwillÊbeÊgiven,Ê___________ÊÊandÊyouÊwillÊfindÊ

____________ÊÊandÊitÊwillÊbeÊopenedÊtoÊyou.Ê(v.8)ÊForÊeveryoneÊwhoÊ

asksÊ____________,ÊtheÊoneÊwhoÊseeksÊ_____________,ÊandÊtoÊtheÊ

oneÊwhoÊknocksÊitÊwillÊbeÊ______________.Ê

AsÊweÊfollowÊtheÊWay of Jesus weÊfindÊthatÊwe’reÊpresentedÊwithÊbothÊanÊinvita onÊandÊaÊresponsibilityÊtoÊpressÊinÊtoÊGod’sÊbenevo-lenceÊandÊHisÊresourcesÊforÊeverythingÊweÊneedÊforÊourÊdailyÊlivesÊandÊinterac ons.ÊAndÊGodÊwillÊnotÊdisappointÊus! TheÊWay of JesusÊshouldÊopenÊupÊtheÊpathÊforÊusÊtoÊthinkÊofÊGodÊasÊourÊFather in HeavenÊ—ÊnotÊjustÊourÊcreator,ÊnotÊjustÊaÊhigherÊpower,ÊnotÊjustÊtheÊlaw-giverÊ—ÊbutÊsomeoneÊwithÊwhomÊweÊhaveÊaÊparent/childÊrela onshipÊ—ÊsomeoneÊweÊrunÊtoÊforÊadviceÊandÊinsightsÊasÊwe’reÊnaviga ngÊtheÊtwistsÊandÊturnsÊofÊourÊrela onshipsÊandÊourÊneeds. FromÊ(v.9-11)ÊsummarizeÊtheÊanalogyÊbetweenÊhumanÊparentsÊandÊtheirÊchildren,ÊandÊGodÊandÊHisÊchildren:

Day 3:

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(v.9-11)ÊExplainÊwhyÊJesusÊwasÊcertainÊweÊcouldÊrelyÊonÊourÊFather in Heaven toÊprovideÊwhatÊweÊneedÊinÊlife: ReadÊtheÊfollowingÊversesÊandÊnoteÊaddi onalÊinsightsÊonÊseekingÊGod,ÊwisdomÊandÊdiscernment: IÊKingsÊ3:9-12 ProverbsÊ28:5 JamesÊ1:5 ListÊthreeÊrequestsÊthatÊyouÊcanÊbeÊsureÊGodÊwillÊalwaysÊanswer: · Ê · Ê · Ê

60

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ7:12-14ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊcontras ngÊwordsÊyouÊfindÊinÊorangeÊ(narrow/wide, etc.)Ê. Today’sÊpassageÊbeginsÊwithÊanotherÊwell-knownÊverse.ÊWeÊo enÊcallÊitÊtheÊGolden Rule.ÊThereÊareÊmanyÊvaria onsÊofÊtheÊGoldenÊRuleÊ—ÊevenÊConfuciusÊisÊcreditedÊwithÊhavingÊsaid,Ê“Do not do to others what you would not wish done to yourself.” ButÊJesusÊputÊthisÊruleÊintoÊaÊposi veÊtone.ÊÊWhyÊisÊthatÊsignificant?ÊBecauseÊitÊbecomesÊÊÊac veÊ—Êproac ve! IfÊIÊsaidÊdon’t do harm to anyone today,ÊitÊmightÊbeÊfairlyÊeasyÊforÊyouÊtoÊkeepÊtoÊyourselfÊandÊjustÊdoÊnothing.Ê(A erall,ÊweÊknowÊhowÊtoÊquaran neÊtheseÊdays.)ÊBut,ÊifÊIÊsaidÊdo good to someone today,ÊyouÊwouldÊhaveÊtoÊproac velyÊliveÊinÊsuchÊaÊwayÊasÊtoÊblessÊsomeoneÊelse.Ê IÊthinkÊthisÊisÊtheÊheartÊofÊthatÊcommandÊ—ÊwalkÊinÊtheÊWay of JesusÊandÊleaveÊaÊblessingÊbehindÊyou! (v.12)ÊDoÊyouÊhaveÊaÊrela onshipÊthat’sÊstrainedÊorÊbroken?ÊHowÊcanÊyouÊapplyÊthisÊsimpleÊdirec veÊthisÊweekÊtoÊbeginÊaÊÊrepair?ÊÊ (v.13-14)ÊListÊallÊofÊtheÊoppositesÊorÊcontras ngÊwordsÊthatÊyouÊseeÊinÊtheseÊtwoÊverses:

Day 4:

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TheseÊsentencesÊfocusÊonÊentering.ÊIfÊyouÊdiagramedÊtheÊfirstÊsen-tenceÊofÊv.13ÊitÊwouldÊsimplyÊsayÊYOU ENTER. TheÊmessageÊisÊthatÊeveryone,ÊasÊtheyÊtravelÊthroughÊlife,ÊwillÊmakeÊdecisionsÊaboutÊwhichÊpathÊtheyÊchooseÊtoÊenterÊthrough.Ê

· InÊwhatÊsenseÊisÊtheÊgateÊofÊChris anityÊnarrowÊandÊtheÊroadÊhard?

· InÊwhatÊwaysÊisÊtheÊworld’sÊgateÊwideÊandÊtheÊpathÊeasy? ReadÊJoshuaÊ24:14-15.ÊThisÊisÊpartÊofÊaÊspeechÊJoshuaÊmadeÊtoÊIsraelÊaboutÊtheÊchoiceÊsetÊbeforeÊthemÊasÊtheyÊenteredÊtheÊlandÊGodÊpromisedÊtoÊthem.ÊInÊwhatÊwaysÊwereÊtheirÊchoicesÊatÊthatÊ meÊsimi-larÊtoÊyourÊchoicesÊtoday?

“See,ÊIÊhaveÊsetÊbeforeÊyouÊtodayÊlifeÊandÊgood,ÊdeathÊandÊevil.Ê IfÊyouÊobeyÊtheÊcommandmentsÊofÊtheÊLordÊyourÊgodÊthatÊIÊ

commandÊyouÊtoday,ÊbyÊlovingÊtheÊLordÊyourÊgod,Ê byÊwalkingÊinÊhisÊways,ÊandÊbyÊkeepingÊhisÊcommandmentÊ

andÊhisÊstatutesÊandÊhisÊrules,ÊthenÊyouÊshallÊliveÊandÊmul ply,Ê andÊtheÊLordÊyourÊGodÊwillÊblessÊyouÊinÊtheÊlandÊthatÊ

youÊareÊenteringÊtoÊtakeÊpossessionÊofÊit.” DeuteronomyÊ30:15-16

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63


1. ShareÊanÊevery-dayÊexampleÊofÊoneÊprofitableÊjudgement,ÊandÊoneÊhypocri calÊjudgment:

2. InÊwhatÊwaysÊcouldÊthrowing our pearls before swine actuallyÊdamageÊourÊownÊfaith?

3. V.7ÊsaysÊ“Ask and it will be given to you.”ÊIsÊthatÊaÊuniversalÊprom-ise?ÊWhyÊorÊwhyÊnot?ÊExplainÊusingÊatÊleastÊoneÊotherÊScripture.Ê

4. HaveÊyouÊhadÊanÊanswerÊtoÊprayerÊa erÊaÊlongÊseasonÊofÊasking,Êseeking,Êknocking?ÊExplain:

5. ThinkÊofÊaÊ meÊyouÊhaveÊbeenÊtheÊrecipientÊofÊtheÊrule of love andÊshareÊwithÊyourÊdiscussionÊgroupÊhowÊitÊimpactedÊyou.

6. We’veÊallÊheardÊvaria onsÊofÊtheÊstatementÊ‘there are many ways to God’.ÊÊWhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊpeopleÊbristleÊatÊtheÊideaÊofÊthereÊÊÊbeingÊonlyÊoneÊgateÊtoÊlifeÊthatÊisÊrela velyÊnarrowÊandÊhardÊandÊfewÊfindÊit?

64

LifeÊisÊfullÊofÊdecisions.ÊRememberÊtheÊ35,000ÊchoicesÊweÊmakeÊeachÊday?ÊWell,ÊitÊseemsÊthatÊJesusÊwrappedÊupÊhisÊsermonÊhighligh ngÊtheÊimportanceÊofÊthoseÊdecisionsÊandÊtheÊroleÊthatÊspiritualÊwisdomÊplaysÊÊinÊfollowingÊChrist.Ê ItÊbeganÊwithÊtheÊchoiceÊbetweenÊtheÊbroad road andÊtheÊnarrow road.ÊNow,ÊinÊtheseÊfinalÊdaysÊofÊstudyÊwe’llÊconsiderÊmoreÊchoices:Ê · WhetherÊtoÊbeÊinfluencedÊbyÊtrue teachersÊorÊfalse;Ê · DiscerningÊbetweenÊgood fruitÊorÊbad;Ê · BecomingÊaÊtalker only orÊoneÊwhoÊdoes the works ofÊGod;Ê · BuildingÊyourÊfounda onÊonÊtheÊsolid rock orÊonÊshi ing sand!

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ7:15-20ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊeveryÊoccurrenceÊofÊfruit, good fruit, bad fruitÊinÊred.

FalseÊprophetsÊandÊdisingenuousÊpeopleÊareÊnothingÊnew.ÊThey’veÊbeenÊamongÊusÊsinceÊJesus’ÊdayÊandÊevenÊlongÊbefore.ÊTheyÊwillÊcon-nueÊtoÊbeÊaroundÊun lÊJesusÊreturns.ÊSo,ÊweÊshouldÊunderstandÊhowÊ

toÊrecognizeÊthemÊinÊorderÊtoÊavoidÊtheirÊinfluence. (v.15)ÊExplainÊhowÊitÊisÊthatÊfalseÊteachers/prophetsÊcanÊpresentÊthemselvesÊsoÊdecep vely: (v.16)ÊHowÊareÊweÊtoÊrecognizeÊaÊfalseÊteacherÊorÊprophet? (v.17-18)ÊHowÊcanÊtheÊqualityÊofÊfruitÊgiveÊusÊinsightÊintoÊtheÊhealthÊofÊÊÊÊaÊtree?

Week Eight — The Way of Wisdom

Day 1:

65

It’sÊinteres ngÊthatÊthisÊwarningÊaboutÊfalseÊteachersÊfollowsÊcloselyÊbehindÊtheÊchoicesÊinÊgatesÊ(narrowÊorÊwide).ÊÊAÊgoodÊteacherÊshouldÊpointÊusÊtoÊtheÊnarrowÊgate,Êright?Ê · HaveÊyouÊeverÊfoundÊyourselfÊcap vatedÊbyÊaÊministry/teachingÊ

thatÊseemedÊcompelling,ÊbutÊyouÊrealizedÊitÊwasÊactuallyÊaÊfalseÊteacherÊpromo ngÊtheÊwide gate?ÊExplain.Ê

Obviously,ÊweÊneedÊtoÊuseÊjudgment toÊdetermineÊwhetherÊtheÊfruitÊofÊaÊprophet/teacherÊisÊgoodÊorÊbad.Ê (v.16-20)ÊHowÊwouldÊyouÊexplainÊinÊyourÊownÊwordsÊtheÊproperÊuseÊofÊjudgmentÊ(discernment)ÊinÊthisÊma erÊcomparedÊtoÊwhatÊweÊpre-viouslyÊstudiedÊinÊMa hewÊ7:1?

a READÊandÊWRITEÊMa hewÊ7:21-23ÊinÊyourÊjournal. · MarkÊtheÊwordsÊsaysÊandÊdoesÊwithÊaÊbox.

EachÊdayÊweÊchooseÊwhetherÊweÊwillÊmerelyÊsayÊweÊareÊaÊChris anÊandÊleanÊonÊallÊtheÊchurchyÊthingsÊweÊdoÊtoÊreinforceÊthatÊidea;ÊorÊwhetherÊweÊwillÊactuallyÊdoÊtheÊwillÊofÊGod.ÊDoingÊgoodÊthings,Êposi-veÊthings,ÊChris anÊthingsÊisn’tÊbadÊorÊempty;ÊbutÊJesusÊmadeÊtheÊ

dis nc onÊhereÊbetweenÊmerelyÊdoingÊChris anÊthingsÊandÊdoingÊtheÊwillÊofÊGod.Ê

Day 2:

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(v.21)ÊNoteÊtheÊcontrastÊinÊJesus’Êdescrip onÊasÊHeÊseparatesÊpeopleÊintoÊtwoÊcategories:

· FirstÊcategoryÊ—Êsays to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ · SecondÊcategoryÊ— does the will of my Father

(v.22)ÊCircleÊtheÊwordÊthatÊdescribesÊtheÊamountÊofÊpeopleÊinÊtheÊfirstÊcategoryÊandÊwriteÊitÊhere:Ê___________. (v.22)ÊDuringÊtheirÊlife me,ÊhowÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊtheseÊnormalÊchurch-goersÊfeltÊaboutÊtheirÊac vi esÊ(doneÊonÊGod’sÊbehalf)? · WhatÊareÊsomeÊmodernÊac vi esÊthatÊcouldÊbeÊsubs tutedÊforÊtheÊ

phrasesÊ“prophesy and cast out demons”ÊthatÊpeopleÊmightÊen-gageÊinÊtoÊpleaseÊGodÊfromÊtheÊflesh?

(v.23)ÊJesusÊexplainedÊthatÊsomethingÊwasÊclearlyÊmissingÊfromÊtheirÊlivesÊ—ÊknowingÊGodÊandÊbeingÊknownÊbyÊHim.ÊA erall,ÊwhatÊcouldÊbeÊmoreÊterrifyingÊthanÊJesusÊsayingÊdepart from me, I never knew you?Ê TheÊWay of Jesus isÊaÊway of wisdom.ÊWe’reÊnotÊjustÊbornÊwithÊwis-dom,ÊweÊneedÊtoÊseekÊitÊalongÊtheÊway,ÊandÊthenÊdoÊsomethingÊwithÊit.ÊFromÊtheÊScripturesÊgivenÊbelow,Êiden fyÊtheÊtwoÊwordsÊthatÊbe-comeÊveryÊusefulÊinÊourÊChris anÊlifeÊasÊweÊseekÊtoÊpleaseÊGod: RomansÊ10:17Ê—ÊFaith comes by ________________ the Word James 1:22 — Be ______________ of the Word

67

ReadÊtheÊfollowingÊpassagesÊandÊnoteÊanythingÊrelevantÊtoÊtrulyÊknowingÊGodÊandÊhonoringÊhimÊwithÊyourÊlife,ÊyourÊwords,ÊandÊyourÊac ons: JohnÊ10:27-30 EphesiansÊ3:17-21 1ÊJohnÊ4:16-19 Ê


TheseÊlastÊred-le erÊwordsÊofÊJesusÊpresentÊourÊfinalÊchallengeÊinÊwis-domÊ—ÊwillÊweÊbecomeÊlisteners ofÊGodlyÊinstruc onÊwithoutÊpu ngÊitÊintoÊprac ce,ÊorÊwillÊweÊapply theÊtruthÊandÊmakeÊitÊourÊfounda onÊforÊlifeÊasÊweÊfollowÊtheÊWay of Jesus! (v.24-26)ÊIden fyÊtheÊac onsÊofÊeachÊpersonÊinÊthisÊparable:

· WiseÊman:

· FoolishÊman:

· DescribeÊtheÊdifferenceÊinÊ me/effortÊthereÊmayÊbeÊinÊbuildingÊonÊ

topÊofÊsand,ÊasÊopposedÊtoÊdiggingÊdownÊtoÊrock:

Day 3:

68

· DescribeÊtheÊelementsÊofÊnatureÊthatÊcameÊagainstÊeachÊhouse: · HowÊdidÊtheÊstormÊrevealÊtheÊtrueÊdifferenceÊinÊconstruc onÊ

whenÊnormalÊobserva onÊmadeÊthemÊappearÊveryÊsimilar? · HowÊdoesÊthisÊanalogyÊplayÊoutÊinÊourÊlivesÊwithÊtheÊtypeÊofÊfoun-

da onsÊweÊhaveÊchosen?Ê(Don’tÊjustÊwriteÊaÊSundayÊSchoolÊsortÊofÊanswer,ÊbutÊreallyÊconsiderÊwhatÊthisÊmeansÊforÊyourÊlife.ÊInÊwhatÊareaÊdoÊyouÊneedÊtoÊtakeÊtheÊ meÊtoÊdigÊaÊdeeperÊfounda on?)


Well,ÊyouÊhaveÊnowÊofficiallyÊwri enÊoutÊtheÊen reÊSermon on the Mount inÊyourÊownÊhand. AllÊthatÊisÊle ÊisÊaÊbriefÊa erwordÊdescribingÊhowÊpeopleÊreactedÊtoÊallÊtheÊthingsÊJesusÊhadÊtaught.ÊÊ · WhatÊwas theirÊresponse?

Day 4:

69

· WhatÊcharacteris csÊdidÊyouÊno ceÊinÊthisÊteachingÊthatÊmadeÊÊJesusÊseemÊlikeÊsomeoneÊwhoÊhadÊauthority?

· WhatÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊtheÊresponsesÊofÊtheÊreligiousÊpeopleÊ(the

scribes)ÊhadÊbeen?

WeÊcertainlyÊwantÊtoÊbeÊcountedÊamongÊtheÊpeopleÊwhoÊrespectedÊÊÊÊJesus’Êauthority.ÊNoneÊofÊusÊwantsÊtoÊbeÊinÊtheÊsameÊcategoryÊasÊmerelyÊreligiousÊpeopleÊwhoÊonlyÊpayÊa en onÊtoÊtheÊoutwardÊtedi-ousÊrulesÊandÊdon’tÊunderstandÊtheÊma ersÊofÊtheÊheart! TheÊWay of Jesus shouldÊchangeÊusÊandÊmoldÊourÊcharacterÊtoÊresem-bleÊJesusÊ—ÊtoÊactÊmoreÊlikeÊJesusÊandÊserveÊmoreÊlikeÊJesus.ÊThereÊwasÊaÊpopularÊsongÊrecordedÊyearsÊagoÊbyÊtheÊImperials:

You’re the only Jesus that some will ever see, You’re the only words of life, some will ever read

So let them see in you, the One in whom, is all they’ll ever need! 8

HowÊinspiring!ÊWeÊallÊunderstandÊourÊweaknessesÊandÊsinÊbutÊratherÊthanÊallowingÊourselvesÊtoÊbeÊiden fiedÊbyÊourÊsinfulÊnature—let’sÊrunÊdailyÊtoÊtheÊONEÊwhoÊhasÊpowerÊtoÊchangeÊusÊintoÊHISÊlikeness.

JesusÊcalledÊusÊtoÊbeÊlightÊofÊtheÊworld... ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ...someoneÊmightÊseeÊGod’sÊlightÊshiningÊthroughÊus. JesusÊcalledÊusÊtoÊbeÊsaltÊofÊtheÊearth… ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ...someoneÊcouldÊbeÊrescuedÊfromÊtheÊdecayÊofÊtheÊworldÊbyÊus.Ê JesusÊcalledÊusÊtoÊbeÊaÊcityÊonÊaÊhill… ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ...someoneÊmayÊseeÊGod’sÊgloryÊshineÊthroughÊourÊdeeds. JesusÊcalledÊusÊtoÊdoÊuntoÊothersÊasÊweÊwouldÊhaveÊthemÊdoÊuntoÊus! ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ...someoneÊmayÊneedÊtheÊso eningÊofÊourÊgraciousÊresponse

ThankÊyouÊforÊjoiningÊusÊasÊweÊyieldÊourselvesÊmoreÊtoÊwalkÊin

The Way of Jesus!

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1. WhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊbroadÊgatesÊandÊfalseÊprophetsÊareÊsoÊappeal-ingÊtoÊpeopleÊtoday?

2. OnlineÊBibleÊstudiesÊareÊreadilyÊavailableÊinÊtoday’sÊculture.ÊDoÊyouÊthinkÊmostÊwomenÊtakeÊtheÊ meÊtoÊinves gateÊtheÊauthor/teacherÊtoÊinspectÊtheirÊfruitÊbeforeÊsi ngÊunderÊtheirÊministry?Ê

3. HaveÊyouÊcomeÊacrossÊmoreÊfalse teachersÊthatÊseemedÊlikeÊwolvesÊorÊmoreÊthatÊseemedÊatÊfirstÊtoÊbeÊlikeÊsheep?

4. WhyÊisÊitÊsoÊeasyÊforÊChris ansÊtoÊmistakeÊchurchÊac vityÊorÊÊÊÊÊministryÊac vityÊforÊactuallyÊdoingÊtheÊwillÊofÊtheÊFather?

5. WhatÊtypeÊofÊstormsÊhaveÊyouÊenduredÊinÊyourÊlifeÊthatÊhaveÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊrevealedÊareasÊwhereÊyouÊhadÊhas lyÊbuiltÊuponÊsand?ÊExplainÊtheÊwayÊinÊwhichÊGodÊrevealedÊthisÊtoÊyou:

6. ShareÊoneÊareaÊofÊrenewedÊwisdomÊorÊdiscernmentÊinÊyourÊlifeÊasÊaÊresultÊofÊstudyingÊtheseÊchapters.

72

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ESVÊBibleÊverses…ÊScriptureÊquota onsÊareÊfromÊtheÊESV®ÊBibleÊ(TheÊHolyÊBible,ÊEnglishÊStandardÊVersion®),ÊcopyrightÊ©Ê2001ÊbyÊCross-way,ÊaÊpublishingÊministryÊofÊGoodÊNewsÊPublishers.ÊUsedÊbyÊpermis-sion.ÊAllÊrightsÊreserved.

NIVÊBibleÊverses…ÊÊScriptureÊtakenÊfromÊtheÊHolyÊBible,ÊNEWÊINTER-NATIONALÊVERSION®,ÊNIV®ÊCopyrightÊ©Ê1973,Ê1978,Ê1984,Ê2011ÊbyÊBiblica,ÊInc.®ÊUsedÊbyÊÊpermission.ÊAllÊrightsÊreservedÊworldwide.

1—ÊESVÊStudyÊBible,ÊMa hewÊ5:1,ÊCrossway,ÊaÊpublishingÊministryÊofÊGoodÊNewsÊPublishers.,ÊWheaton,ÊIllinois

2—ÊLifeÊApplica onÊStudyÊBible,ÊMa hewÊ5:11-12,ÊTyndale House Publishers,ÊCarolÊStream,ÊIllinoisÊ

3—ÊBelieversÊBibleÊCommentaryÊMa hewÊ5:17-18,ÊThomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville,ÊTennessee

4—ÊSto ,ÊJohnÊR.ÊW.ÊThe Message of the Sermon on the Mount,ÊIVP,ÊWestmont,ÊIllinois,Ê1978,Êp.Ê102.Ê

5—ÊWarrenÊWiersbeÊBible Exposi on Commentary (BE Series) - New Testament, Volume 2. 6—ÊCalvin,ÊJohn,ÊCalvin’s Commentary on the Bible

www.studylight.or.commentaries/cal/ma hew-6.html.Ê

7—ÊSto ,ÊJohnÊR.ÊW.ÊThe Message of the Sermon on the Mount,ÊIVP,ÊWestmont,ÊIllinois,Ê1978,Êp.Ê154.Ê

8—ÊTheÊImperials,ÊLegacy,ÊWordÊDistribu onÊ2004Ê

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TheÊfollowingÊWOWÊBibleÊStudiesÊwri enÊbyÊSueÊLeBou llierÊareÊ availableÊthroughÊtheÊCalvaryÊChapelÊOntarioÊbookstore,ÊandÊthroughÊ ourÊonlineÊstoreÊatÊwww.ccontario.com.

ÊÊOldÊTestament:

·ÊÊGenesis—DivineÊDesign,ÊFromÊEdenÊtoÊEgypt

·ÊÊExodus—DivineÊDeliverance,ÊFromÊEgyptÊtoÊSinai

·ÊÊNumbers—TheÊWildernessÊWay,ÊFromÊSinaiÊtoÊtheÊJordan

·ÊÊJoshuaÊ—TheÊPathÊofÊPromise,ÊFromÊtheÊJordanÊintoÊCanaan

·ÊÊJudgesÊ—ÊAÊTimeÊofÊTurning

·ÊÊRuth—WalkingÊwithÊMyÊRedeemer

·ÊÊJonah—TheÊCallÊofÊCompassion

ÊÊNewÊTestament:

·ÊÊTheÊWayÊofÊJesus—TheÊSermonÊonÊtheÊMountÊfromÊMa hew

·ÊÊSimplyÊJesus—TheÊ“IÊAMs”ÊofÊChristÊinÊtheÊGospelÊofÊJohn

·ÊÊActs—WalkingÊinÊtheÊSpirit,ÊTheÊFirstÊDaysÊofÊtheÊLastÊDaysÊ

·ÊÊGala ans—FindingÊGraceÊinÊaÊDemandingÊWorld

·ÊÊPhilippians—FindingÊJoyÊinÊaÊDisjointedÊWorld

·ÊÊColossians—WalkingÊinÊStrengthÊandÊPower

·ÊÊTitus—WhileÊWeÊWait

·ÊÊJames—RealÊFaithÊforÊDailyÊLife

·ÊÊ1Ê&Ê2ÊPeter—Hope,ÊHolinessÊandÊHumilityÊinÊaÊHos leÊWorld

·ÊÊ1,2,3ÊJohn—Light,ÊLoveÊandÊLogic,ÊLessonsÊfromÊtheÊApostleÊJohn

Women of the Word Bible Studies

THE WAY JESUS - Calvary Chapel Ontario

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Transcript of THE WAY JESUS - Calvary Chapel Ontario