The Sermon on the Mount: Seek First The Kingdom
Community Guide
The Community Guide below is based on Sunday’s teaching for our current series: The Gospel of Matthew, "Apprenticing with Jesus." As your whole Community gathers (online or in-person), use the Community Guide below to give shape to your time together.
Communion
Begin your time by taking the Lord’s Supper together. To facilitate your time, you can ask a group member to come ready with a short prayer or scripture reading or read the passage we’ve provided below. After reading (aloud), spend a moment in silence before taking the elements:
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 26:26-30
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
Sermon Overview
The passage we just explored is a continuation from what Christian preached the week before. The “Therefore” in Matthew 6:25 points us back to verses 19-24. Jesus intended for his hearers to listen to what he said in light of: (1) serving only one master (v 24), (2) pursuing heavenly treasure (v 19-20), and (3) placing our eyes on “light” instead of “darkness (v 22-23). So, to put it another way, through allegiance to God alone, pursuing heavenly treasure alone, and remaining focused on “his kingdom and righteousness” (v 33; “light”) alone, we have no need to “be anxious” about things like what we will “eat” or “drink,” or “wear” (v 25). Our “heavenly Father” truly cares about us, is able to care for us, and has purpose in how he cares for us.
Discussion Questions
There are many worries (“cares”/“concerns”) in our world. However, we aren’t to be worried about all of them. Have a discussion as a group about the danger of worrying about things that are either out of your control or that God never asked you to concern yourself with. Don’t hurry past this discussion.
Todd gave us three ideas about God that must be fueled from God’s Word (think “light” and a “healthy” eye in Matthew 6:22) if we are to trust him and not worry about the wrong concerns. We must believe that God: (1) is able to care for us, (2) has purpose in how he cares for us, and (3) actually cares about/for us. Discuss as a group why those ideas are so important. From Matthew 6:25-34, would you add anything else to the mix?
Todd asked us some questions to guide us in determining which things we are to concern ourselves with: (1) Does my concern line up with King Jesus’ heart, and am I convinced that he is asking me to care about it? (2) Does my concern come from having my eyes upon the “light” (God’s Word, God’s people, etc.) or the “darkness” (culture, Instagram, favorite news outlet, etc.)? (3) If I were to pursue this concern, would the reward be heavenly or earthly?
Missionary Practice For The Week Ahead: BLESS
If you do at least one of these practices every day, you will not only become more like Jesus, but you will help others find Jesus too! In your time together as a community, ask the questions, “Who did you BLESS this week? This time of sharing will keep the Great Commission at the forefront of who we are called to be as followers of Jesus. It will also provide the opportunity to celebrate and encourage one another on the journey.
ᐅ B.L.E.S.S.
(B)egin with Prayer:
Pray for the people in your life and the places that you’re in.
People: Who do you live, work and play with that is far from God? Pray that God would create spiritual curiosity in them, and then spend time with them.
Places:
Where does pain exist here? Pray for healing.
Who makes the decisions here? Pray for integrity.
Who throws parties here? Pray for community.
Where are the pennies spent here? Pray for provision.
(L)isten:
Listen to and discover the needs of others and the places where God is at work.
Before you can help others find Jesus, you need to listen to them first - their hopes, pains, challenges, and dreams. In your interactions with others today, take the posture of a learner. Lay down assumptions and practice being present in conversations.
(E)at:
Share meals, drink coffee, and spend time with people in your life that don’t yet know Jesus.
Who can you eat with (or have coffee with) that is far from God? A co-worker over lunch? A neighbor during the day? A friend or family member over the weekend?
Is there a place that you regularly visit (coffee shop, gym, etc.)? Ask God to grant you opportunities to eat with people.
(S)erve:
Who can you serve this week? Who do you know that has a practical need? Ask them how you can help.
Before jumping into serving, have you taken the time to pray for, listen to and eat with these people? Doing these things first helps you discover the way that you really need to serve them.
(S)tory:
Share the story of Jesus and what He is doing in your life with others.
Start by sharing how God has blessed you and made a difference in your life.
Share your story in such a way that demonstrates that Jesus is also at work in their life.
Don’t feel like you have to tell your life story at once. Think “bite-size” stories.
Prayer
Spend a few minutes praying for God’s grace over each other, that we might become a people who make Jesus our Lord, and that there might be a sweeping renewal of the Holy Spirit in our city. Ask that God would stir up within us a desire to be with him in prayer and to serve him, one another, and our neighbor in love.