The Gospel of Matthew: The Greatest Prophet, the Greater 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
This Sunday, Christian introduced the section of Matthew we will be studying this summer (ch.’s 11-13). The main theme of these chapters is the tension between people’s expectations for the Messiah and the reality of what Jesus did when he came as the Messiah. Even John the Baptist (the one who prepared the way for Jesus) felt this tension. He sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (11:3). Jesus responded by alluding to several passages from Isaiah to assure John that he was fulfilling God’s promises, even if it was in a way that John did not expect (vv. 4-6).
Then Jesus turned to the crowds, explaining to them the pivotal role John played in the biblical story as the last and greatest prophet of the Old Testament Period (vv. 7-14). But Jesus also said that the kingdom he was initiating was even greater than everything that had come before it, so much so that the person who might be considered “least” in the kingdom of heaven has a greater position than John (v. 11). But Jesus also called the people out for the way that most of them had found reasons to nitpick and dismiss both him and John (vv.16-19).
The key verse in this passage is v. 6 - “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” Jesus acknowledged that the gap between people’s expectations and the reality of his ministry left a lot of room for people to get tripped up, offended, and put off by him. But he assures us that there is great blessing for those who adjust their expectations and embrace the reality of how Jesus demonstrated the good rule of God. He is the Messiah. He is doing God’s work in fulfillment of God’s word, so let’s trust him and model our lives after his example.
Discussion Questions
At the beginning and end of his message, Christian gave us four questions to consider. Take time to discuss these together:
What are your expectations & desires for your life?
Do they line up with God’s promises for those who follow Jesus?
If not, are you willing to turn & trust God’s promises, even though they’re different from what you want?
If yes, are you willing to trust God to keep his promises in his way, and in his timing?
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.