DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

For small gender-specific groups (“Huddles”) or for individual study. ON THE MOUNT DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Table of Contents

About this Resource ...... Week 1: ...... Introduction Week 2: ...... The Week 3: ...... Salt and Light Week 4: ...... Christ Came to Fulfill the Law Week 5: ...... Anger Week 6: ...... Lust Week 7: ...... Divorce Week 8: ...... Oaths Week 9: ...... Retaliation Week 10: ...... Love Your Enemies Week 11: ...... Giving to the Needy Week 12: ...... The Lord’s Prayer Week 13: ...... Fasting Week 14: ...... Lay Up Treasures in Heaven & Do Not Be Anxious Week 15: ...... Judging Others Week 16: ...... Ask, and It Will be Given Week 17: ...... The Week 18: ...... A Tree and It’s Fruit Week 19: ...... I Never Knew You Week 20: ...... Build Your House on the Rock Conclusion: ...... DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

About This Resource

Our hope is that this serves as supplemental content alongside our Sermon on the Mount sermon series. It is intended to help further and deepen our understanding of the scriptures while challenging us towards application for our everyday lives.

HOW TO USE THIS RESOURCE This resource is designed to be used either within the context of small gender-specific groups (we call them “Huddles”) or for individual study. Once a week after listening to the corresponding sermon, refer to this devotional guide for additional study and application. We recommend allowing yourself at least 30 minutes to go through each section.

EACH SECTION WILL INCLUDE • The Scripture Passage • A Big Idea • A Short Summary • 2 Questions • A Prayer Point

Our prayer is that this devotional guide will not only deepen your understanding of ’ commands, but will also ignite a passion within you to live a virtuous life fully devoted to Christ. We are excited to embark on this new journey with you!

Providence Church WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION

MATTHEW 5:1

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

BIG IDEA Jesus sees His people and has something important to say to them so His disciples come to listen.

SUMMARY Jesus’ love for His people is evident in the first phrase of the first verse of this very important sermon. He sees the crowds. Literally, yes. But as this sermon unfolds, we will begin to understand just how deeply Jesus saw these people and just how deeply He sees us today. Let us be like the disciples who are eager to listen and learn from Him! QUESTIONS • When have you felt seen by God? • Reflecting on how God sees you deeply and personally, what is one way you can pursue Him this week?

PRAYER Pray that the time you spend in these scriptures the next 19 weeks will result in a more intimate relationship with Jesus and a commitment to His ways above all else. 1 WEEK 2: THE BEATITUDES

MATTHEW 5:2–12

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

BIG IDEA The blessed are not materially rich but eternally rich.

SUMMARY When we think of someone who is “#blessed,” we most likely think of people who are wealthy, successful, or get all the breaks in life. We post “#blessed” when circumstances go our way. Yet, Jesus redefines who is truly blessed. He says it is not those who are rich, comfortable, famous, powerful, or live a life of ease. Instead, He says the blessed ones are 2

those who are poor in spirit, meek, merciful, or persecuted. How can that be? Because followers of Jesus are living in an eternal Kingdom, not living by earthly standards. The people of God live for the reward of the Kingdom and long for the day when the Kingdom is fully realized.

QUESTIONS • When you feel “#blessed,” what is usually happening in your life? • How can you pursue living a truly blessed life (poor in spirit, meek, merciful, etc.) vs. a materially blessed life (new car, awesome job, trendy clothes, etc.)?

PRAYER Pray for your pursuit of living a truly blessed life. If in a Huddle, pray this for one another. 3 WEEK 3: SALT & LIGHT

MATTHEW 5:13–16

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the . A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

BIG IDEA We are to live set apart with a purpose! We are to look different than the world while bringing the gospel—through word and deed—to those around us.

SUMMARY Just like the presence of salt on meat prevents the meat from decaying, the presence of a morally strong disciple (a “salty” disciple) helps prevent the moral decay of the world. Similarly, just as a light on a lamp stand illuminates a room, a disciple’s pursuit of practical acts of kindness and neighborly love illuminates the love of Christ to others. Pursuing a virtuous life of “living as salt and light” brings the gospel to those all around us. 4

QUESTIONS • Where do you tend to look more like the world rather than being salt and light? • Where is an area that God has recently convicted you to be salt and light? What is a practical act of love and kindness you can pursue in that area?

PRAYER Pray that the Holy Spirit would empower you to be salt and light. 5 WEEK 4: CHRIST CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW MATTHEW 5:17–20

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

BIG IDEA Jesus is the perfect example and perfect sacrifice to fulfill the Old Testament. Now we, through His sacrifice and power, are called to live out God’s desired set apart lifestyle.

SUMMARY Jesus is clarifying His relationship with God’s Old Testament, as to challenge the religious leaders’ self-righteousness, but not subvert the high calling. Jesus was the perfect example of what God desired Israel to model. Jesus was also the perfect sacrifice to fulfill the sacrificial system by bringing atonement and cleansing to His people. But the heart of the Kingdom of God has remained the same throughout history, and if we follow Jesus, we will live a set apart, righteous lifestyle. 6

QUESTIONS • Are you more tempted to try to fulfill the law on your own or lower the standard of the law? Why do you think that is? • How are you personally being called to live out God’s desired set apart lifestyle?

PRAYER Pray in thanksgiving for the fulfillment King Jesus has accomplished! 7 WEEK 5: ANGER

MATTHEW 5:21–26

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”

BIG IDEA Our heart posture matters: Good actions with an angry heart are void. Instead, our words and deeds should align with our inner thoughts as we are being transformed into Christ’s image.

SUMMARY It is easy for us to point blame and fault at people’s external actions, but actions usually begin with a misaligned thought...a heart posture that isn’t pure. In the Old Testament, the Pharisees believed their actions and good deeds put them in right standing with Christ. In reality, the posture of their hearts is what mattered. When we are aligned with Jesus, we begin to look like Him. The kindness of our hearts overflows into the words of our speech. When our thoughts create bitterness and our anger attacks others, we are called to repent and make things right with our 8

church family, even before bending our knee to worship our King. We are made in Christ’s image and therefore called to be unified with the body of Christ. Similar to the way reconciliation to God is important for the salvation of our souls, reconciliation with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ is a call for every Christ follower.

QUESTIONS • What elicits anger in your life most often? • Where do you need to pursue reconciliation in your own life? (ie. with a family member, friend, coworker, etc.)

PRAYER Pray for your conversations of reconciliation to be fruitful. If you are in a Huddle, pray this for one another. 9 WEEK 6: LUST

MATTHEW 5:27–30

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

BIG IDEA Jesus continues to reveal God’s holiness as He explains that adultery starts in the heart, and it is crucial to go great lengths to fight this sin.

SUMMARY Adultery is a serious sin for both men and women as it breaks the marriage covenant and violates another person. Jesus rightly interprets the law “Thou shall not commit adultery” in this passage by actually ‘upping the ante’ to explain that breaking this law actually starts in the heart. As one lusts in his or her heart, he or she commits adultery in the eyes of God. God’s standard of holiness goes beyond the physical to the mental. He also explains the depths of seriousness to which this sin needs to be taken by painting a picture of the great lengths one should go to flee from sin. While we may not literally cut our hands off, we must take intentional steps away from what causes us to stumble. 10

QUESTIONS • In what ways does lust tend to creep into your heart? • What is an intentional step you can take to fight this sin?

PRAYER Take some time to be honest and vulnerable by confessing to God the specific ways you have been tempted to lust. 11 WEEK 7: DIVORCE

MATTHEW 5:31–32

31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

BIG IDEA Divorce is not God’s plan! Jesus holds a counter cultural high view of marriage by stressing the detriment of divorce.

SUMMARY During Jesus’ time, the culture around Him said all that was needed for divorce to be allowable by God was for the man to sign the recognized documentation of their day. However, Jesus reveals that sexual immorality is the only reason God sanctioned divorce, and if a man were to divorce his wife without that reasoning, he is still making her out to be an adulterous woman. As a disciple of Jesus, we must make sure that our actions are not like the first century Jewish man who divorced his wife based on preferences, that is abuse of the vulnerable. Instead, Jesus followers are called to pursue reconciliation, particularly in the defense of 12

the vulnerable. QUESTIONS (MARRIED) • In your marriage, how are you tempted to act out of preference rather than caring for your partner? • What is a practical way you can love your spouse this week?

PRAYER Pray for your spouse.

QUESTIONS (SINGLE/DATING/ENGAGED) • What is your view of marriage? How does that agree or disagree with Jesus’? • What is a way you can submit your marriage preferences to God even before you’re married?

PRAYER Pray that God uses you in your current season. 13 WEEK 8: OATHS

MATTHEW 5:33–37

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

BIG IDEA Integrity is more important than promises.

SUMMARY The point of this passage is that we are to be people who follow through on our promises because we are God’s people. There are few things that we can guarantee in life (you cannot turn your own hair white or black). Therefore, we should not make vows that are dependent on things outside of ourselves, because if we fail to do so, we are disgracing what we make our vows upon. We should follow through with our “yes I will” or “no I won’t” and build up our integrity as individuals whenever we promise anything. 14

QUESTIONS • What is a recent promise you have failed to keep? • How can you pursue fulfilling that promise? If that is no longer an option, how would you pursue that promise differently in the future?

PRAYER Ask Christ to forgive you for the times you have been unable to keep your promises and praise God for being the ultimate promise keeper. 15 WEEK 9: RETALIATION

MATTHEW 5:38–42

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

BIG IDEA Evidence of humility: Living out of understanding that all we have belongs to God, and trusting Him to judge and avenge when we are wronged.

SUMMARY God never promised that life would be easy or trouble-free. Others will treat us unfairly at times. Cultural rules or laws will sometimes be unfairly applied or even evil. So what is the believer to do? Jesus is not only our great High Priest, He is the ultimate model of humility. Scripture even tells us Christ is our very life (Colossians 3:4)! In this passage, Jesus is not asking us to do more than He did already. This is our King: • He served others instead of demanding to be served (Matthew 20:28). • He defended others, not Himself (Mark 14:6, John 8:11, Isaiah 53:7, Acts 8:32). • He gave all for us (John 13:1, Luke 23:34). • He allowed Himself to be beaten and even put to death for our sakes (Philippians 2:1–8). 16

Therefore, by living out Jesus’ life, He enables us to not seek vengeance on those who have wronged us, but instead trust Him and walk in peace.

QUESTIONS • What arouses your anger more—an injustice against you personally, or an injustice against another? What are past or current examples of this in your life? • What has God asked of you that you are withholding from Him? (ie. time, money, effort, status or reputation, etc.)

PRAYER Pray that Hebrews 12:1–2 would be true of your heart. 17 WEEK 10: LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

MATTHEW 5:43–48

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

BIG IDEA We, as God’s children, should love the way our Father loves.

SUMMARY Just like children naturally look like their parents, we too should look like our Heavenly Father. Just like children reflect the habits and mannerisms of their parents, we too should reflect what our Father is like. What is our Father like? He loves His enemies. He makes the sun rise on all and He showers everyone with rain. But He doesn’t stop there. The fact that Jesus was on Earth giving this amazing sermon reminds us that Jesus was sent. Sent by our Father to die on a cross so that His enemies could be reconciled to Him. His enemies being us (Romans 5:10). God made the light of His gospel shine on our hearts and showered us with the blood of His Son while we were His enemies. That is the love of our Father. That is what He is like. We, His children, should love like that. 18

QUESTIONS • How would your enemies describe your attitude towards them? • What is one way you can love or lay down your life for your enemies?

PRAYER Pray the Spirit would make this truth sink deep down into your heart so that you can love your enemies the way God loves you. 19 WEEK 11: GIVING TO THE NEEDY

MATTHEW 6:1–4

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

BIG IDEA Do righteous acts for the Lord, not for the praise of men.

SUMMARY If you act righteously solely to gain praise from others, you will not receive a reward from God but merely from men. Do not give to the needy just so that others will see your deeds and honor you. Rather, give to the needy when no one is watching and the Lord will reward you for it. 20

QUESTIONS • Where do you most often seek man’s praise when serving or giving? • What is one way this week you can “give to the needy”?

PRAYER Confess to God where you are tempted to seek man’s praise while giving. 21 WEEK 12: THE LORD’S PRAYER

MATTHEW 6:5–15

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 22 BIG IDEA Your prayers can only be for one audience: they can be for others or they can be for God’s glory.

SUMMARY Because we long for our prayers to be for one audience—God—Jesus gives us an example of how to pray in this passage. Our prayers should include: • Praise God • Ask for His kingdom to come soon. • Remember that God’s plan is better than our own! • Remember that God is the one who provides us with what we need. • God provides us our greatest need of forgiveness. • Pray to be more like God. • Ask God to strengthen you against temptation and our enemy! All of this is because God desires for His people to reflect who He is.

QUESTIONS • What stops you from praying most often? How do you think your life would look different as a result of praying more? • This week, identify three days where you will wake up and begin your day with the Lord’s Prayer—ask for God to remind you of how He is moving and how He wants you to move.

PRAYER Pick one to two of the prayer points listed above to pray. Then, end by praying the Lord’s Prayer. 23 WEEK 13: FASTING

MATTHEW 6:1–4

16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

BIG IDEA Jesus is not teaching whether or not we should fast or not. He is assuming we will fast and is teaching us how to fast and especially how not to fast.

SUMMARY Jesus is calling us to a radically God-oriented fasting! So for the sake of your own soul, in response to Jesus, and for the advancement of the kingdom of God’s great saving purpose to glorify his name, commit to fasting. Fix your hair and wash your face in an effort to go unseen by man in your fasting. If someone finds out you are fasting, you have not sinned and your fasting efforts are not diminished. Being seen fasting and fasting to be seen are not the same thing. “Being seen fasting is a mere external event. Fasting TO BE SEEN is a self-exalting motive of the heart.” –John Piper Instead, let the Father who sees in secret see you open your heart of yearning to Him. God sees us fasting. He sees that our heart is not seeking the ordinary pleasures of human admiration and applause. He sees 24

that we are acting not out of strength to impress others with our discipline, but out of weakness to express to God our need and our great longing that He would act. And when He sees this, He responds. The Father who sees in secret is brimming with rewards for your joy and for His glory. Specifically, God’s name being hallowed or revered, His Kingdom coming, that His will being done on earth the way it’s done in Heaven.

QUESTIONS • What is your experience with fasting? What usually hinders you from fasting in the way Jesus describes in this passage? • Rather than waiting till there is a time to fast for something, how can you implement the spiritual discipline of fasting in your life regularly?

PRAYER Pray God would convict your heart to fast and fast with pure intentions. 25 WEEK 14: LAY UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN & DO NOT BE ANXIOUS MATTHEW 6:19–34

119 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For 26

the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble BIG IDEA Trust in God and seek His Kingdom—the only thing that truly lasts!

SUMMARY There are two different paths we can choose: We can seek this world and its things or we can seek God and His Kingdom. While consuming the treasures of Earth feels like the safe and appealing option, it will turn you from God and will eat you alive. It’s a trap! At the same time, giving up control and seeking God puts us in the loving, care-taking hands of God. He takes care of everything in the universe, therefore, we are safe to trust Him with everything. Don’t be ANXIOUS! Run from the world and run to God.

QUESTIONS • What treasures of this world do you pursue that end up resulting in anxiety? • Practically, how can you pursue “laying up treasures in Heaven” vs. “laying up treasures on Earth”?

PRAYER Thank God for how He has specifically provided for you in the last couple weeks. 27 WEEK 15: JUDGING OTHERS

MATTHEW 7:1–6

1 Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

BIG IDEA Believers are called to be humble in their heart posture when confronting a brother or sister in Christ.

SUMMARY Living like Jesus is a life of humility. Humility says, “I have my own sin, which makes me no better than anyone around me. In order to help my brothers and sisters in Christ, I must first look at my own heart.” The Pharisees in the Old Testament considered themselves better than those around them. They would pick out others’ sin without seeing their own sinful thoughts and actions. Jesus calls us to assess our hearts, renounce our pride, and live a life of humility. We are also called to hold one another accountable in Christ. However, before we can lovingly call out sin, or “remove the speck” in our church family member’s life, we must first assess our heart motives and the sin in our own lives. We are called to be merciful, forgiving, and slow to judge, 28

but we must also be discerning of people’s characters and know when to continue to share the gospel or when their hearts are out to simply destroy the message of the gospel.

QUESTIONS • Share a time when you confronted a fellow believer and ended up lacking humility. • Is there a situation where you need to have godly confrontation?

PRAYER Pray for those future conversations or confrontations. 29 WEEK 16: ASK, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN :7–11

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

BIG IDEA God the Father loves his children by giving good gifts to them. He desires them to come to Him humbly and persistently, trusting his sovereignty.

SUMMARY Jesus reveals God’s loving nature here as He explains that we should come to Him in humility and conscious of our need. “Knock” suggests perseverance—a continual coming to God as we trust that He will provide what is best for us in His sovereign will. Further, Jesus compares God the Father to Earthly parents. In doing so, He explains how earthly parents love their kids, yet God loves His children even greater still. We can rejoice in this truth! 30

QUESTIONS • Think of a time when you doubted God’s goodness. How did that draw you away from prayer? • Name a specific area of life (relationship, job, tangible need, etc.) where you need to persistently “knock.”

PRAYER Spend some time in prayer for the area you named in the second question. 31 WEEK 17: GOLDEN RULE

MATTHEW 7:12–14

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

BIG IDEA The call of the Bible is to love others genuinely. But rather than love, most people choose destruction and few people walk in the way that leads to life with God.

SUMMARY Most of us would agree that loving our college roommates, spouses, or children is simple but not easy. The only way to love others perfectly is also the only way to enter eternal life and that is through Christ. Rather than pursue love (life) we have a tendency to pursue selfishness (destruction). Similarly, the way to eternal life, which makes up the entire Bible, is simple, but not easy, and in fact, not many people will actually enter into eternal life. So then, we must choose the hard path of love that leads to life. 32

QUESTIONS • When and where in life do you tend to be most selfish? • What is a situation in your life where you currently feel challenged to take the hard path of love?

PRAYER Pray that the spiritual fruit of love is evident in your life. 33 WEEK 18: A TREE AND ITS FRUIT

MATTHEW 7:15–20

15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

BIG IDEA People’s actions help provide credibility to the message they are preaching. Look at a person’s fruit. Genuine faith produces genuine fruit. Follow people who display genuine fruit.

SUMMARY There are always going to be people in the world who seem to speak profound truths and claim to have divine revelations of epiphanies that nobody else has ever heard. It may seem like these people have good intentions, but they are actually very destructive to those who heed their words! One of the ways that we can discern who is a harmless sheep and who is a harmful wolf is to look at their actions. How do they treat those that disagree with them? Do they fight for the spotlight and try to gain their way? Do people feel big around them or do they feel small? Do they actually teach the truths of Jesus and does their fruit match up with Jesus? 34

The call for us is to be on guard of those we are following and aware of whether or not their fruit matches the message of Jesus. QUESTIONS • Who or what are the false teachers you are tempted to listen to that do not lead you to love Jesus and His word? What effects have those caused in your life? • With your answer from the first question in mind, how can you defend yourself from listening to those false truths or teachers?

PRAYER Pray the Spirit would give you wisdom to discern and strength to overcome false teachers who do not bear genuine fruit. 35 WEEK 19: I NEVER KNEW YOU

MATTHEW 7:21–23

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

BIG IDEA Living to intimately know Jesus is more important than doing “great things” for Him.

SUMMARY In this passage, Jesus cuts to the core of what it means for Him to be our “Lord.” “Lord” is not merely a title for us to call Him—Jesus wants us to intimately know and experience Him as our Lord and Master. It is tempting and even culturally acceptable to do this in a superficial way like calling ourselves Christians and even doing religious “good” things (attending church, giving financially, volunteering weekly, etc.). However, if our lives are characterized by sin and disobedience to God, we need to face the harsh reality that Jesus is not truly Lord in those areas where we are disobeying Him. Our lives and actions should be evidence that Jesus is truly our Master and King. 36

QUESTIONS • How are you tempted to “do” things for God instead of simply getting to know Him? • How can you reverse this trend if it is weighted in the wrong direction?

PRAYER Pray that God would convict and reveal to you how you can know Him more intimately. If you are in a Huddle, pray this prayer for one another. 37 WEEK 20: BUILD YOUR HOUSE ON THE ROCK MATTHEW 7:24–27

24“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

BIG IDEA To hear Jesus’ words and do them is to be wise and be built on a solid foundation.

SUMMARY Jesus is finishing up His sermon and He ends with a sobering truth. To just know what His Kingdom should look like is not equivalent to being wise. That is just knowledge. In order to be truly wise, we must actually live and do the words of Jesus. These words teach us how to be citizens of His Kingdom and how to relate to the world around us. He tells us that if we do not actually do His words, we will not be able to withstand the things of our flesh, the world, or what Satan might throw at us. So, let us do His words and be planted on a firm foundation and found to be a wise citizen of His Kingdom. 38

QUESTIONS • Think back to the virtuous living described in Matthew 5–7. How are you not living the way Jesus has called you to live? • This week, how can you live virtuously the way Jesus has called you to live?

PRAYER Thank God for your citizenship in His Kingdom! Ask for the strength to follow the way of Jesus. SERMON ON THE MOUNT DISCUSSION GUIDE

Conclusion

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount shows us that He came to confront evil! He came to restore God’s rule and reign over the whole world by creating a new family of people who will follow Him, obey His teaching, and live under His rule.

Jesus explains to us what it looks like to follow Him and live in God’s Kingdom. This upside down Kingdom has no privileged members, but rather everyone is invited!

He has shown us how He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies through His life and through His teaching. He longs to transform the hearts of His people so that they can truly love God and love their neighbor.

Let us go now and look more and more like Jesus each day. Let us follow Him, obey His teachings, and live under His rule. Let us join King Jesus in the advancement of God’s Kingdom!

Providence Church

Attribution Direction and Leadership: Jourdan Fichter Layout and Design: Ravyn Daniel Content: Daniel Bidne, Ravyn Daniel, Jourdan Matthew Graphic on Front Page: Weston Knobloch Fichter, Hosanna Gray, Andrea Hornacek, Jared Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Kliewer, Jake Peterson, Andrew Rutten, A. Steve Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © Sarmiento, Kim Seipel 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Content Editing: Jourdan Fichter, Andrew Rutten Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All Grammatical Editing: Ravyn Daniel, Jourdan Fichter rights reserved.

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