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Devotional Guide DEVOTIONAL GUIDE For small gender-specific groups (“Huddles”) or for individual study. SERMON ON THE MOUNT DEVOTIONAL GUIDE Table of Contents About this Resource . Week 1: . Introduction Week 2: . The Beatitudes 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 Golden Rule Week 18: . A Tree and It’s Fruit Week 19: . I Never Knew You Week 20: . Build Your House on the Rock Conclusion: . SERMON ON THE MOUNT 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 Jesus’ 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 light of the world. 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.
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