August 25th, 2024 - Matthew 5:43-48 - Love Without Restrictions

August 25th, 2024 – Matthew 5:43-48 – Love Without Restrictions

Questions to think about

What is love? How can you tell that someone loves you?

“You have heard it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’” This isn’t a Biblical teaching, but one that was found in the Dead Sea scrolls. How do you think people came to believe that hating your enemy is endorsed by God (see Nahum 1:2)?

How would you define a “neighbor”? Is it easier to have a narrow view (and limit how many neighbors you have) or to have a broad view (and have many neighbors)?

How did Jesus define a “neighbor”? See Luke 10:25-37

What was our status with God before we became a Christian? (Romans 5:10)?

In what ways does God loved His enemies?

How were Elisabeth Eliot, Rachel Saint, and Steve Saint able to live with the people that killed their loved ones? How could they show them love and share the gospel with them?

Both Leviticus 19 and Matthew 5:43-48 include a call to be holy/perfect and love together. What do perfection/holiness and love have in common? How are they related to one another?

Where is our perfection found?

Related Scripture passages to meditate on

Leviticus 19:1-18

Exodus 23:1-9

Proverbs 17:13

Proverbs 25:21-22

Luke 10:30-37

John 3:16-17

John 15:12-17

Romans 5:1-11

Romans 13:8-10

1 John 4:7-21

August 18th, 2024 - Matthew 5:38-42

Questions to think about

What does the phrase “forgive and forget” mean? Do you think this is a Biblical concept?

How easy is it for you to forgive someone?

Is there anything that someone could do (to you) that would be impossible for you to forgive?

If someone hits you (or does something against you) what is your natural reaction?

Remember the story of Tom Wiles truck, where the neighbor’s basketball post fell and dented it? His neighbor didn’t think he was responsible and refused to pay for the damage. What do you think you would do in that situation? What do you think about Tom’s statement, “I’d rather be in a relationship than be right?”

Is there someone in your life that you need to forgive?

What are some ways that you can prepare yourself to “turn the other cheek” or “go the extra mile”?

Read Romans 5:8 – how does this verse help us forgive others and love those who want to harm us?

Related Scripture passages to meditate on

Exodus 21:22-25

Deuteronomy 32:34-38

Proverbs 24:29

Isaiah 50:6

Isaiah 53:1-9

Romans 5:6-11

Romans 12:1-21

1 Corinthians 13

1 Peter 3:8-22

August 11th, 2024 - Matthew 5:17-37 - The Law

Questions to think about

How would you define “The Law”? In secular terms? In Biblical terms?

Have you ever been in trouble with the Law?

Can you think of a law that you don’t like?

What is the balance between respecting and submitting to the government (Romans 13:1-7) and disobeying a law that you don’t think is Biblical (Acts 5:29)?

What is legalism? What are some examples of legalism in your life?

How can we follow a law externally, but break it internally? (Follow the letter of the law, but ignore the spirit of the law)

How does our righteousness surpass that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law (Matthew 5:20)?

Related Scripture passages to meditate on

Exodus 20:1-17

Psalm 119

Matthew 22:37-40

Acts 5:29

Romans 3:19-31

Romans 13

Romans 6:20-23

Galatians 2:15-21

Colossians 3:1-11