A New Start, Part 2

Matthew 7:7-11

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A New Start, Part 2 -- Lonnie Bell
Sermon Series:  The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 7:7-11
15 October 2017

Deep Sheet Questions:  Sermon Study Questions
1.  Although Jesus’ words of promise here are directed to the Christian, what should this teaching communicate to the non-Christian? (Romans 10:13)
2.  In what ways have you seen prayer as a “duty” or a “key”?
3.  How does Jesus tie together prayer and God’s fatherhood in the Sermon on the Mount
What are the implications for how we should conceive of prayer? (Matthew 6:5-13)
4.  What is the comparison that Jesus makes at the end of this passage, and what does he want to highlight about our heavenly Father? (Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 11:13; Ephesians 5:1)
5. What does it mean to say that God gives out of what he has already given? (Romans 8:32; Titus 3:6; 2 Peter 1:3; Ephesians 1:3)
6.  What are some implications of this passage for parenting?

Adoring Abba, Part 2

Matthew 6:9c-10

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Adoring Abba, Part 2 -- Lonnie Bell
Sermon Series: The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 6:9c-10
16 July 2017

Deep Sheet: Sermon Study Questions
1.  In what ways have you been most challenged as we’ve discussed the topic of prayer? How has your own self-examination revealed pretentious, mindless, fatherless, Christ-less, self-centered, or infrequent prayers?
2.  Why does the petition “your kingdom come” point to both evangelism and discipleship? (Mark 1:15; Colossians 1:13-14; Matthew 5:3-12; Romans 14:17)
3.  When it comes to the salvation of others, do you really think your prayers matter? To what extent do you think God wants to accomplish his purposes through your prayers?
4.  If the kingdom of God is “a matter…of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17), what does it look like to grow as a kingdom citizen?
5.  Why does praying “your kingdom come” ultimately mean praying for Christ’s return? How might praying “Come, Lord Jesus!” change the way you live the Christian life? (Daniel 2:44; Revelation 22:20)
6.  How can we easily become self-centered in praying “your will be done”? How does the structure of the Lord’s Prayer help us to understand the meaning of this petition?
7.  How does Jesus demonstrate in his own life what it means to pray “your will be done”? (Matthew 26:39; John 4:34)  

Hello, World!

Addressing Abba

Matthew 6:9b

(NOTE:  Allow 30-90 seconds after clicking the START-arrow or Download button for recording to begin.)

Addressing Abba -- Lonnie Bell
Sermon Series: The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 6:9b
2 July 2017

Deep Sheet: Sermon Study Questions
1.   How do we already see God’s fatherliness and heavenliness in the verses leading up to The Lord’s Prayer? (Matthew 6:6, 8)
2.   How does this address – “Our Father in heaven” – instruct us not to pray in isolation? What does it look like to interlace our prayers with intercession?
3.   What does it mean that Jesus Christ is the only unique Son? What is the problem with appropriating God as Father without being mindful of the Son? (John 1:14; 3:35; Luke 1:35; Matthew 11:27)
4.   Why do we say that God is not the Father of every person? What are some symptoms that a Christian has lost sight of the right and privilege of knowing and addressing God as Father? (John 1:12; Galatians 4:5-6)
5.   How does this address call us to readiness and reverence in prayer? What are some signs that we may be dethroning God as we approach him in prayer? (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
6.   What does this address communicate about God’s willingness and ability to meet our needs? (Philippians 4:19; Ephesians 1:3; John 10:29; 1 Peter 5:7)
7.   How does this address also function as a call to holiness? (Matthew 5:48)

Loving Like Father

Matthew 5:43-48

(NOTE: Allow 30-60 seconds after clicking the START-arrow for recording to begin.)

Loving Like Father -- Lonnie Bell
Sermon Series: The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5:43-48
28 May 2017

Deep Sheet: Sermon Study Questions
1.  Which of the six examples/illustrations that Jesus gives in vv. 21-48 have most impacted you? In what ways is this final passage (vv. 43-48) climactic?
2.  How did the misinterpretations of the scribes and Pharisees give them a license to hate? Read Romans 1:28-32 and 3:9-20 and discuss the propensity of fallen humanity to hate.
3.  Are there instances in your life where you’ve found it particularly challenging to “love your enemies” (v. 44)? Consider praying for current “enemies” during group prayer time.
4.  Why does praying for our enemies grow our love for them?
5.  What is the purpose that Jesus gives for loving our enemies? In what ways do we see God loving his enemies?
6.  What is the contrast that Jesus makes between the earthly and the heavenly as it pertains to love?
7.  What does it practically look like to pursue perfection (v. 48), and how does this pursuit protect us from both sloth and pride?