Study Guide: Matthew 7:13-23

Purpose

This guide is intended for use in small groups, individual study, or even to follow along with the sermon, helping us to delve into Matthew 7:13-23, understand Jesus’ words on the narrow and broad paths, and reflect deeply on the application for our lives.

Opening Discussion

1. Contextual Introduction

   Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:13-23 is a challenging and crucial reminder of the paths we can take in life. This is one of the more difficult teachings of the Bible, as it calls us to choose between two paths: the narrow way of following Christ and the broad way of following the world.

   What emotions or thoughts does this teaching stir in you?

Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:13-23

1. Read Matthew 7:13-23 out loud, either individually or as a group.
2. Briefly summarize what stands out most from the reading. How does Jesus contrast the narrow and wide paths?

Sermon Highlights and Reflections

1. The Narrow and Broad Paths

   “There is a narrow path, a very specific way in which you are to live your life in following him, living a life of surrender to him. And that specific way of living brings life.”

   Jesus presents two paths: one is narrow, challenging, and life-giving; the other is wide, appealing, and leads to destruction.

   Discussion Question: What makes the narrow path more challenging than the wide path? Why might people be drawn to the broad path?

2. Influencers and False Prophets

   “There are voices that lead you down these two paths, Jesus calls them prophets. We might call them influencers today.”

   Jesus warns of false prophets who lead people astray by telling them what they want to hear. These voices can often appeal to personal desires rather than biblical truth.

   Discussion Question: Who are some “voices” in today’s culture that encourage people toward a self-centered lifestyle? How can we discern between God’s truth and the “easy” messages these voices share?

3. Assessing Fruits

   “You will recognize them by their fruit.”

   A key way to identify false prophets is by looking at their “fruit,” the evidence of their teachings and lives. Good trees bear good fruit; bad trees bear bad fruit.

   Application Question: How can we look for “good fruit” in our own lives as evidence of walking the narrow path?

4. Modern False Prophets

   Reflect on the historical account of German Christians in WWII, led astray by propaganda and the twisting of Martin Luther’s words, and the story of Jonny Cash’s return to faith.

   Discussion Point: What are modern examples of cultural messages or influencers that tempt us to follow the wide path? How might we remain vigilant against these false prophets?

5. Surrender and Belonging

   “Jesus wants you to be more than a lone individual and more than a consumer; he wants you to belong.”

   The narrow path includes a life of surrender and community. It’s not about consuming faith but about deep commitment to Christ and His people.

   Reflection Question: How does your relationship with church look? Are there ways you could shift from being a “consumer” to a fully committed member of the body of Christ?

Application and Prayer

1. Reflection and Self-Examination

   Are there any ways you might be walking on the broad path without realizing it? Reflect on areas in life where you may have followed cultural voices over Christ’s call to live for Him.

2. Practical Steps Forward

   Identify one area in your life where you can more closely align with the narrow path. It might involve a change in daily habits, attitudes, or relationships.

3. Prayer Prompts
   • Thank Jesus for being our guide and for His words that lead to life.
   • Pray for discernment to recognize and reject the voices that call you down the wide path.
   • Ask for courage and strength to live for Christ, no matter how challenging the path may be.

Praying with an Abundance Mindset

Persistent Presumptuous Prayer Produces People’s Provisions

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
— Matthew 7:7-11

Summary

These slides discuss the importance of asking, seeking, and knocking in prayer, emphasizing that these actions switch us into a spiritual mode, express our faith, and help us deal with doubts.

Importance of Asking, Seeking, and Knocking

• Asking, seeking, and knocking switch us out of “flesh/ego” mode into “spiritual” mode.
• These actions are an expression of our faith.
• They bring our doubts to the surface so we can deal with them.

We will only be motivated to persistently ask, knock, and seek if we have the right prayer paradigm. The key to the right prayer paradigm is to understand that God loves us — like a father — and is willing and able to help us and provide for us.

The Right Prayer Paradigm

• God, like a parent, gives good gifts to those who ask.
• Our thinking influences our behavior and, therefore, our results.
• Trusting God as our provider leads to peace and abundance, while relying on ourselves leads to fear and scarcity.

Changing Our Prayer Paradigm

In terms of our prayer paradigm, we all sit somewhere on the spectrum between trusting ourselves and trusting God. The challenge is to migrate our trust away from ourselves and towards the Lord as our provider. The three main ways we can accomplish this are to:

1. Repent (Change our mind)
2. Steep ourselves in the Word
3. Allow the testimony of others to build our faith

Questions/Activation

1. What (if anything) has stuck in your mind/heart from the preach on Sunday? Discuss.
2. Read the passage (above) from Matthew 7:7-11 out loud.
3. Question: How well does your prayer paradigm sit with this passage? What challenges your prayer paradigm from the passage? What affirms your prayer paradigm from this passage?
4. What scriptures do you regularly use to inspire your prayer life?
5. What testimonies have you got of God’s miraculous provision (money, wisdom, breakthroughs, etc.)?

Study Guide for Sermon on Matthew 7:1-5: “Stop Worrying About Other People’s Stuff”

Opening Prayer

Begin with a prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide you as you study and reflect on Jesus’ teachings. Ask for open hearts and minds, and for God to reveal areas in each person’s life where change may be needed.

Scripture Passage: Matthew 7:1-5

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Sermon Overview

The focus of this sermon is on the call to refrain from judgment, examining our own lives rather than focusing on others’ shortcomings. The message emphasizes Jesus’ compassion and love and the importance of seeing others through His eyes. It challenges us to address the “plank” in our own eye before attempting to “help” others with their flaws, reminding us that judging others can obstruct God’s work in our lives and the church.

Key Points

• Jesus’ Warning Against Judgment
  • Judging others brings judgment on ourselves. The same measure we use to judge others will be used for us.
• Self-Examination Over Criticism
  • Jesus uses a vivid image of a “plank” in our own eye to illustrate our blind spots.
• Compassion and Humility in Relationships
  • We are called to love, just as Jesus did with those society shunned.
• Letting Go of Judgment for Revival
  • When the church becomes a safe place without judgment, it becomes a beacon for people searching for hope.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text

• Why do you think Jesus places such a strong warning on judging others in this passage?

Applying Self-Reflection

• Reflect on the image of the “plank” in your eye.

Application Questions

• Are there areas in your life where you find it difficult not to judge others?

Prayer Prompts

• Confession and Repentance
  • Ask God to forgive you for any judgments.

Study Guide: Reversing The Cycle of Fear (Matthew 6:25-34)

Bible Passage:

Matthew 6:25-34 – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?… But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Main Points from the Sermon:

1. Worry Achieves Nothing:

• 97% of our worries never come to pass, which makes worry unproductive and unnecessary.
• “Who by worrying can add a single hour to their life?” (v.27).
• Worry drains our energy, robs our joy, and weighs us down.

2. Worry Comes from Trying to Control:

• Worry often comes from our desire to be in control, to be “like God,” trying to know and do everything.
• We try to be omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent (all present, all knowing, all powerful), but these are attributes only God holds.
• Technology, though useful, often feeds this illusion of control, adding more worries.

3. Worry Is Rooted in Fear:

• The enemy’s tactic is to lie and deceive us into believing we need to take control.
• Fear builds defense mechanisms and negative thinking patterns that control us and keep us from fully trusting God.

4. Surrender to God and Seek His Kingdom:

• Jesus’ command to not worry is linked to the call to serve God and trust Him fully.
• Birds and flowers trust their Creator and live within their limits—they don’t strive to be more than what they are.
• When we trust God to provide for our needs, we can release control and experience peace.

Discussion Points:

1. Worry as a Waste of Time:

How does worrying affect your daily life, energy, and relationships?

Reflect on Jesus’ question: “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (v.27). What does this tell us about the nature of worry?

2. Control and Fear:

In what ways do you try to take control in your life? How does this relate to fear?

How does technology contribute to our sense of control or lack of control?

3. Surrender to God:

What does it look like to truly trust God with your worries and needs?

How can we seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness (v.33) in practical ways?

4. Living as a New Creation:

How does understanding your identity in Christ help you overcome worry?

Reflect on the truth that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). How does this truth challenge your mindset?

Application Questions:

1. Identifying Worries:

Take a moment to think about one thing you are currently worried about. How can you surrender that worry to God?

2. Trusting God in Specific Areas:

Where in your life do you feel the need to control? How can you begin to let go of control and trust God’s provision?

3. Practical Steps:

Jesus tells us to focus on today’s problems, not tomorrow’s worries (v.34). What is one practical step you can take this week to trust God in the present moment?

4. Breaking the Cycle of Fear:

Fear builds negative patterns and defenses in our lives. What habits or defenses do you need to dismantle to live in the peace and freedom God offers?

Prayer Prompts:

• Thanksgiving: Thank God for His provision and for being in control, even when life feels overwhelming.
• Surrender: Ask God to help you surrender control of the areas you are holding onto in fear.
• Trust: Pray for a deeper trust in God’s goodness and provision, especially in areas where you feel anxious or uncertain.
• Freedom from Fear: Ask God to break any patterns of fear or worry in your life and replace them with His peace, love, and sound mind.

Study Guide for Sermon on the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:11-13)

Introduction and Reminder:

This guide is designed for use in group discussions or individual reflection. Please note, this session does not address clinical anxiety. If you are struggling with anxiety that feels overwhelming, we encourage you to seek professional help, such as a doctor or counselor.

Today, we are continuing our study of the Lord’s Prayer, focusing on the final verses found in Matthew 6:11-13. As a reminder, this prayer is part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ “manifesto” for kingdom living, and serves as a daily reminder of the things God wants us to remember and embody.

Bible Passage: Matthew 6:11-13 (NIV)

• Give us today our daily bread.
• And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
• And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Main Points:

1. “Give us today our daily bread” (v. 11)

Jesus encourages us to trust God for our immediate needs. This includes physical provision, emotional well-being, and spiritual sustenance.

In a world where technology gives us the illusion of control, it’s easy to forget that we are not God. The prayer is a call to humility, reminding us that God provides, and we are to trust Him daily, not obsess over future needs.

There’s a balance between being responsible with what we have and trusting God for what we need.

Discussion Questions:

• What does “daily bread” mean in your life? What are the needs you are trusting God to provide today?
• How can technology sometimes deceive us into feeling like we are in control, instead of relying on God?
• How does trusting God for daily provision change the way we handle anxiety about the future?

2. “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (v. 12)

Forgiveness is challenging, especially when people hurt or betray us deeply. Jesus calls us to forgive as we have been forgiven, which is an act of love, not merely a way to feel better about ourselves.

There are two unhealthy ways to deal with forgiveness:

• Minimizing and avoiding the pain by “boxing” it away, leading to unresolved trauma.
• Seeking personal vindication or justice first, which can lead to retribution, not true forgiveness.

Jesus’ model is forgiveness that seeks both justice and love, allowing for both healing and change.

Discussion Questions:

• Why is forgiveness often difficult, especially when serious wrongs are committed against us?
• What’s the difference between forgiving to feel better and forgiving out of love?
• How can we confront wrongdoing and pursue justice without falling into bitterness or retaliation?

3. “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (v. 13)

This part of the prayer acknowledges our need for protection. It’s a reminder that we are vulnerable to temptation and evil, and we need God’s help to resist.

This line calls us to depend on God not only for our physical and emotional needs but also for spiritual guidance and protection.

Discussion Questions:

• What kinds of temptations or struggles do you face regularly? How can you practically rely on God for strength in those areas?
• How does acknowledging our vulnerability to temptation foster humility and dependence on God?
• What might it look like to pray for protection from spiritual harm in your everyday life?

Application:

1. Daily Dependence on God:

Reflect on areas in your life where you are trying to be self-sufficient. How can you surrender those areas to God and trust Him to provide?

2. Forgiveness as Freedom:

Think of a situation where you are struggling to forgive someone. Ask God to help you let go of any desire for retribution and instead pursue forgiveness in love, while seeking justice in a way that honors God.

3. Avoiding Temptation:

Identify one area of temptation or spiritual struggle in your life. What practical steps can you take to avoid that temptation and rely on God’s help to overcome it?

Prayer Prompts:

• Thanksgiving: Thank God for providing your daily needs, for forgiveness, and for His protection.
• Forgiveness: Ask God to help you forgive those who have wronged you, even in difficult situations.
• Protection: Pray for guidance and strength to resist temptation and ask God for protection from the evil one.