Study Guide: Building on the Rock

Bible Passage: Matthew 7:24–29

Opening Reflection

Begin by reading Matthew 7:24–29 aloud. Reflect on Jesus’ vivid imagery of the wise and foolish builders.

Key Question to Discuss:

• What do you think it means to “build your house on the rock”?

Main Points from the Sermon

1. Storms Will Come

Life brings storms—difficulties, challenges, uncertainties—but Jesus is our sure foundation.

“When we build our house on the rock, we know that whatever happens, Jesus is still Lord.”

Discussion Questions:

• What are some “storms” you’ve faced or seen others face?
• How do worldly solutions compare with building on Jesus as the Rock?

2. The Promise of “But God” Moments

The Bible is filled with stories where things seemed impossible, but God intervened (e.g., David, Joseph, Epaphroditus, and Jesus’ resurrection).

“The Bible is full of followers of God falling, their lives crumbling, bad things happening, but God is there.”

Discussion Questions:

• Can you share a “but God” moment in your life?
• How does remembering these stories strengthen your faith during trials?

3. Building with Intention

Building on the rock requires intentional effort: trusting God, following His guidance, and living out His teachings.

“The Holy Spirit is our planning permission. We need to do the groundwork.”

Discussion Questions:

• How can we make practical decisions to build our lives on Jesus’ teachings?
• What areas of your life might need some “renovation” to align with Jesus’ way?

4. Helping Others Rebuild

The church is called not only to build its foundation on Christ but also to help others rebuild their lives on Him.

“What if we raised a new city out of the wreckage for Him?”

Discussion Questions:

• How can we share hope with others whose “houses” are crumbling?
• What opportunities exist in your community to demonstrate Jesus’ love?

Application Questions

• How can you prioritize time with Jesus daily to strengthen your foundation?
• Are there teachings from the Sermon on the Mount that you find particularly challenging? How can you begin to practice them?
• In what ways can you be part of “rebuilding the ruins” in your church, family, or city?

Prayer Prompts

1. Thanksgiving: Praise God for being the unshakable Rock in a world of uncertainty.
2. Confession: Acknowledge areas where you’ve built on sand and ask for guidance to rebuild on the Rock.
3. Intercession: Pray for those in your life or community who are experiencing storms and need Jesus as their foundation.
4. Commitment: Ask for strength to live out Jesus’ teachings, no matter the challenges.

Encouragement for the Week

Reflect on Isaiah 43:19: “See, I am doing a new thing!” Look for ways God is working in your life and through you to help others.

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.