Announcements
- This coming Sunday, March 24th, we are going back to 3 Sunday services!
- Holy Week art exhibit- First, we want to remind you that signups are still open for our the Holy Week art show! Signups close on March 29th and your submissions are due April 7th! You can sign up on the app or through this link: https://thewellabilene.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/55/responses/new All ages are welcome to submit a piece!
- Women’s retreat: Ladies we are having a women’s retreat April 12-13th in Eastland, Tx, all women are invited! It is going to be an awesome time that’s focused on friendship and discipleship. You can sign up on the app or through this form: https://thewellabilene.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/60/responses/new
Objectives
- Comparing and contrasting values and rewards of heaven to values and rewards of the earth.
- Imagining creative ways in which your members can use their wealth and resources to serve the Kingdom of Heaven according to its values and mission.
- Repent of any masters other than Jesus that have been distracting you from Kingdom Values.
Key Passages
Matthew 6:16-24
Summary
The introduction of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” explained who the subjects of Jesus’ kingdom were and why they needed true righteousness.
In chapter 5, Jesus looked at passages from the Old Testament Law to provide specific examples of what life in his Kingdom looks like.
In the beginning of chapter 6, Jesus is more specifically addressing prominent misconceptions of worship practices like giving alms, praying, and fasting as they were taught by Jewish leaders.
Now, at the end of chapter 6 and on into chapter 7, Jesus is showing how his disciples can righteously interact with the world around them. In 6:19-24, Jesus is particularly showing how his disciples can righteously interact with their wealth.
Sample Questions
Feel free to use or reword the questions below that will help your group meet the objectives above. Remember, these questions should ultimately cultivate discussion of ways to respond to or apply what the Holy Spirit has revealed to us through Scripture.
- What kinds of values was Jesus trying to show his disciples to have as citizens of the new Kingdom he was ushering in?
- What kind of rewards would Jesus’ disciples inevitably inherit from living a life dedicated to those values?
- Likewise, what kind of values does this world have? What kinds of rewards do its citizens inevitability receive?
- How can we, as disciples of Jesus Christ, creatively use our wealth to support the values and mission of his Kingdom?
- What kind of social role in the ancient near east has a “master”? (Answer: slave)
- What are the circumstances in which it is impossible for someone to have two employers at once?
- Can you identify any other “masters” in your own life?
- How do you know that they are beginning to take the role of “masters.”
- How are they trying to compete with Jesus as your rightful and singular master?
Sample Responses
Either in smaller groups or as a whole GC:
- Give your members some time to think of one or several creative ways in which they can use their wealth and resources to serve the Kingdom of Heaven according to its values and mission.
- Take some time to pray in repentance for “masters” that have distracted your values from Jesus’ Kingdom values.
- Ask God to help you turn away from those earthly values and towards Jesus Kingdom values.