Listen in Community
Small Group Study
Overview
After months of traveling around the region, Jesus’ miraculous exploits were well known. Crowds quickly gathered and willingly followed wherever He went. Now that He had their attention, Jesus took the opportunity to teach about God’s kingdom. He wanted those who chose to be a part of this Kingdom to know how they should live. This session covers highlights of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, which spans Matthew chapters 5–7. After Jesus shared these memorable insights, the people were amazed because He taught with authority, unlike other religious teachers.
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Engage
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QUESTION Think back on your days in school. Who was your favorite teacher? What made him or her so special? |
Any scholar—secular or religious—will tell you Jesus was an incredible teacher. And like all great teachers, He drew huge crowds. The Book of Matthew tells us people followed Jesus everywhere He went because of His powerful teaching and the unbelievable miracles He performed. People were healed, delivered from demon possession, and set free. The same opportunity is available for us today as we listen to Him through His Word.
Watch
As we watch this video, consider this question:
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QUESTION What can make living for Jesus difficult in our culture today?
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Consider
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She was known as the toughest teacher in school. She made you work hard—harder than you’d ever worked before. You wanted to quit. You daydreamed about the day you’d be out of her class forever! But earning a good grade from her felt like winning an Olympic medal, and years later, you think of her every time you conjugate a verb, use algebra to solve a real-life problem, or apply the scientific method to draw a logical conclusion.
Nearly everyone has had a teacher or mentor whose high expectations were at first shocking and challenging. Surprisingly, these same teachers often end up being the ones we appreciate most because they pushed us to do more, to be more. In the moment, we may have thought those expectations were harsh, but later we realized they were born out of genuine concern for us and our future.
Undoubtedly, Jesus was the best teacher of all. Matthew chapter 5 documents one occasion when the crowd had grown to a particularly enormous size. It was a great opportunity for Jesus to build His following. All He had to do was inspire the crowd and win them to His side.
If you were Jesus’ campaign manager, you would have taken Him aside and said something like: “Now Jesus, don’t waste this moment. This is it. We’re going to triple your followers, maybe even more. Give it all you’ve got. Promise them peace and prosperity. Give them hope and a bright future. Win them to our side. If we are going to change the world, we need all the people we can get!”
But Jesus didn't do what we might expect. Instead of rallying the crowd to His side with promises of a trouble-free life, He took the opportunity to sit down among them and teach them a better way to live. What’s more, He dramatically raised the bar.
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QUESTION Why do you think we often bristle at difficult teachings or teachers who challenge us? |
What the Bible Says
Note: Sessions for younger age levels focus on the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–10.)
Through His teaching which we now call the “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus made it clear that following Him came with a price. His true followers would live differently from the world around them. Jesus demanded more from them in every way. Over and over, Jesus hit them between the eyes with statements and commands that were as difficult and confrontational then as they are today. Like any good teacher, however, His high expectations were not without purpose: He was building a following that would stand the test of time.
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QUESTION What can we understand about God’s character based on Jesus’ willingness to tackle tough subjects?
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Blessed
Read Matthew 5:3–12.
This section of the Sermon on the Mount is known as the Beatitudes. Beatitudes were commonly used by rabbis and teachers as the introduction to a talk. The teacher concisely laid out the philosophy he would unpack in the rest of the message. Jesus used a familiar format, but the content of His message brought a fresh and expanded perspective to these topics. To a society that valued strength, position, power, prestige, and possessions, Jesus very clearly signaled to the crowd that He was no ordinary rabbi.
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QUESTION Which beatitude is most meaningful to you? Why?
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Live in Right Relationship
Read Matthew 5:21–24; 6:14–15.
Jesus often stated God’s instructions from the Old Testament, the Law. Then He raised the bar by calling His followers to a higher standard. For example, Jesus said merely being angry with someone is as sinful as murder. Furthermore, in the religious system of the day, sacrifices and offerings were the way to set things right with God when someone sinned. But Jesus told the people they should make things right with one another before coming to God. That’s how much a restored, right relationship with others matters to God.
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QUESTION Why do you think it matters so much to God that His children live in right relationship with one another?
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Love Your Enemies
Read Matthew 5:43–48.
Loving your enemies is not an emotional sentiment. Rather, it’s the decision to pursue another person’s good, despite what you may feel. Praying for your enemy is a practical way of pursuing their good—and yours. As you pray, your heart will soften toward them. When you no longer hate your enemy, you win! It doesn’t make sense by the world’s standards. But remember: You aren’t playing by the world’s rules. When you love your enemies, you rise above the world’s imperfect system and play by God’s rules instead. The difference people see in you will ultimately point them to Him.
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QUESTION Have you ever been shown love by someone who—by the world’s standards—had every right to consider you an enemy? What effect did it have on you?
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QUESTION Think of a time when you put this teaching of Jesus into practice. How did you love your enemy? What was the result? |
Do Not Judge
Read Matthew 7:1–5.
Jesus was not afraid to discuss difficult issues. He confronted those who placed themselves in a position of judgment over others. He explained that we should view others’ actions, attitudes, and motivations through the same lens of grace and mercy with which we hope to be viewed. Jesus also pointed out that judging others can be tied to hypocrisy. Instead of judging others, Jesus said we should be honest with ourselves about our own imperfections.
Unfortunately, Christians are often viewed as hypocrites. You likely know someone who left church, is afraid to return to church, or simply dislikes church people because of a bad experience with a judgmental Christian. While Christians are certainly required to hold each other accountable, we are no one’s eternal judge. It’s exclusively God’s job to judge those who are not believers.
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QUESTION What do you think Christ-followers can do to welcome—and even be agents of healing—to those who have been hurt by the sting of hypocrisy?
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Build on the Rock
Read Matthew 7:21–27.
You might expect Jesus to end the Sermon on the Mount on an encouraging note that would draw more followers, but Jesus wasn’t trying to recruit fans. Instead, He was trying to cultivate committed, lifelong followers. He taught that they should follow Him with their actions, not just their words. The same is true for us today. And when we do, we build our spiritual house on a strong foundation—one that stands the storms of life.
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QUESTION Why do you think acting on what you know is such a fundamental part of being a Christ-follower? |
Reflect
As a good teacher, Jesus began His teaching with the end in mind. He knew what was ahead for His followers—the unimaginable adversity and persecution they would face. He knew it was critical for them to develop a strong, healthy community they could lean on in the days to come. He was also preparing them to establish a way of living that echoes the kingdom of heaven for future generations. Jesus’ teachings still give us a clear picture of how we should live in stark contrast to our world today—for our own good and as a testimony to those around us.
Listen to God
The goal of Listen is not only to gain an understanding of God’s Word, but also to pause and listen to what God our Creator might want to say to us about what we have read and shared. Be silent for a few moments and reflect on the following questions. Choose the one that most resonates with what God is saying to you now. Then complete the others during Day 1 of your devotion time this week.
Personal Reflection Questions
Record your answers to the following questions in the space provided or in your personal journal.
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QUESTION The way to eternal life is to put your faith and trust in Jesus and His death on the cross as payment for your sins. Then as a Christ-follower, you should obey His commands. Do you feel one of these is easier for you than the other? Explain.
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QUESTION Jesus’ teaching clarifies that you cannot always interpret hardship and adversity as a sign you’re doing something wrong. Have you ever blamed yourself for things in your life that are out of your control? Based on Jesus’ teaching, what should you do instead?
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QUESTION Jesus talked about judging others in Matthew 7:2. Are you comfortable with being judged by the standard you use to judge others? Why or why not? What changes do you feel God may be calling you to make?
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QUESTION Jesus taught that being angry at someone is as sinful as murdering someone. Do you have anger in your heart against anyone? Ask the Lord to search you and reveal any discord that you need to make right. Write about it below, then determine—with God’s help and wisdom—to resolve it. |
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QUESTION Praying for your enemies will soften your heart toward them. Make a list below of people (individuals or groups) toward whom you have a hard heart. Commit to spending some time each day this week praying God’s blessings over them. At the end of the week, reevaluate your feelings towards them. How has your heart changed?
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Prayer Requests
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Note any requests from the group and remember to pray for them during the week. |
Before next time, continue to listen with the personal devotions.
Did You Know?
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The Sermon on the Mount isn’t the only time Jesus listed beatitude-style blessings. The Gospel of Luke also includes a sermon that began with blessings, but it differed quickly from the previous sermon. In Matthew 5, Jesus stood on at an elevated point and gave what we call the Sermon on the Mount. In Luke 6, He delivered the Sermon on the Plain after walking down off of a mountain to a lower, level area. Both sermons began with blessings toward those experiencing challenges, but the message on the plain took a negative turn as Jesus spoke about the sorrow awaiting those who are interested in receiving full contentment in this life rather than contentment through His kingdom.
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Listen on Your Own
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Listening to God is something we need to do every day. Before you begin each devotion, pray and ask God to speak to you through His Word. Record your answers to the following questions in the space provided or in your personal journal.
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Day 1
Read Matthew 5:1–10.
Look back over Listen in Community and complete your responses to the Personal Reflection Questions. If time permits, reread the Scripture too.
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QUESTION What do you sense God is saying to you about seeing Jesus and His words as your ultimate teacher? |
Listen on Your Own
Day 2
Read Psalm 119:1–18.
The longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119 explores the virtues of God’s Word as our guidebook for living. The writer of this psalm has experienced great difficulty. He clings to the hope and wisdom he finds in the teachings and commands of Old Testament Scripture on which the teachings of Jesus are built.
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QUESTION What teachings in God’s Word have you found to be particularly life-giving?
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QUESTION In verse 11, the Psalmist says he has hidden God’s Word in his heart, so that he won’t sin. How can memorizing Scripture create a mental path away from temptation? How have you used Scripture to steer yourself away from sin?
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Meditating on and memorizing Scripture are vital helps to a believer. Some people listen to the audio Bible. Others write Scriptures on cards and post them in prominent places as reminders. Learning verses with a friend or family member can be helpful too.
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QUESTION If you haven’t yet practiced this spiritual discipline, what habits can you establish to commit Scripture to memory? |
Listen on Your Own
Day 3
Read Luke 18:9–14.
This parable demonstrates how living in humility is central to godly character. It echoes Jesus’ statement in the Beatitudes: “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth” (Matthew 5:5).The parable also says that, one way or another, you will be humbled. You get to choose whether you humble yourself or are humbled by God.
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QUESTION Why do you think pride is such a barrier to having a healthy relationship with Jesus?
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QUESTION Serving others without recognition is one sure way to cultivate humility. Brainstorm a list of ways you can serve others. Then, choose at least one of them to do this week—and make sure no one finds out about it! |
Listen on Your Own
Day 4
Read Luke 10:25–37.
Jesus taught that loving your neighbor is only second to loving God. To underscore this teaching, He told a story about a Samaritan man who stopped to help a Jewish man. Many Samaritans and Jews hated one another. Clearly, when Jesus said we should love our neighbor, He meant the people all around us—not just the people like us.
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QUESTION What are some examples of how Luke 10:27 could play out in your life?
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QUESTION Describe the last time you showed mercy to someone in need. What happened? What effect did it have on them? What effect did it have on you?
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QUESTION Can you think of a time recently when you missed an opportunity to show mercy? Perhaps like the priest in the story, you “crossed to the other side of the road.” Describe what happened. Then ask the Lord to give you another opportunity. |
Listen on Your Own
Day 5
Read Luke 12:13–34.
Jesus desires for His followers to live in community with one another—giving when they are able and receiving when they are in need. He intends for us to establish both features of this cycle within our community of faith. To remove any fear about freely giving, He pointed out that, ultimately, God is our Provider.
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QUESTION Describe a time when you were on the giving end of this cycle. In what ways was the act of giving a blessing for you? |
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QUESTION Even though giving and receiving are part of a healthy church, people on the receiving end sometimes experience shame or embarrassment for having a need. Why is that?
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QUESTION What practical steps can we take as followers of Jesus to reduce that stigma, so we can more readily meet others’ needs?
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