Good evening. Tonight we are going to work our way through Matthew chapters 3, 4, and possible a review of the Sermon on the Mount, and then look at the Beatitudes if we have enough time. Before we do that though, let’s begin our time with a word of prayer. Let’s Pray!
When you were baptized, where did it take place?
Well, let’s go ahead and read chapter 3 at this time. Whoever has the first 2 keys, go ahead and read them for us please. (READ)
Now, Matthew begins things here with talking about John the Baptist, and then goes into Jesus’ public ministry starting with His baptism and then in a moment we will read about His temptation. At His baptism, He is affirmed as God’s beloved Son. Later, in His temptation, He is portrayed as the true servant of God. To start our discussion, let’s begin to take a look at the first event of the night, Jesus’ baptism.
How would you like to have John the Baptist as you minister? (His dress code, his harsh words, ?)
Why would anyone go out of their way to hear this radical preacher preach about Jesus? (Verse 7?)
How would you paraphrase John’s message in verse 2 for people today?
What angered John so much about the Pharisees and the Sadducees?
How do John’s and Jesus’ ministries compare or go together? (John was preparing the way for Jesus to come and do His thing!)
Why did Jesus want to be baptized? (To set the example and to show it’s importance.)
Do you think that Jesus needed this affirmation from God at this point in His life?
Okay, who has been a John the Baptist in your life?
How did he or she prepare you to meet Jesus?
How has God affirmed you as His child in Christ?
At this time let me go ahead and read for you what my commentary had to say about Matthew chapter 3. Listen to this, it says, (READ COMMENTARY)
Now, before we move on, does anyone have anything that they would like to add about chapter 3?
Well, if there is nothing else, on to chapter 4. Here in this chapter we are going to read about Jesus’ temptation, His preaching beginning, and Him calling His first disciples. Before we take a look at our first section of this chapter though, answer me this question:
What is the longest that you have ever gone without eating? Why?
Well, in this first section we are going to read about Jesus going without food, but His is for a certain reason. Whoever has the next key, go ahead and read it for us at this time please. (READ)
Okay, if you were to fast for 40 days, what food would you miss the most?
Under what kind of circumstances was Jesus tempted? (Things that would appeal to Him.)
For each of the 3 temptations, what is its nature? What potentially might appeal to Jesus? And what price would there have been?
How did Jesus overcome these 3 temptations that Satan threw His way? (Prayer and scripture.)
What is it that you have found helpful in overcoming temptation?
As we make a transition, when id you leave home to be on your own for the first time?
Okay, let’s make a transition and take a look at the rest of chapter 4. This is the point when Jesus begins to go out on His own. This is when Jesus begins to preach, and He calls His first disciples. Whoever has the next 2 keys, go ahead and read them for us please. (READ)
How does Jesus react to John’s imprisonment?
What invitations does Jesus give to these fishermen?
What prior knowledge of Jesus do you think these guys had? (Verses 13, 17)
How has coming to know Jesus been like moving from darkness to light for you?
Spiritually, are you still fishing in the boat, leaving the boat, following Jesus, or are you feeling left behind?
Well let me go ahead and read for you what the commentary has to say about chapter 4. It says, (READ COMMENTARY)
Does anyone have anything that they would like to add before we move on?
Well, if there is nothing else, I would like to move on and read the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount. This is a section in the commentary that sums up Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Here is what it has to say, (READ COMMENTARY)
Now, we have already taken a look at the Beatitudes recently in our Sunday night discussion, so we will not spend much time on them, and then we will close and leave the rest of chapter 5 for next week. So, whoever has the last key, go ahead and read it for us please. (READ)
The “Beatitudes” are so named because in the Latin translation each of the 8 statements begins with the word “beatus.” Such blessings were common in the Old Testament and Jesus uses them to explain what characteristics are to be found in every child of God.
Silently rate yourself from 1, being very low, to 4, being very high, on each of the following qualities from the Beatitudes as I read them.
Thing from Bible:
Now, of these characteristics, which do you feel you display the best and which on is displayed the worst in you?
Does anyone have anything else that they would like to add to this discussion of the Beatitudes? Otherwise, I am done?
Well, if there is nothing else, for next week we are going to work our way through the Sermon on the Mount and take a look at chapters 5, 6, and possibly chapter 7 as well if we have enough time.
Prayer Concerns/Announcements
Let’s Pray |
