The Real Jesus: The Beattitudes - Week 7
Week of April 27th
Matthew 5:9
This year in House Church we will be reading and discussing the Gospel of Matthew to better understand who Jesus is and what he has done.
Matthew was one of Jesus’ 12 disciples and he left his profession as a tax collector to follow Him. The purpose of his gospel was to give evidence to his Jewish brothers that Jesus was the one they had been looking for. He wanted them (and us) to see that Jesus was the long awaited messiah and King. He would be the one to make all things right, and restore the broken relationship between God and man. Matthew’s life was radically transformed by an encounter with Jesus, and our prayer is that through this study you will encounter The Real Jesus through His word, and be transformed just like Matthew.
These questions are written to be used during our house church meetings. If you find yourself unable or attend a gathering this week we encourage you to use these questions at home to sink more deeply into this series.
Opening Question(s):
Read and Reflect: Read Matthew 5:9
Prayer:
Pray for the families in your house church and the people on your top 5 cards.
Matthew 5:9
This year in House Church we will be reading and discussing the Gospel of Matthew to better understand who Jesus is and what he has done.
Matthew was one of Jesus’ 12 disciples and he left his profession as a tax collector to follow Him. The purpose of his gospel was to give evidence to his Jewish brothers that Jesus was the one they had been looking for. He wanted them (and us) to see that Jesus was the long awaited messiah and King. He would be the one to make all things right, and restore the broken relationship between God and man. Matthew’s life was radically transformed by an encounter with Jesus, and our prayer is that through this study you will encounter The Real Jesus through His word, and be transformed just like Matthew.
These questions are written to be used during our house church meetings. If you find yourself unable or attend a gathering this week we encourage you to use these questions at home to sink more deeply into this series.
Opening Question(s):
- What are some ways that you have seen or experienced to be helpful in conflict resolution? Share examples with the group.
- Do you think there is a difference between being a peacemaker and a peacekeeper?
Read and Reflect: Read Matthew 5:9
- Do you think this passage (in light of the first 8 verses) is saying that you can become a child of God by being a peacemaker, or is being a peacemaker a product of being a child of God?
- Read Romans 12:16-18. With so much hostility and division in the world, how can we live peaceably with everyone? is it something we can conjure up from inside, or is it something external?
- Theologian Martin Lloyd Jones says that, "being a peacemaker in this culture is as difficult as a salmon trying to swim upstream". Do you relate to this?
- Read Colossians 1:15-20. Jesus made peace by his sacrifice on the cross. What does that tell us about living as peacemakers in His kingdom?
- If we are looking to Christ first instead of thinking more highly of ourselves and our rights, then we will be more prepared to be a peacemaker in the world around us. What are some ways we can focus ourselves on Jesus, and "die to self" instead of giving into the ideas of the world?
Prayer:
Pray for the families in your house church and the people on your top 5 cards.
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