Jan 31 | Discovery

COMPANION RESOURCES

Study for Jan. 31, 2021: Different Discernment (Matthew 7:1-27)

“Clearing Away the Fog” by David Faust (Lesson Application)

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Study Questions for Groups

1. In what ways did you see God provide for you during the past week?

2. What choices did you make over the last week to live in obedience to God and his Word?

Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Matthew 7:1-27 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions.

Ask the third person to summarize the teaching as if teaching it to a group of middle schoolers.

3. What wisdom for living as a Christ follower do you see in this passage?

4. Let’s dig deeper into this last section of the Sermon on the Mount:

            • What does this passage say a follower of Christ does and doesn’t do?

            • What do you learn about how to live well in relationship with others?

            • What do you learn about how to build your relationship with God?

            • Verses 13-27 provide four contrasts a follower of Jesus must consider. What do each of those four contrasts teach you about living as a disciple of Christ?

5. What do you learn about God from this passage?

6. Let’s discuss what you’ve learned about yourself. This passage presents each of us with four choices:

a. following the narrow gate and way (Jesus) or the wide road (the world)

b. listening to and following true teachers or false teachers

c. seeking a genuine, abiding relationship with Jesus (this is a disciple who does God’s will) or adhering to a religion based on works and appearance

d. building your life on the solid rock of a relationship with Jesus or on the sinking sand of the world

We want this to be a safe place for everyone to be honest so that we can grow—and help each other grow—in our faith. With that in mind, which of these choices are you struggling with?

• How can we help you make the wise choice?

7. Think of a person in your life who has not yet accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. What will you do this week to help that person find the narrow gate and narrow way that leads to life?

8. We study the Bible not just to hear and know God’s Word, but to put it into practice (see vv. 21, 24, 26). This is why each week we always include a question about how we will obey what we’ve learned and discussed. What specific thing from this study will you put into practice this week?

9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”

10. What challenges to you anticipate this week as you live out your faith?

For Next Week: Over the next week, read and reflect on James 1:22-27; 2:14-26 as we focus on “Faith in Action,” a new study on the book of James. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.