Christian Simplicity: Part 1 (Matt. 6:19-21)

Outline: Matthew 6:19-21

Two treasures:

1. Treasures on earth (v.19)
2. Treasures in heaven (v.20)
3. Treasure principle (v.21)

Summary: 

We have seen that Jesus came to bring about radical obedience in His followers (Matt. 5:1-48, esp. vv.19-20, 48), an obedience that is to be fueled by pure motives (Matt. 6:1-18, esp. vv.1,3-4, 6, 9-10, 17-18).  Now in Matt. 6:19-24, Jesus fuses radical obedience and pure motives together in order to call His followers to a life of simplicity, that is, a life of single-minded devotion to God.  In order to make His point, Jesus utilizes three couplets: two treasures, two visions, two masters.  In this sermon we considered the two treasures, where Jesus teaches us not to store up material treasures on earth but rather to store up spiritual treasures in heaven because He wants to ensure that our hearts are in a safe place.  

Discussion Questions:

• What are earthly treasures and why does Jesus command us not to store them up?
• What is Jesus not prohibiting in v.19?
• How does Jesus' parable in Luke 12:16-21 illustrate this command?
• What are spiritual treasures and why does Jesus command us to store them up?
• Describe the treasure principle of v.21 in your own words.
• How is this a call to a life of simplicity, a life of single-minded devotion to God?
• Are these commands loving or unloving?  Explain.
• Reflect on this statement: "Jesus is the best financial advisor in the universe."
• How might a material treasure become a means of storing up spiritual treasure?
• What are some practical ways we might learn to be rich toward God?

Application Questions:

• Honestly, am I being rich toward myself or rich toward God?
• What material things am I most prone to hoard? What changes is God calling me to make?
• How might I cultivate both short and long-term generosity?
• How might I cultivate simplicity (learn contentment, detach from stuff, cap expenses, and grow in the ability to discern how to best use God's money)?
• How can I simultaneously attack debt and cultivate generosity?
• Think trajectory: how can I grow in generosity each year as I get closer and closer to seeing my Lord Jesus face-to-face?

Prayer Points:

• Confess ways you have been rich toward yourself and stingy toward God
• Praise Jesus for becoming poor and dying on a cross so that you might become rich toward God and inherit eternity!
• Ask God to help you to, by the power of the Holy Spirit, break any sinful habits of hoarding material possessions and to help you learn to store up spiritual treasures in heaven.  

Fasting Guide

What is fasting? Fasting is when we go without food for some spiritual purpose

What are good reasons for Christ-followers to fast? 

1. Fast to refocus on God’s priorities
2. Fast to see our need for God (with every groan) and to rely more fully on His power 
3. Fast to seek God’s guidance  
4. Fast to give extra time and attention to the word and prayer
• Praying for spiritual breakthroughs in our lives and in the lives of others
• Praying for the salvation of others
• Praying for causes of justice and mercy in our day (e.g. abortion, sex trafficking, pornography epidemic, ISIS, persecuted Christians, etc.)
5. Fast to become more sensitive to the needs of others
6. Fast to expose sin and idols, the things we rely upon in place of God
7. Fast to grow in self-control and to find victory in the face of temptation 
8. Fast to express love and worship to God: nothing I desire beside you!

How might a Christ-follower go about practicing the discipline of fasting?

1. Start small (e.g. one meal, two meals, then a full-day fast, perhaps a 2-day juice fast.  Build up to an extended fast of 3-7days)
2. Fast with purpose (see above)
3. Fast with a plan: clear purpose, mindful of others, what will you do with extra time?
4. Experiment with different forms of fasting: personal and communal, congregational and national, regular and occasional, absolute and partial.

Sincere Fasting (Matt. 6:16-18)

Outline: Matthew 6:16-18

1. Explanation of Matt. 6:16-18
2. Why should a Christ-follower fast?
3. How should a Christ-follower go about practicing the discipline of fasting?

Summary: Having considered giving and praying, we now focus on fasting, Jesus' third and final illustration of this overarching point:"Beware of doing the right things from the wrong motives" (6:1)! Jesus warns us that God will not reward the obedient act of fasting if that act was fueled by wrong motives.  Motives are intensely important to God!  Our fasting should be fueled not by a craving to be seen and praised by others, but by a desire to be seen and rewarded by God.  Fasting is designed as a means of stimulating and expressing a sincere hunger for God, not as a hypocritical platform to attract the praise of men.

Discussion Questions:

• Review: how do giving, praying, and fasting relate to the warning given in 6:1? 
• Very basically, what is fasting?
• What is meant by the phrase "means of grace"? How is fasting a means of grace? 
• How should Jesus assumption ("when you fast") shape a Christ-follower's view of fasting?
• What is it about the activity described in v.16 that is hypocritical?
• What does it mean to have pure motives?  What motives should fuel our fasting?
• What is the purpose of fasting? In other words, why should a Christ-follower fast?
• What are some practical ways to go about practicing the discipline of fasting?

Application Questions:

• How often do I fast? Why do I fast that often?
• What is God teaching me about fasting?  
• What steps might God be leading me to take in order to grow in this discipline?
• What motives should fuel my fasting?
• What happy effects might fasting have on my life if I'm willing to make it a habit? 

Prayer Points:

• Confess to God your lack of hunger for Him and your neglect of the means of grace wisely designed by God in order to stimulate your appetite for spiritual things.
• Praise Jesus that He had enough hunger for the both of us and for teaching you to hunger and thirst after righteousness. 
• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you cultivate the discipline of fasting and to increase your hunger for the things of God.  

I Am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25-26)

Outline: John 11:25-26

1. Explain John 11:25-26
2. See John 11:25-26 in light of the little story in which it is embedded 
3. See John 11:25-26 in light of the big story of human history

Summary: Lazarus died so that God might be gloried when Jesus raised him from the dead (11:4).  The story makes it clear that, in God's providence,  Lazarus' death provided a context for Jesus to tell us that He is the resurrection and the life and to prove it by raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus says He is both the means of getting to heaven and the destination itself. Through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we are promised life beyond the grave and escape from the second death.

Discussion Questions:

• How does Jesus think about and respond to the news of Lazarus' illness and death? What might this teach us about how we should think about and respond to God's providence in our lives?
• What is the general resurrection alluded to by Martha (11:24; cf. John 5:28-29; Dan. 12:2; Acts 24:15). 
• What are some of the other "I Am" statements and what do they have in common?
• What is the meaning of the statement "I am the resurrection and the life"?
• What promises does Jesus make in vv.25-26?
• What condition must be met in order to enjoy the promises?
• To whom does Jesus offer these promises? 
• How does the resurrection of Lazarus relate to Jesus' resurrection and our resurrection?

Application Questions:

• How aware am I of God's providence in the circumstances of my life? 
• What effect should the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead have on my faith? 

Prayer Points:

• Praise God for drawing you into the arms of His Son so that you would be raised with Him on the last day.
• Praise Jesus for being both the means of getting to heaven and the destination itself.
• Ask God to help your faith and hope and joy be more fully shaped by the glorious reality of the resurrection.
• Ask God for courage to tell others that, through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, there is hope of life beyond the grave and escape from the second death. 

Praying in Light of Our Real Needs

Outline: Matthew 6:11-15

1. Petition #4: Provision (v.11)
2. Petition #5: Pardon (vv.12, 14-15)
3. Petition #6: Protection (v.13)

Summary: Jesus teaches us to pray by giving us an example, a model prayer known as the Lord's Prayer (6:9-15).  The Lord's model prayer includes six petitions that are to be infused into our everyday prayers, shaping our communion with our heavenly Father.  The first three petitions teach us pray in light of our Father's top priorities: His glory, His kingdom, and His will.  In the last three petitions Jesus teaches us to pray in light our real needs: provision, pardon, and protection. It is when the Father's priorities become our priorities that we we are able to discern what our real needs are and to confidently ask our heavenly Father to meet those needs.

Discussion Questions:

• Review: What does it mean that the Lord's Prayer is a model prayer?
• Review: What is the basic structure of the Lord's Prayer? Significance? 
• Review: What two truths must we keep in mind when addressing God in prayer? (v.9) 
• What is meant by "daily bread" and how should the Father's priorities shape these prayers?
• How does asking God for forgiveness relate to forgiving others?  
• What is the relationship between "lead us not into temptation" and "deliver us from evil"?
• Discuss this statement: "God tests, Satan tempts."

Application Questions:

• To what extent are my Father's priorities shaping my prayers?
• How aware am I of my real needs?  
• Do my prayers align more with what I think I need or what God knows I need? Explain.
• Am I withholding forgiveness from anyone?  If so, how might this me effecting my relationship with God in general and my prayer life in particular?
• In what areas of my life do I tend to fail often when tempted and thus need extra protection?

Prayer Points:

• Confess to God your tendency to pray in light of your priorities instead of God's and your wants instead of your real needs.  
• Praise Jesus, the Bread of Life, who has come to satisfy your deepest needs.
• Thank God for providing so bountifully, above and beyond the basic necessities of life.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to help more consistently pray in light of your real needs.

Psalms for Each Day of Holy Week

Here is a reading plan for Holy Week that focuses on a Psalm (or two or three) that are prophetic of the events of each day. The best way to read each of these Psalms prophetically is by reading each with the voice Jesus Christ and not the original author. 

PALM SUNDAY: Ps. 118 

[Matt. 21:1-11]

MONDAY: Ps. 8 

[Matt. 21:12-17]

TUESDAY: Ps. 110 

[Matt. 21:20-25:46]

WEDNESDAY: Ps. 55 

[Matt. 26:1-15]

MAUNDY THURSDAY: Ps. 6 

[Matt. 26:17-46]

GOOD FRIDAY: Ps. 22, Ps. 69 

[Matt. 26:47-27:61]

SATURDAY: Ps. 88 

[Matt. 27:62-66]

RESURRECTION SUNDAY: Ps. 18, Ps. 16, Ps. 2 

[Matt. 28:1-10]

Praying in Light of God's Priorities (Matt. 6:9-10)

Outline: Matthew 6:9-10

1. Petition #1: Hallowed by your name
2. Petition #2: Your kingdom come
3. Petition #3: Your will be done

Summary: As an introduction to the Lord's Prayer, Jesus taught us two basic prayer principles.  First, our prayers should be fueled by pure motives (6:5-6). Second, our prayers should be characterized by deep trust in our Father's care for us (6:7-8).  What it would look like to infuse these prayer principles into our everyday prayers? Jesus shows us by equipping us with a model prayer, which is known as the Lord's Prayer (6:9-15).  The six petitions in this model prayer give us "hooks" to hang our prayers on. This week we focus our attention on the the first three petitions in which Jesus teaches to pray in light of our Father's top priorities: His glory, His kingdom, and His will.

Discussion Questions:

• What does it mean that the Lord's Prayer is a model prayer?
• What is the basic structure of the Lord's Prayer? What significance is there to that structure? 
• What must we keep in mind when we address God in prayer? 
• What are we requesting when we pray "hallowed by your name"?
• What are we requesting when we pray "your kingdom be come"?
• What are we requesting when we pray "your will be done"?
• In what way does the phrase "on earth as it is in heaven" serve as an interpretive "key"?
• What practical steps might we take to see our motives more fully shaped by God's priorities?

Application Questions:

• To what extent are my Father's priorities shaping my prayers?
• Am I more concerned about my glory, my kingdom, and my will or vice versa? Explain.
• If my motives more fully aligned with God's priorities, what powerful effects might this have on my life and the lives of those around me? 

Prayer Points:

• Confess to God your lack of concern for His priorities.
• Praise Jesus for being the perfect model of reverence, submission, and obedience.
• Praise Jesus for dying on the cross to forgive your self-centeredness, that is, your (very human) tendency to make life about your glory, your kingdom, and your will.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you align your motives with God's priorities.

Worship:

Here are three new kingdom-focused worship songs!

Build Your Kingdom Here - Rend Collective

Let Your Kingdom Come - Sovereign Grace 

All Glory Be To Christ - Kings Kaleidoscope