Acts of Righteousness, Prayer, & Application
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SERMON NOTES:
The Sermon on the Mount: Part Five
Acts of Righteousness
Prayer
Application
study questions:
1. Read Matthew 6:1-4. Do you think Jesus believes giving to the needy is the only act of righteousness there is or is he using this as an illustration? If this is an illustration, try and think of at least ten other acts of righteousness you might do in public or describe how you might let those acts of righteousness be known to others.
2. What does Jesus say will be the result of someone who gives to the needy and announces it on the street, and what name does he give them? Can you think of some areas in your life where this instruction is convicting to you? If you came up with something, what will you do about it? What does Jesus say will happen if you do your acts of righteousness in a way that is not glorifying yourself?
3. Read Matthew 6:5. What is wrong with the way the hypocrites are praying in this scene? How do the hypocrites feel about the way they pray, and why do you think they feel this way? What might be convicting to you from this verse?
4. Read Matthew 6:7-8. Is this the way you pray? If so, what might you do about it? Why is it not necessary to make sure you go on and on in a prayer according to this verse, and how is this comforting to you?
5. Read Matthew 18:19-20, John 11:38-44, Acts 1:12-14, Matthew 4:24-25 and Acts 3:1-10. These verses seem to contradict what Jesus has been teaching in this section of the Sermon on the Mount, so what do you think Jesus is getting at? In other words, what is the “big idea?” Also see if you can remember the big idea of the Sermon on the Mount? (See Matthew 5:20 and Matthew 5:3-6 for help.)
6. What lessons have you learned from this week’s study?