12 TRansfoRmeD: my LIfe In GoD s KInGDom 2015 LifeWay

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1 12 TRansformeD: My LIfe IN GOD S KINGDOM

2 Feeling weak? Jesus gives us power to live for Him. Transformers impact our lives every day and we never think about it. Before electricity comes into your house, it first must pass through a transformer to lower the voltage. You likely have several transformers inside your house. Computers and chargers often have transformer boxes attached to their power cords, reducing the voltage even further. Too much power can destroy appliances and gadgets. Our lives often experience the opposite. We don t have enough power if we have any at all. While some electrical transformers are able to boost electrical power, we unfortunately can t manufacture anything like that to increase the power in our own lives. But Jesus can. Matthew 6 7 is a part of Jesus Sermon on the Mount, a sermon that shows us the path to transformation. When we live in Him and apply His teachings to our lives, we are truly transformed and empowered. Jesus connected our relationship to God and His Kingdom to every aspect of life. In other words, a relationship with Jesus doesn t just transform us spiritually; it transforms every part of our lives and gives us the power to live daily for Him. Brady Cooper Brady Cooper is senior pastor of New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tenn. He is married to his best friend Amy, and they have two boys. Brady loves sports and the outdoors. He leads New Vision Outdoors, a ministry that combines these two loves to guide men to biblical understanding through outdoor adventure. Learn more at newvisionoutdoors.tv. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 13

3 Transformed: My Life in God s Kingdom As you lead your group through this study, help them to know CHRIST and His gracious work, live as contributing servants in the COMMUNITY of faith, and engage the CULTURE without losing distinction. Note in the group plans the icons (below), which identify activities to help group members connect in specific ways to Christ, Community, and Culture. Christ Community Culture Engaging in spiritual disciplines will deepen our walk with Christ. The focus of prayer is to be God, His honor, and His kingdom. 14 TRansformeD: My LIfe IN GOD S KINGDOM

4 We are to pray for each other and with each other. The church is to model what a caring, nonjudgmental community looks like. How believers handle finances and resources stands in sharp contrast to the greedy and worrisome mindset of the world. The way of the world may seem easier, but the world can never deliver what Christ offers. Helping you move from where you are to where God wants you to be. This is your passion for your class or group. Yet helping different individuals each take their next step to grow as disciples is challenging. The Transformational Discipleship Assessment (TDA) is a quick and easy tool to help you discover how you and the members of your group are doing in eight essential areas of discipleship. The TDA provides next steps to help your group move from where you are to where God wants you to be. The assessment is online which allows each group participant to take it in the comfort and privacy of their home, office, or even on their mobile device. Discover more at: TDA.LifeWay.com BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 15

5 TRANSFORMED: MY LIFE IN GOD S KINGDOM Session 1 Transformed in My Worship Matthew 6:1-8,16-18 Session 2 Transformed in My Prayer Matthew 6:9-15 Session 3 Transformed in My Possessions Matthew 6:19-24 Session 4 Transformed in My Plans Matthew 6:25-34 Session 5 Transformed in My Actions Matthew 7:1-12 Session 6 Transformed by My Choices Matthew 7:13-27 Songs, Magazine Articles, and Book Excerpts are available online to support this study. Go to BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog. Here are some examples: Session 2 Transformed in My Prayer Sizing Up the Enemy (HomeLife magazine, July 2015). This article takes a closer look at the resources God has given us to fight our spiritual battles. Session 6 Transformed by My Choices The song Lord, I Believe from Bible Studies for Life: Songs, Volume 2 declares a simple trust in God s Word and His work in our lives. Visit itunes or LifeWayWorship.com to listen and purchase. 16 TRansformeD: My LIfe IN GOD S KINGDOM

6 The Point Giving, praying, and fasting are disciplines of personal worship. The Passage Matthew 6:1-8,16-18 The Bible Meets Life Some people say religion is a private matter, and they keep any hint of faith from public view. Some people make a very public display of their religiosity, especially if it benefits them politically or in their business dealings. Others may derive a sense of good standing or self-righteousness from publicly practicing their religion, but they miss the point of doing the acts the spiritual disciplines presented in Scripture. Jesus shows us a better way to worship.. The Setting Jesus gathered His disciples to a mountainside to instruct them about being citizens of the kingdom of God. Countless others joined Him. His instruction came to be called the Sermon on the Mount. In Jesus message, He underscored the value of worshiping the Father through giving, praying, and fasting. He went on to teach His followers how to practice those disciplines from a heart devoted to growing in Him instead of seeking applause from others. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 17

7 What does the Bible say? Matthew 6:1-8,16-18 (HCSB) Fast (v. 16) To fast is to abstain from eating food for a period of time for the purpose of growing closer to the Lord. 1 Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So whenever you give to the poor, don t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They ve got their reward! 3 But when you give to the poor, don t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They ve got their reward! 6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 When you pray, don t babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him. 16 Whenever you fast, don t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They ve got their reward! 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, 18 so that you don t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 18 SESSION 1

8 THE POINT Giving, praying, and fasting are disciplines of personal worship. GET INTO THE STUDY ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Display a small string of lights and discuss their primary job: to provide illumination. Unable to produce light on its own, the string must be connected to an electrical outlet so that electricity flows through the circuit allowing the bulbs to give off light. In a similar way, the Holy Spirit empowers Christ-followers to live a transformed life. Understanding God s Word, trusting God, and serving others are impossible in our own strength. DISCUSS: Invite your group members to discuss Question 1 on page 13 of the Personal Study Guide (PSG): When has an activity or hobby felt effortless for you? SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 14): It s remarkable how a sailboat can cut effortlessly across the water. No roaring engines drown out the simplicity and beauty of the boat. A gifted sailor knows how to catch the wind. It takes work to position his sails correctly, but once he s done it, his boat moves at a pace he could never produce by his own effort. Jesus preached a masterful sermon found in Matthew 5 7; we call it the Sermon on the Mount. In it, He spoke of three disciplines three sails, if you will that, when we correctly apply them, allow us to catch God s power and experience a life we could never produce on our own. These disciplines are the sails of worship. 10 minutes Notes TIP: NEW! Because we love music as much as you do, each week you ll find a song that corresponds to that week s session. These Playlist Picks are available for purchase on itunes. Download one, a few, or all of them for a custom playlist to use with the Summer 2016 studies. See page 162 for more information. LEADER PACK: Bring your group s attention to Pack Item #2, Transformed poster, to introduce the topic of this six-week study. GUIDE: Call the group s attention to The Point on page 14 of the PSG: Giving, praying, and fasting are disciplines of personal worship. PRAY: Transition into the Bible study by praying for your group. Ask God to help you know and apply His teachings so that you ll experience a transformed life. Post Pack Item #1 to invite others to your study. Display Pack Item #2 to communicate the study topic. PLAYLIST PICK: Nothing More by Aaron Shust BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 19

9 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Matthew 6:1-4 Notes 1 Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So whenever you give to the poor, don t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They ve got their reward! 3 But when you give to the poor, don t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Matthew 6:1-4. SUMMARIZE THE COMMENTARY (VERSE 1): Jesus introduced a critical principle to His disciples to practice as they worshiped and served Him their devotion was a matter of the heart. And, what motivated their service to Him as citizens of the kingdom of God was important. Believers were to be motivated by sincere, wholehearted eagerness to please Him alone. ALTERNATE QUESTION: What are the practical implications of Jesus warning in verse 1? DISCUSS: Question 2 on page 16 of the PSG: When you worship someone or something, what are you stating about them? SUMMARIZE THE COMMENTARY (VERSES 1-2): Worship is our genuine response to the greatness of God. Sincere worship transforms our hearts and our motivations. Our giving, praying, and fasting should be done out of heartfelt adoration for God. Jesus teaches in these verses that seeking out attention or personal glory for ourselves when we give to help others doesn t honor God. DISCUSS: Question 3 on page 17 of the PSG: When has giving felt like an act of worship to you? TRANSITION: Next, Jesus moved from the topic of giving to the practice of praying. 20 SESSION 1

10 THE POINT Giving, praying, and fasting are disciplines of personal worship. Matthew 6:1-4 Commentary Give to help others and not to call attention to yourself. Verse 1: Jesus introduced a critical principle to His disciples to practice as they worshiped and served Him their devotion was a matter of the heart. What motivated their service to Him as citizens of the kingdom of God was important. Believers were to be motivated by sincere, wholehearted eagerness to please Him alone. The principle of proper motivation went to the heart of walking with and serving Him. Verse 2: Jesus applied the principle of proper motivation by calling attention to the poor and the spiritual discipline of giving to them. In those days, public assistance programs sponsored by social service agencies did not exist. Victims of poverty had to depend on the kindness of people in their community in order to survive. Jewish people embraced the responsibility for giving to the poor, and it became a distinctive part of their lives. However, giving to the poor could also attract the applause of people if they noticed it. Thus, an opportunity to give could become a temptation to parade a person s piety so everyone could see it and marvel at it. Some would look for the chance to catch people s attention as they made their contributions. In the temple area, priests placed offering boxes so worshipers could make contributions. People would drop their coins down a brass funnel inserted at the top of the box. The funnel resembled the bell of a trumpet. The larger the amount of money they poured down the funnel, the louder the noise of the coins clanging against the brass. Jesus referred to people who give out of such a shallow motivation as hypocrites. They pretend to be someone they really aren t. While outwardly appearing selfless and benevolent, their hearts exhibit something different. Indeed, they get the applause of the people who behold in astonishment their extravagant generosity. However, that s the only reward they can expect to receive for their charade. Verse 3: Then Jesus turned His attention to His followers and the spiritual discipline of giving they had been taught to practice. He challenged them also to take extreme caution so that their personal acts of worship were not completed as a public display of piety. By talking about giving so the one hand doesn t know what the other hand is doing, Jesus wasn t frowning on a church s practice of maintaining contribution records. Rather, He urged believers to make sure that their motivation for giving honors Him alone. We re to give because of the joy that comes with obeying Him with our resources. Verse 4: We re to give for the pure reason that we want to express our wholehearted devotion to the Lord by sharing the resources He has given to us. The Lord notices us as we give. That s the reward we receive every time we make a contribution in His name and for His glory. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 21

11 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Matthew 6:5-8 Notes 5 Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They ve got their reward! 6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 When you pray, don t babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Matthew 6:5-8. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 18): Jesus rebuked the hypocrites for the way they prayed in the same way He rebuked them for the way they gave. The hypocrites headed to the street corners and made a great show of their prayers. Since God knew their hearts, their actions didn t impress Him. Jesus said we should pray in the same way He said we should give: humbly and privately. As with giving, Jesus wasn t speaking against praying publicly; He spoke against praying for the attention and approval of others. When we pray, we re to focus our attention on God. ALTERNATE QUESTION: Since God already knows our needs before we ask, what s the point of practicing consistent, private prayer? DISCUSS: Question 4 on page 18 of the PSG: When has praying felt like an act of worship to you? DO: Instruct group members to complete the activity on page 17 of the PSG on their own. (Note: The PSG includes a scale for each of the following: giving, praying, and fasting.) It s Personal: On a scale of 1 (out of obligation) to 5 (out of joy), rate your attitude toward giving, praying, and fasting. Giving Praying Fasting TRANSITION: In the next verses, Jesus addressed fasting. 22 SESSION 1

12 THE POINT Giving, praying, and fasting are disciplines of personal worship. Matthew 6:5-8 Commentary Pray with humble sincerity. Verse 5: Jesus also applied the principle of proper motivation to the spiritual discipline of prayer in worship. Jesus drew a distinction between public prayer and private prayer. As He brought up public prayer, He called attention to people who misused it in worship, and He showed that their misuse started in their hearts. They always made their way to public places like synagogues or street corners at one of the daily prayer times. There, they would stand up and pray so people would hear them and be captured by their devotion. According to Jesus, such actors in prayer needed to savor the accolades they received from the people on the street. It would be the only reward they would ever get from such praying. Jesus warning doesn t diminish the value of public prayer in worship. When we pray in a worship service out of a proper motive, we talk to God in the company of others who are worshiping with us. The problem comes with an improper motive nurtured in a heart that s set on getting attention for ourselves when we pray. Verse 6: Jesus went on to teach that applying the principle of proper motive starts with private prayer. That s why He directed the listeners to go to a private place, a room with no distractions and no audience. Once there, they should close out everything that will prevent focusing attention on conversation with the Lord. Verse 7: Another inappropriate motive for praying involved the pagan habit of rambling on and on with meaningless words or phrases. People given over to idol worship fostered the notion they could get their god s attention by making certain sounds and uttering them repeatedly. People passing by on the streets had no choice but to hear the prayers of the idol worshipers as they babbled on and on with their words. Jesus knew some of His disciples might be tempted to follow the example set by the idolaters, arriving at the notion that to get God to listen to them, they would need to repeat the words of their prayers over and over. Verse 8: Jesus instructed that we don t need to babble on and on in the hope the Father will eventually hear and pay attention to our requests. Quite the opposite, He pays attention to us because we belong to Him through Christ. He already knows what we need before we begin to think about what to pray. Prayer, therefore, isn t to get His attention. Prayer is simply to be with Him. Granted, prayer involves bringing our needs to Him, but not because He doesn t already know about them. What Jesus taught in this verse only scratches the surface of what we should do in order to pray effectively. More attention will be given to this vital spiritual discipline in the next session. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 23

13 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Matthew 6:16-18 Notes 16 Whenever you fast, don t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They ve got their reward! 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, 18 so that you don t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Matthew 6: SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 19): When Jesus addressed the practice of fasting, He confronted the same problem as before it was more of an outward show. It was fake. The Pharisees smeared ashes on their faces, so that when they walked the streets they would look gaunt and physically unwell. They wanted everyone to notice the agony they were in as they fasted. The people s sympathetic response to the hypocrites pitiful state was their only reward, Jesus declared. Fasting whether it s abstaining from eating or choosing not to watch TV or engage in social media for a short time allows us to set aside time and space for God. It s a reminder that our needs are ultimately met in Him. ALTERNATE QUESTION: In what part of your life are you most tempted to do things for the praise of people rather than the praise of God? DISCUSS: Question 5 on page 19 of the PSG: What results can we expect when we worship God through giving, praying, and fasting? SAY: We re called to pray, give, and fast as acts of worship. Engage in these spiritual disciplines as a way to focus on God. When you do, you ll experience great reward: the power and presence of God. 24 SESSION 1

14 THE POINT Giving, praying, and fasting are disciplines of personal worship. Matthew 6:16-18 Commentary Deny yourself without making a show of it. Verse 16: Jesus brought up a third spiritual discipline often abused by people who wanted to make a spectacle of their spirituality. Fasting was probably more prominent in the Jewish culture of Jesus day than today. Jewish people honored the Old Testament law that instructed them to fast on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-31) which took place once each year. Israel would gather and worship the Lord in a spirit of repentance and gratitude. Jewish leaders tended to practice fasting more often. Fasting was also incorporated into the lives of Jewish people during the Exile. When God s people were forced to leave Israel and be deported to Babylon, they called for a fast once each year so they would not forget God s judgment on them because of their rebellion (Zechariah 7:2-5). During the time of Jesus ministry, Jewish leaders regularly included fasting in their lives and considered it to be a wholesome act of righteousness. Denying themselves food was to demonstrate that nothing stood in the way of their desire to nourish a healthy relationship with God. Like giving and praying, fasting could provide a hypocrite an open door for practicing piety before anyone who would care to notice. Before onlookers crowded into the public square or at the synagogue, they would display obvious signs of denial and the suffering that accompanied it. They would walk into public places with ashes heaped on their heads to portray the agony of their deprivation. Their faces would flaunt their hypocrisy with looks of sadness and misery. They ensured everyone knew they were fasting. Verse 17: Jesus taught a completely different approach to fasting that requires the motivation for it to be proper because hearts are pure. Notice that Jesus didn t say if but whenever you fast. Obviously, He anticipated His followers would practice this discipline as they grow in relationship with Him. Like the first-century Christians, we have obstacles that get in the way of our walk with the Lord. Your obstacle may be food, or it could be something else. Removing the obstacle may require you to deny yourself of that thing in order to embrace Him as your first priority. As we deny ourselves, Jesus instructed us not to display it to impress others. Go about normal daily routines while you fast. Do not allow attention to this spiritual discipline to catch the attention of others. Verse 18: The reason to work diligently not to display this spiritual discipline is simple. Fasting is not to get somebody s attention and applause. We fast because we want to grow in our walk with our Father. When that s our motivation for denying ourselves, we ll be glad we gave ourselves to it. When we approach fasting in that way, we can expect a rewarding experience that transforms our worship. Our lives will be enriched, our paths will be clearer, and our relationship with Him will be more intimate. The reward of His presence, guidance, wisdom, and strength will be ours to embrace and enjoy. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 25

15 5 minutes LIVE IT OUT SAY: How will you live out these principles this week? GUIDE: Lead group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 20 of the PSG. Check your motives. Do you share about your personal spiritual disciplines on social media? Why do you share it? It s certainly not wrong to go public with our devotion to God, but if we post things just to improve our image or elevate ourselves, it s time to examine our motives. Give with no strings attached. Purchase a $10 water pump handle for villages in South Asia to have access to clean water through the One Cup of Water campaign at onelifematters.org. Do this without drawing attention to yourself; let it be a private act of worship. Fast for an entire day. Take a break from your phone, tablet, TV, or social media accounts. Spend the time you d normally devote to these pursuits connecting with God. Wrap It Up SAY: Jesus challenges us not just to hear the Word but to obey it and put it into practice. Practicing these disciplines is like putting up the sail of a sailboat. Set your sail and experience the power of God in your life. Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid (MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife). 26 SESSION 1