Week 5

Look Back

How did you trust that God's mercy applies to you by keeping the covenant to His best interest?

Look Up

Read Matthew 7:1-5

1. How easy is it for you to judge others? Are there certain types of people or actions that you tend to judge more harshly? Why do you think you do this?
2. What does Jesus say is the consequence of judging? What does this mean to you personally?
3. What in your life would change if you were to examine yourself before judging others?

Read Matthew 7:12-14

1. What does verse 12 say is the key to obeying God’s laws? How easy is this for you to accept and apply in your daily life?
2. Why do you think Jesus talks about a “narrow gate” right after He talks about how we should treat others? What point do you think He was trying to make?

Read Matthew 7:21-24 and Psalm 147:11

1. What warning does Jesus give in the passage from Matthew? Do you think He was talking about fear of God, love of God or both?
2. What “defense” do the people give in verse 22? What does this say about people?
3. What does Jesus say is really most important in verse 24? How does this apply to what He taught in the prior passages from Matthew 7?

Overall (Discovery Bible Study)

• What do these scriptures say about God?
• What do they say about people?
• How will I apply this to my life?

Look Ahead

Are you trying to fix God rather than obey Him? How can you show your faith in God this week by trusting Him instead of trying to fix Him and by loving people instead of trying to fix people?

Notes

Trying to fix other people or fix God is an impossible and futile task. Trying to fix people typically results in more drama, while trying to fix God assumes that we know more than God. We only have control over one person in life - ourselves. When we focus on the challenge of fixing ourselves and accepting God’s guidance, we gain new perspective and appreciation for God.