Matthew 8:5-13 (HCSB)A Centurion’s Faith5 When He entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony!”7 “I will come and heal him,” He told him.8 “Lord,” the centurion replied, “I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But only say the word, and my servant will be cured.9 For I too am a man under authority, having...  Read More

JESUS VALUES EVERY PERSONMatthew 8:1-4 (HCSB)A Man Cleansed8 When He came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2 Right away a man with a serious skin disease came up and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”3 Reaching out His hand He touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean.” Immediately his disease was healed. 4 Then Jesus told him, “S...  Read More

AUTHORITY ACKNOWLEDGEDApply The TextBelievers’ lives should exhibit spiritual fruit.Believers are known by their desire to obey God’s  Word.Believers can stand firm on God’s Word.How can the members of your group encourage and hold one another accountable to hear and act on Jesus’s words? Make a list of ways this might be done—phone calls, meeting weekly in pairs, encouraging text messages. Pair u...  Read More

Matthew 7:24-29 (HCSB)The Two Foundations24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a ...  Read More

Matthew 7:15-20 (HCSB)15“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 E...  Read More

Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23  (HCSB)Entering the Kingdom13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My F...  Read More

Matthew 7:7-12 (HCSB)Keep Asking, Searching, Knocking7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a...  Read More

Matthew 7:7-12 (HCSB)Keep Asking, Searching, Knocking7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a...  Read More

JESUS’S WORDS HAVE AUTHORITYMatthew 7:1-6 (HCSB)Do Not Judge7 “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look,...  Read More

TREASUREApply The TextBelievers should focus on heavenly treasures rather than worldly possessions.Placing too much priority on material possessions leads to worry and anxiety.Believers can trust God to provide what they need.People in your Bible study group likely face challenges related to material possessions and/or making ends meet. How could you help one another in these areas?What would you ...  Read More

TREASUREBelievers should focus on heavenly treasures rather than worldly possessions.Placing too much priority on material possessions leads to worry and anxiety.Believers can trust God to provide what they need.People in your Bible study group likely face challenges related to material possessions and/or making ends meet. How could you help one another in these areas?What would you consider to be...  Read More

Questions for the Week 1. When you consider the instruction of performing righteous acts and prayer in secret, what does that mean to you? Is there anything you may need to change in order to honor God more?2. If we serve 2 masters, the Scripture tells us we will hate one and love the other. When you reflect on this, do you find that you are serving yourself, money, or God? How is this reflected i...  Read More