Yass Community Baptist Church
Part VI of our series "The Sermon on the Mount: The Teachings of Jesus"
Matthew 7:7-14 NIV
Sermon on the Mount Part VI
Today message is part VI of our series on Jesus’ teaching in the sermon on the mount. In today’s passage Jesus addresses key issues the church faces today.
1. Passivity and apathy
2. Low expectations of God
3. Misunderstanding the character of God
Ask, Seek, Knock, Do, Enter
Matthew 7:7, 12-14 NIV
Should Jesus followers be passive and apathetic? These few short verses of Jesus’ teaching are loaded with verbs. Verbs require action! Ask, seek, knock, do and enter. Jesus teaches his disciples to actively and passionately pursue the things of God’s kingdom.
What are you asking, seeking, knocking for?
What do you want God to do in your life, church, community?
Exponentially Increase Your Expectations of God
Matthew 7:8 NIV
In case we missed the point in verse 7, in verse 8 Jesus makes it clear that we should expect a response from God. He draws a straight line from asking to receiving, seeking to finding and knocking to doors opening. Our levels of expectations drive our level of asking, seeking and knocking.
What is your level of expectation looking like?
Do you expect God to respond when you pray?
James 4:1-3 NIV
God is a Good Good Father
Matthew 7:9-11 NIV
Our belief that God will answer when we ask, seek and knock are not anchored in our goodness but on the character of God. And God’s character is that of a good and perfect heavenly Father. Unless we have a true picture of who God is, our expectations will always be low.
Do you know God as a good and loving Father?
As our life groups gather this week, we have attached our reference verse and some questions to prompt a deeper discussion and search into this week's topic.
If you are not currently part of a life group, and would like to join a small group of like minded people in fellowship and connection during the week, please contact Nick on 0417472474 to register your interest.
Matthew 7:7-14 NIV
1. What do you believe Jesus means for his followers to do when he teaches his followers to ask, seek and knock?
2. Share testimonies of times that you have asked and received, sought and found or knocked and had doors open for you.
3. Have there been times when you have not received answer to prayer? If how do you understand those times in light of what Jesus teaches in this passage?
James 4:1-3 NIV
4. Are there things that you desire from God, but you have not asked him for? Why?
5. In Matthew 7:9-11, Jesus anchors our level of expectation to receive what we ask for from God in the goodness of God as a father. Do you ever struggle to know and understand God as a good Father?
6. How might you grow in understanding and knowing God as Father?
Prayer
Take some time to share with each other your true Kingdom shaped desires and then spend time in prayer asking, seeking and knocking with expectation.
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