"The Good Life" - Week 20

Week 20 - Matthew 5:27-37

I know what your first question is this week.

11 verses? 11 verses? How are you ever going to preach on 11 verses? Good question.

Jesus deals with three topics that are as relevant they were in Jesus' day. These are personal topics that most of us have struggled with from time to time.

Lust...divorce...lying.

How many marriages have been ruined by lust and lying? How many marriages could have been saved with fidelity and honesty?

Jesus isn't merely looking for people who can who stop short of adultery and keep all of their oaths. He's looking for disciples who stop short of lust and don't need to add anything to their "yes" or "no."

Once again, Jesus is looking for a righteousness that runs deeper than externals...a righteousness that runs deeper than the righteousness of the Pharisees.

As you dwell in Matthew 5:27-37, here are a few question to consider and comment on:

1) How are you condoning the lust that is in your life? How do you rationalize it? Do you ever say, "Well, at least I've never cheated on my spouse?"

2) Is divorce an option in your marriage? How can we learn to be more concerned with covenant faithfulness than loopholes allowing for divorce?

3) How honest are you? If the price is high enough, is the truth for sell? How often do you add adjectives to your "yes" or "no"? How does that cause people to be wary of your honesty?

4) How are lust, divorce, and oaths connected? Are they three separate sayings of Jesus or is there a connection worth considering? If so, what is it?

5) What are some ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in 2012?