GF #3

Talk it over . . . Seeking God First As A Church

Taking time to talk things over with a group of friends during Matthew 6:25-33
the week gives you the opportunity to discover where 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not
worry about your life, what you will
Sunday’s message intersects with daily life and to turn what eat or drink; or about your body,
God is saying to you into action steps. These talking points, what you will wear. Is not life more
discussion questions and scriptures are designed to help you important than food, and the body
take your next step. more important than
clothes?26 Look at the birds of the
air; they do not sow or reap or store
In this week‟s study we took a look at another passage in Matthew away in barns, and yet your
that gives us a better idea of what it means to “seek first his heavenly Father feeds them. Are
kingdom and his righteousness.” Pastor Doug showed us that God you not much more valuable than
has called us together into a community called the church. When they? 27 Who of you by worrying
can add a single hour to his life?
we put God 1st, the power for our lives comes to us in the context of 28 “And why do you worry about
this community. Take a moment to re-read Matthew 16:13-19 then clothes? See how the lilies of the
dig deeper by talking over your answers to these questions. field grow. They do not labor or
spin.29 Yet I tell you that not even
Solomon in all his splendor was
● Have you chosen to put God first in your life? What does that dressed like one of these.30 If that
is how God clothes the grass of the
look like for you? What does it mean?
field, which is here today and
tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will
● Are you a part of a community of people who have chosen that he not much more clothe you, O
you of little faith? 31 So do not
as well? worry, saying, „What shall we eat?‟
or „What shall we drink?‟ or „What
● If not – what reservations do you have about doing so? shall we wear?‟32 For the pagans
run after all these things, and your
heavenly Father knows that you
● How would/does being a part of a community like this need them.33 But seek first his
impact your life? kingdom and his righteousness, and
all these things will be given to you
as well. (NIV)
● What does it mean to help build the kingdom of God? What
Matthew 16:13-19
does active participation in the church have to do with it?
13 When Jesus came to the region
of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his
disciples, "Who do people say the
NEXT STEPS Son of Man is?“ 14 They replied,
"Some say John the Baptist; others
Put it down in black and white. What are one or two say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah
or one of the prophets.“ 15 "But
things you can do this week to participate in building the what about you?" he asked. "Who
kingdom of God? do you say I am?“ 16 Simon Peter
answered, "You are the Christ, the
Son of the living God.“ 17 Jesus
• __________________________________________ replied, "Blessed are you, Simon
son of Jonah, for this was not
revealed to you by man, but by my
• __________________________________________ Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you
that you are Peter, and on this rock
I will build my church, and the gates
• __________________________________________ of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I
will give you the keys of the
kingdom of heaven; whatever you
bind on earth will be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven."

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,

and all these things will be given to you as well.”
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