Matthew 4:12-15 | The Kind of People God Uses | The Kingdom is Near

W26_W1_JAN 18

Life Group Guide QUESTIONS

SERMON OUTLINE

THE KIND OF PEOPLE GOD USES

1.       Jesus looks for and uses the people we tend to ___________

2.       Jesus _________, not we Him

3.       Our primary call is to be _________ Him

4.       To follow, we must _________ it all

5.       Our call is to be disciples who ___________ disciples

THE PLAIN MAIN THING:

• -              God advances His kingdom not through human impressiveness, but through His sovereign grace in choosing and transforming ordinary people – like __________.

LIFE GROUP QUESTIONS

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

1.        You’ve got a surprise day off, with nothing planned.  What do you do?

2.        What's one thing that has changed about you since you were a child? What's still the same? 

QUICK REVIEW

1.        Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

2.        Who is one person in your life Jesus might be inviting you to disciple or move toward spiritually?

READ SCRIPTURE

Matthew 4:12-25

1.        How does this passage highlight God’s presence in our world?

2.        What does this passage say about our broken human condition?

3.        How does this passage call me to make change in my life?

DIGGING DEEPER

1.        READ Matthew 4:12-13. Nazareth and Galilee are not exactly the places we would expect Jesus to begin His ministry, as they are not religious epicenters.  Why do you think that this is an unlikely place for Jesus to begin His ministry?

•       READ Matthew 4:14-15, Isaiah 9:1-2.  Isaiah’s prophecy was written about the lands settled by the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, lands that were devastated from the Assyrian invasion. What lasting effects can war have on people? 

•       How do we see Jesus’ impact on this region change the people He connects with?

2.        READ Matthew 4:18-20, Luke 5:1-11. What are some of the key differences in the telling of this story between Matthew and Luke? Why do you think that Matthew left out some major details?

•       READ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Romans 5:6-8.  Matthew’s emphasis was about the moment of change, and highlights how God’s call precedes our readiness, and how He works in our weaknesses.   How have you seen God’s same work in your own life?

3.        READ Matthew 4:20, 22. Simon, Andrew, James, and John all began to follow Jesus in these moments.  How do you think their families and friends would have responded to their decisions?

•       READ Philippians 3:7.  As these men left everything to follow Jesus, have you ever heard of someone leaving relatively important aspects of their life behind to follow Jesus?  Did your response to that situation line up with Paul’s perspective?

TAKING IT HOME

READ Matthew 4:23-25, 2 Corinthians 5:17. In the progression of these three stories, we have seen Jesus’ call for us (1) to repent, (2) to become His disciples, and now (3) to experience healing and life change.  As God calls you to Himself, He never leaves you the same.  How is God directing your life in this season? What changes might He be calling you to make?

PERSONAL REFLECTION

READ James 1:22-25. Take time to pray and ask God: “God, what spiritual blessings have You given me? Where in my weaknesses are You wanting to work right now?” As you pray those words, how do you feel the Lord responding to you? What are you left challenged to do?