Flip The Script

Service Times: 9:15a & 10:45a

Flip The Script

Author

The Gospel of Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew, a tax collector and one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. Though the text itself doesn’t name its author, the early church unanimously affirmed him as the author.

Audience

Matthew’s Gospel was written with a Jewish-Christian audience in mind. By weaving Old Testament prophecies into his narrative, Matthew connects Jesus’ life and mission to the long-awaited Messiah of Jewish Scripture. His message also extends to the nations, showing that God’s Kingdom is for everyone.oesn’t name its author, the early church unanimously affirmed him as the author.

Purpose

Matthew’s Gospel reveals Jesus as the new and greater Moses, delivering the radical values of God’s kingdom that flip worldly expectations upside down. He redefines righteousness as a matter of the heart, calling His followers to live counter-culturally with humility, mercy, and love for enemies. Through teachings on prayer, trust, and discipleship, Jesus invites us to a life of internal transformation and complete dependence on God.

Setting

After Jesus’ baptism and testing in the wilderness, He begins His public ministry in Galilee. Jesus’ early ministry includes calling His first disciples and performing miracles, which demonstrate His authority and set the stage for His teaching. The Sermon on the Mount, which spans chapters 5-7, takes place on a hillside near the Sea of Galilee, evoking imagery of Moses receiving the Law on Mount Sinai. In this sermon, Jesus presents a new, radical ethic for kingdom living that contrasts with both Roman and Jewish expectations.

Date

Scholars believe Matthew’s Gospel was written between 50 and 90 AD, likely before the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. This timeframe places it as one of the earliest written accounts of Jesus’ ministry.

Sermon Discussion Guide

Matthew 4:1-11

  1. Read Matthew 4:1-11 and/or recap this week’s sermon. How did each of Satan’s temptations challenge Jesus’ identity and mission?
  2. How does Jesus’ response to temptation demonstrate the power of knowing and applying Scripture?
  3. Think of a recent time you felt tempted. What lies did the temptation whisper to you, and how might you counter those lies with God’s truth?
  4. How does knowing that Jesus overcame temptation help you when you’re facing your own struggles? How can His example give you strength and encouragement?

Matthew 4:12-25

  1. Read Matthew 4:12-25 and/or recap this week’s sermon. What do you notice about the disciples’ response when Jesus calls them to follow Him?
  2. How does Jesus’ choice to call ordinary fishermen challenge our ideas of who God uses for His work?
  3. What might God be calling you to leave behind or surrender in order to follow Him more fully?
  4. Jesus invites the disciples to be “fishers of men.” What does it look like for you to live out that calling in your everyday life?

Matthew 5:1-12

  1. Read Matthew 5:1-12 and/or recap this week’s sermon. Which Beatitude stands out to you the most and why?
  2. How do the Beatitudes challenge the world’s definition of success and happiness?
  3. Can you share a time when you experienced blessing in a way that seemed upside down or unexpected?
  4. Which of these kingdom values—humility, mercy, purity, or peacemaking—do you want to grow in this week? How can we support you in that?

Matthew 5:13-16

  1. Read Matthew 5:13-16 and/or recap this week’s sermon. What does it mean to be “salt” in the world? What does it mean to be “light”?
  2. In what areas of your life do you see opportunities to bring flavor, preservation, or light to those around you?
  3. How do we sometimes lose our “saltiness” or hide our light? What can help us stay distinct and visible for God’s glory?
  4. Jesus says our good works should point people to God. Can you share a time when someone’s actions or faith inspired you to seek God?

Matthew 5:17-20

  1. Read Matthew 5:17-20 and/or recap this week’s sermon. What does Jesus mean when He says He came to fulfill the law and the prophets?
  2. How is the righteousness Jesus describes different from the external, rule-based righteousness of the Pharisees?
  3. What does it look like for you to pursue heart-level obedience to God rather than just outward compliance?
  4. Why is it important to understand that Jesus fulfilled the law for us? How does this shape your relationship with God?

Matthew 5:21-26

  1. Read Matthew 5:21-26 and/or recap this week’s sermon. How does Jesus’ teaching on anger deepen our understanding of the commandment “Do not murder”?
  2. Why does Jesus place such a high priority on reconciliation before worship? How can we live this out today?
  3. Reflect on a relationship where you need reconciliation. What steps can you take toward healing that relationship?
  4. Reconciliation doesn’t always mean restoring full trust or removing boundaries. How can you pursue peace with someone while still protecting yourself emotionally or relationally? How does this balance reflect God’s wisdom and love?
  1. Read Matthew 5:27-30 and/or recap this week’s sermon. How does Jesus flip the script on the commandment against adultery?
  2. Why does Jesus place such emphasis on guarding our thoughts and hearts?
  3. What are some practical ways you can protect your heart and mind from impurity?
  4. Jesus speaks of taking radical steps to avoid sin. What might this look like in your life?

Matthew 5:33-37

  1. Read Matthew 5:33-37 and/or recap this week’s sermon. Why does Jesus challenge the need for elaborate oaths and promises?
  2. What does it mean to let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no”?
  3. How does honesty and integrity in our speech reflect God’s character?
  4. Have you ever experienced the consequences of broken promises or dishonesty? How can we grow in truthfulness?

Matthew 5:38-48

  1. Read Matthew 5:38-48 and/or recap this week’s sermon. How does Jesus’ teaching on loving enemies challenge our natural instincts?
  2. Why is it important to respond to hurt with grace rather than revenge?
  3. Can you share a time when you chose to forgive or love someone who wronged you? How did it impact you?
  4. How does loving our enemies reflect the character of God and His love for us?
  1. Read Matthew 6:1-18 and/or recap this week’s sermon. Why does Jesus warn against practicing righteousness to be seen by others?
  2. What’s the difference between seeking human recognition and seeking God’s approval?
  3. How do prayer, fasting, and giving shape your relationship with God?
  4. How can you cultivate a more genuine devotion to God?
  1. Read Matthew 6:19-24 and/or recap this week’s sermon. Why does Jesus contrast storing up treasures on earth with storing up treasures in heaven?
  2. How do our priorities reflect where our hearts truly are?
  3. What are some ways you can invest in eternal treasures rather than temporary ones?
  4. How does the way you handle money and possessions reflect your trust in God?

Matthew 6:25-34

  1. Read Matthew 6:25-34 and/or recap this week’s sermon. What worries tend to weigh you down the most?
  2. How does Jesus’ teaching on God’s provision challenge our desire for control?
  3. What does it mean to “seek first the kingdom of God” in your daily life?
  4. How can you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness when you’re tempted to worry?

Matthew 7:1-6

  1. Read Matthew 7:1-6 and/or recap this week’s sermon. How does Jesus challenge our assumptions about judging others? What does He say is the right first step before offering correction?
  2. Why is it often easier to notice others’ flaws than to recognize our own? How does honest self-reflection help us engage more graciously with others?
  3. Jesus warns against casting “pearls before swine.” What do you think this means in the context of offering truth or correction? How can we practice discernment in our conversations?
  4. Can you think of a time when someone corrected you in a way that was both truthful and loving? What made it helpful—and how can you offer that same kind of grace to others?

Matthew 7:7-12

  1. Read Matthew 7:7-12 and/or recap this week’s sermon. How does Jesus’ invitation to ask, seek, and knock encourage persistence in prayer?
  2. What does this passage reveal about God’s character as a Father who gives good gifts?
  3. How have you experienced God’s faithfulness in answering your prayers?
  4. How does the “Golden Rule” challenge you to rethink the way you interact with others, especially in difficult or uncomfortable situations? In what areas of your life do you find it hardest to apply this principle, and why?

Matthew 7:13-29

  1. Read Matthew 7:13-29 and/or recap this week’s sermon. What stands out to you in Jesus’ final warnings about the narrow path and wise builder?
  2. How does Jesus differentiate between hearing His words and living them out? What does it look like to build your life on the rock in practical, daily ways?
  3. Jesus says not everyone who calls Him “Lord” truly follows Him. How can we check our own hearts for genuine obedience rather than just outward appearances?
  4. When storms hit—whether trials, doubts, or suffering—what helps you stand firm in your faith? How have you seen the strength of a life built on Jesus?
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Sermons