This Fall Coastline Bible Church started preaching through the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount was preached by Jesus to the disciples and a larger crowd of people. If you have a physical Bible, I want you to notice that every word we’ll be studying for the next couple of months is red. The Sermon on the Mount is found in Matthew chapters 5-7. It is arguably the most famous sermon ever preached. It wasn’t filmed but preached in a way the crowd could understand, retain, and apply it to their lives. Jesus preached this sermon on the North Shore of the Sea of Galilee in the region where His public ministry began. It’s called the Sermon on the Mount because it was preached on the side of the hill here.
Small Group Questions | Kingdom Character | Matthew 5:31-37
In Matthew 5:31–37, Jesus connects the covenant promises of marriage with the ordinary commitments we make every day. Marriage demonstrates the weight our words can carry, but Jesus does not allow integrity to remain at the wedding altar. He brings it into our homes, friendships, workplaces, and every conversation we have. Rather than searching for technical loopholes or relying on exaggerated promises to make our words believable, Kingdom people are called to speak truthfully, honor their commitments, and become people whose simple “yes” or “no” can be trusted. We will not always do this perfectly, but our hope rests in Jesus, the faithful One.
1) The sermon began with Neal talking about making pinky promises as a child. Did you ever use a pinky promise to convince someone that you were serious? Talk about how we use language to convince people we are committed to something.
2) Read Matthew 5:31–32, Deuteronomy 24:1–4 and Matthew 19:3–9. What distinction does Jesus make between what Moses permitted because of hard hearts and God’s original intention for marriage?
3) Read Ephesians 5:21–33. What does the relationship between Christ and the Church teach us about covenant faithfulness in marriage? How can Coastline, no matter our relational status, help honor marriage and support healthy relationships?
4) Read Matthew 5:33–36. Jesus mentions heaven, earth, Jerusalem, and even a person’s head. What is He teaching about God’s presence and ownership over every part of life? What modern verbal loopholes do people use to avoid responsibility for their words?
5) The Old Testament teaches us about teach us about vows and commitments. Read: Leviticus 19:12, Numbers 30:2, and Ecclesiastes 5:4–6. Why is it important to think carefully before giving someone our word?
6) Excitement, pressure, fear of disappointing others, and people-pleasing can cause us to say yes too quickly. What makes it difficult for you to set boundaries or make wise commitments? What could help you pause before answering?
7) Read Read Matthew 5:37 and James 5:12. What does it mean to let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no? What would change in our families, friendships, workplaces, and church if people could consistently trust our words?
Close your time praying for wisdom to live the life Jesus invites us to!
