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Group Discussion
Questions for facilitating dynamic discussion
The Writings
April 5,2025
Week 6: Lifestyle
Mark Lennox
Matthew 7:24-27
It’s amazing to think that God Himself, in order to connect with each one of us, penned a book to the whole world. That result? The Bible, the best-selling book of all time, a book with the solidity to hold up our lives under the most trying circumstances. We wrap up this series with a discussion about the importance of what we do with what God’s Word tells us.
Would you rather have the ability to always give the right answer or always take the right action?
1. What do people mean when they claim something was “foundational” to their lives, their marriage, their career?
2. Read Matthew 7:24-27. In this parable, as we learned from the sermon, Jesus used the image of builders to contrast two responses to His words. What quality do both the wise and foolish builder share [they both heard Jesus’ words]? What marks the difference between them?
3. Now read Matthew 7:15-20. In this parable Jesus uses the image of fruit trees – what does the fruit represent? What is the implication regarding our response to God’s Word?
“Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” (Matthew 7:20, NLT)
4. Continue on in the chapter, reading Matthew 7:21-23. Why do some who profess Jesus as Lord still get rejected from the kingdom of heaven? Who does enter? How then do these two earlier passages in Matthew flow into the parable of the builders? What is the common thread and what does it say about its importance to God?
5. Have you ever considered that you are building something when you interact with God’s Word? When has God’s Word and your commitment to obeying it helped you through difficulties/storms?
While reading the Bible this week, try to find what God is asking you to do. How will you practice what you have heard? Consider how you can continue to lay a sure foundation for your life by how you act so you will be prepared for the storms that are sure to come.
“[Moses] said to them, ‘Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life…’” (Deuteronomy 32:46-47a, NIV)