Kingdom Confusion, Part 4: Sacrificial Living
Welcome to the fourth week of our series Kingdom Confusion. This week, Next Gen Pastor Nick Jordan describes how Kingdom Confusions distort our understanding of the law.
Opening Reflection: What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “The Kingdom of God is like…”?
Read Matthew 5:38-48.
Sacrificial Living - A Choice
1. In the Primer Podcast, Nick said that the example he kept coming back to as he wrote this sermon on sacrificial living was marriage. If you’re married, discuss your thoughts on this. If you’re not married, what relationships have you experienced or seen sacrifice be necessary?
2. In what ways do you think choosing to love in a sacrificial way is different from being forced to sacrifice? (ie. paying taxes compared to giving to a local food bank) Can you share any real-life examples where you’ve noticed a difference between doing good out of obligation versus being motivated by love?
Righteousness, Justice, Community, and Generosity
3. Is it possible to perform righteous actions without actually living righteously? Discuss why or why not. What is the difference?
4. When have you struggled with the concept of “an eye for an eye” versus forgiving those who’ve wronged you? How did that experience impact your sense of freedom or peace?
5. Talk about the concept of forgiveness. What do you sacrifice when you “turn the other cheek”?
6. What are some practical ways to love those who don’t love you back? What challenges do you face in doing this?
7. How can we practice generosity without expecting anything in return? What’s the difference between giving to be seen as generous and giving sacrificially?
Application to Daily Life
8. What are some specific areas in your life where you feel called to live more sacrificially? How can we support each other to live out sacrificial love and generosity?
9. What’s one takeaway from this discussion that you want to apply to your life this week?
(*Video available after Sunday services)
