FOUR OTHER WAYS TO STUDY MATTHEW’S GOSPEL
FOUR OTHER WAYS TO STUDY MATTHEW’S GOSPEL
Each section below has 8 possible studies. You may be planning to have more meetings than this. Or you may be planning to have fewer meetings than this. If so, choose what is best for your group. The 4 ways are ideas for you to consider.
1 – A general study of the whole book
God became human for us (Matthew 1:18–25).
The test (Matthew 4:1–11).
Right attitudes (Matthew 5:1–6).
Worry and how to avoid it (Matthew 6:25–34).
The
We are waiting for Jesus to return (Matthew 24:1–14).
The death of Jesus (Matthew 27:27–56).
We must believe the evidence (Matthew 27:57–28:15).
2 – Studies of the Sermon (talk) on the mountain
Right attitudes (Matthew 5:1–6).
Be careful! There will be people who will oppose us (Matthew 5:10–12).
Salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16).
Adultery (sex with someone who is married to someone else) and divorce (Matthew 5:27–32) See notes below.
Real prayer (Matthew 6:5–15).
Worry and how to avoid it (Matthew 6:25–34).
Be careful how you tell people about their bad habits (Matthew 7:1–12).
Be careful! A building may look good. But it may not be safe (Matthew 7:24–29).
Notes: a) Adultery means wrong sex. It is between a married person and someone who is not the husband or wife. b) There may be people in your group who are divorced. It may be too hard to deal with the subject in public. If so, choose another passage. One idea is:
When you say a strong promise (an oath). When you do more than you need to do (Matthew 5:33–42).
3 – A selection of parables
We should listen to Jesus (the story about the farmer) (Matthew 13:1–11).
Good people and bad people can live next to each other (the weeds) (Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43).
To care and to forgive (the wicked servant) (Matthew 18:15–35).
God is king. He gives
A message for all nations (the wedding big meal) (Matthew 22:1–14).
Jesus will come again. So be ready! (The 10 girls) (Matthew 24:36–25:13).
Jesus wants us to serve him loyally (the gifts) (Matthew 25:14–30).
Serve God in ordinary activities (the sheep and the goats) (Matthew 25:31–46).
4 – Jesus suffers and dies
The last 8 studies are about Matthew 26 to 28. These would be an excellent series at Easter time.
All these outlines are only ideas. You do not need to follow them exactly. Perhaps you will choose not to follow them at all. Use your own ideas. There is something important for the leader to do. You should read the whole book of Matthew carefully. Then you can ask your group to refer to sections that they have not read. There is something else. You might decide to study only part of a chapter. But the group should still read the whole chapter together. This would help everyone to understand the verses that you, as leader, have chosen.