Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Matthew 7:24-29), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [24-27] Jesus tells us that it is wise to hear his words and do them. But this is not obvious to sinners in a world where doing Jesus’ words is a guaranteed path toward selfless service and suffering. Jesus’ own path led him to the cross, which seems the height of folly to so many. Why do people hear what Jesus has to say and oppose him? Why do his words seem like folly to sinners? Have his words ever seemed like folly to you? Do you think it is good and wise to hear his words and do them? Why or why not?

• Wisdom isn’t just independent critical thinking for navigating/manipulating the circumstances of life in your favor. Biblically speaking, wisdom means knowing God in life, living life with God through faith in Jesus. Hearing the words of Jesus and doing them is wise, because it means participating in his life with God, which he came to reveal to us and share with us. And the test for this wisdom is in weathering the storm—the one who hears the words of Jesus and does them will be able to face anything in life with God. What are some rains/floods/winds that you have faced in relationship with God? What does enduring these storms look like? Does it mean emerging the other side of them unscathed? What good is having a relationship with God if he doesn’t spare you from the terrible storms?

• [28-29] “The crowds were astonished at [Jesus’] teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority.” The fact that the crowds were “astonished” doesn’t mean everybody was responding positively to Jesus. Many accused him of blasphemy for daring to speak with such authority. Do you believe Jesus’ claim to divine authority, to be able to determine and declare what is good without referring to another authority? Why do/don’t you believe his claim? Think about some of the words you have heard from Jesus… Do you think they’re merely the words of a “great human/moral teacher,” or the very words of God himself? If you do accept the divine authority of Jesus, why don’t you always do everything he says? If you do accept the divine authority of Jesus, how do you engage others who don’t? How might you talk to them about the divine authority of Jesus?

• FOR THE CHILDREN: It is obvious that, from a very young age, we don’t like being told what to do. Do you like it when God/Jesus tells you what to do? Is that because there is something wrong with what God/Jesus says? Or is there some other reason you don’t like him telling you what to do? Have you thought about praying that God would help you to do what he says with a cheerful heart?