REVIEW

In Scripture, The Heart always refers to the core of a person’s identity. It controls the intellect, emotions, and will.

“A person’s identity is the set of purposes, priorities, perspectives, and principles that are held, consciously or unconsciously, that guide their feelings, decisions, and behaviors.” —- Dr. Eric Moyer

Sin is an identity issue
Salvation is an identity solution
Sanctification is an identity process

*Principles are Identity’s Truths
*Perspectives are Identity’s Point of View
*Purpose is Identity’s Motivation

PREPARE

Our priorities are Identity’s choices. It has been said how you spend your days is how you spend your life. The choices we make reveal our priorities. We make time and room in our budgets for what is important to us. In the life of a believer our overarching priority is to glorify God. Bringing praise, honor and glory to His name supersedes all other priorities. Paul put it this way; “I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8-11)

God’s glory is a theme woven throughout scripture. Prepare for this week’s message by reading: Romans 15:5-6, 13, Ephesians 3:17-21, Philippians 4:19-20, Colossians 3:16-17, 1 Timothy 1:17, 6:15-16, Hebrews 13:20-21, 2 Peter 3:18, Jude 24-25

LISTEN

Verses: Matthew 6:19-33

Main Point: The priority of follower of Jesus is to seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.

1. The Treasure Principle (Matthew 6:19-24)

2. Seeking One Thing (Matthew 6:25-34)

3. Priority and Priorities

REFLECT

1. What impacted you most from this week’s message? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about the character of God?
2. How do you make important decisions in life? What is your top priority? How does this priority influence your relationships, how you use your resources, and how you spend you time? By examining your life, does your stated priority line up with how you live?
3. How would you define the word priority? How does the identity transformation process affect a Christian’s priorities?
4. Read Matthew 6:19-24. What conflict did Jesus talk about in these verses? What did Jesus mean when he said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”? How does what we treasure reveal where our hearts find their satisfaction?
5. What does it mean to store up treasures in heaven? How does storing up earthly treasure compare to storing up treasure in heaven? How does the treasure we focus on most affect our priorities?
6. Jesus makes it clear that every person will ultimately serve something or someone as a top priority. What does it look like to make God your top priority? What does it look to make money your priority?
7. Read Matthew 6:25-34. What did Jesus reveal about God’s loving care in these verses? What do we learn about how much God values His people?
8. Read verse 33. What does Jesus set as the top priority for all His disciples? What does it mean to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness?
9. How does seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness affect our perspective on our lives?

ACT

- What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
- How can you deepen your relationship with God and follow Him more closely this week?
- Who is someone you can share what you learned with?