Substitution in a Time of Self Effort
Matthew 5:17-20
Josiah Leuenberger
Part of Upside Down Living—July 11 - December 6, 2020
September 4, 2020

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Message Notes

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Series: Upside Down Living
Message: #9 - Substitution in a Time of Self Effort

September 5-6, 2020
Josiah Leuenberger

Scripture | Matthew 5:17-20

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. —Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV)

Notes

Study Guide

Open
Read Matthew 5:17-20 and pray for your time together.

Discuss

  1. What stood out to you the most in the message from this weekend?

  2. Did you grow up in a home with many rules, few rules, or somewhere in between? Were there any rules that you had to abide by that felt particularly burdensome?

  3. What did you hear in this week’s message about the difference between Jesus’ teaching on obedience to the law and the teaching of the Jewish teachers of His day?

  4. How would you paraphrase what it means that Jesus has “fulfilled the Law”? (v. 17) What does this change about a person’s basis for right relationship with God?

  5. If legalism and moralism seek right standing with God based on rule-keeping or meeting the behavioral expectations of a religious community, how is the Christian approach to right standing with God different? How does this change the way Christians relate to God’s commands in scripture?

  6. This week’s teaching highlights the centrality of God’s grace in the life of faith from beginning to end, including our pursuit of growing in Christian maturity. How would you describe the difference having this kind of “gospel-centered” perspective makes versus an approach that is more focused on self-effort?

  7. Is the “gospel-centered” value new to you? What is similar or different about this approach to the faith tradition you grew up in or other faith traditions you have explored?

Close in Prayer