Under the Surface

What Lies Beneath

Kirk Cowman

Matthew 12:33-37

Big Idea:  What’s under the surface always comes up.

Sermon Notes:

Getting rid of the fruit doesn’t get rid of the problem

Your heart hides the truth

Your response reveals the truth about you

Jesus is more concerned with relationship with you than with your comfort

Ask the question:  What’s underneath that?

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever walked away from a conversation wondering “where did that come from?” (Either your reaction or the other person’s reaction).  What happened?  Share your story.
2. Read Matthew 12:22-37. Matthew 12:25 says that Jesus knew the Pharisee’s thoughts.  What do you think the Pharisees were thinking and feeling based on the passage?   Put yourself in the Pharisee’s place, how would you feel, what would be going through your mind if you were in this situation? 
3. Jesus teaches that a tree is identified by its fruit. If your life is a tree, the fruit are the actions, words and characteristics that reveal who you really are.  Your actions and words identify the type of “tree” you.  How does that make you feel? 
4. Read Galatians 5:22-23. The “fruit” listed in Galatians 5 identify a person as a disciple of Jesus living a Spirit-filled life.  Which of the characteristics listed in Galatians 5 is most lacking in your life?  Why?  
5. How does Matthew 12:36-37 make you feel? Why?  Pastor Kirk taught that in these two verses Jesus is challenging the Pharisees and us to pay attention to our responses, both words and actions, because they reveal what’s going on in our heart.  Do you agree with this interpretation?  Why or why not? 
6. The translators of our modern Bibles often separate Matthew 12:22-45 into three segments, but they should be seen as one encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees with V33-37 as the central teaching or point.
   1. If the point of this encounter is found in what Jesus says in Matthew 12:33-37, why does Jesus teach about demons and a divided kingdom in Matthew 12:25-32?
   2. What does Matthew 12:38-45 add to the central point that Jesus establishes in Matthew 12:33-37? Why would the author, Matthew, include this section with the previous? 
7. Since hearing this sermon, have you been paying attention to your responses? What have you observed or discovered about yourself? 

Community Reading Plan: 1 Samuel 1-6

This week add 1 Samuel to your devotions. Read a chapter a day up to and including chapter 6. If a chapter is to light then read through these 6 chapters multiple times. Dive in. Look at the relationships that are present in these chapters and keep two questions in mind.

• What do I need to know from this chapter (a truth about reality or God or a life lesson)?
• What do I need to grow (Is there something God is trying to teach me through His Word)?

Keep a journal nearby and write down any questions or thoughts you can share with your Community Group.

Remind and encourage each other to participate in this group devotion.