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Sermon Series: We are currently going through a sermon series in the Gospel of Matthew. Today, we’re talking about how Jesus handled a difficult question from the religious leaders.
Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection
23 The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”
29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
In this part of God’s Word, we see yet again, more religious leaders, opposing Jesus. This time it’s the Sadducees trying to trick Jesus. By taking a look at this part of God’s Word, it’s not too difficult to see that these religious leaders are off base in their faith. Unfortunately, we are liable to make the same mistake.
How to tell if your faith is off base:
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Your attitude towards God isn’t holy
Matt. 22:23, Deut. 25:5-10, Ex. 15:11, 1 Pet. 1:15-16, Lev. 11:44-45, 19:2, Heb. 12:14
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You’re more concerned with hypotheticals than reality
Matt. 22:24-28, 1 Tim. 1:3-5, Is. 26:3, Heb. 12:1-2, Phil. 4:8, 1 Pet. 5:18
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You forget that God’s ways are above your ways
Matt. 22:28, 11:25, Is. 55:9, Rom. 11:33-36, John 14:6
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You add to, or take away from, God’s Word
Matt. 22:28-29, 5:18, Deut. 4:2, 12:32, Rev. 22:18-19, Prov. 30:5-6, 2 Tim. 3:16-17
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You don’t realize the power of God
Matt. 22:29, Heb. 4:12, 2 Pet. 1:3, Rom. 1:16, 2 Cor. 6:7
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You forget that this life is temporary
Matt. 22:30-32, James 1:10, 4:14, 1 Pet. 1:24, Ps. 39:5, 1 John 2:17
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God’s convictions don’t change you
Matt. 22:33, 1 John 4:1, Gal. 2:20, 1 John 2:4, Rom. 12:1-2
Reflecting on God’s Word
Getting Started
Take some time to read over Matthew 22:23-33 and pray.
Have you ever read or heard about this before? What stood out to you as we
were talking about it?
What surprised you as we talked about it?
As you think about how the Sadducees got off base in their faith, think about
your own faith. Has there ever been a season of life where you feel like your faith
has gotten off base? If so, what led to that?
On a scale from 1-10, where do you feel like your faith is during this season of your
life?
Diving In
1. Take an inventory of how your attitude has been towards God lately. When you think
about Scripture, spending time with God in prayer, or using your spiritual gifts, are you
excited, cynical or somewhere in between? After taking an inventory, think through and
pray about how you can have a more holy attitude towards God.
2. The Sadducees tried tricking Jesus with a crazy hypothetical question. Unfortunately,
many Christians today still get caught up by outlandish, hypothetical questions, instead of
choosing to stay in reality. Do you struggle with that during this season of your life? Read 1
Timothy 1:3-5. How can you implement what Paul instructs Timothy to do, in your own
life?
3. Sometimes our faith can become off base because we don’t submit to God, realizing
that His ways are above our own. Is that a trap that you struggle with? If so, why, and what
practical step(s) can you take to avoid that trap?
4. The Sadducees took away from God’s Word, while the Pharisees added to it. God’s Word
makes it clear that both are errors, and that we are to just stick to it. Which error are you
more likely to make, and how can you avoid it?
5. A mistake commonly made by those who are driven by intellect, which the Sadducees
probably were, is forgetting about the power of God, which Jesus makes it clear that the
Sadducees had. Why do you think it’s so important to realize and remember the power of
God? How would doing this better help you in your faith?
6. When we remember that this life is only temporary, it changes the way we live. Read
James 4:14. How does this verse help you in your faith?
7. When we refuse to allow God to change us, it is inevitable that we will get off base in our
faith. How can you be more open to God changing you? What kind of impact could that
have on your faith?
Applying the Scripture
What are your biggest takeaways from this passage of God’s Word?
What practical step(s) do you need to implement in your life to apply what God
has taught you in this passage of Scripture?
How would applying this affect your life and your relationship with the Lord?
Who can you ask to keep you accountable to applying this to your life?
Small Group Guide:
Open with prayer.
Go around and give everyone a chance to share about how the past week has been. What’s one highlight? What’s one lowlight?
If your small group has talked about it before, feel free to use this time to hold people accountable to what they’ve asked to be held accountable for previously, and go through the “missional” part of this discussion guide.
Prayer Time:
Pray for each other in your small group to be faithful take the step(s) that you shared above. Pray for each other and the interactions that they have with those who don’t know Jesus. Pray that God would soften the people’s hearts to what He has for them. Pray that God would give everyone opportunities to share the Gospel.
Staying Missional:
Share spiritual/missional conversations you’ve had where you live, work, and play:
Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
Who in your life do you think could be discipleable or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
What’s next?
Discuss the next step for your small group. When will we gather again and what purpose will it fulfill?