Sermons

How to Have the Type of Faith You’re Designed to Have Week 67 – Matthew 22:34-45 – 6/1/25

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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. 

The Great Commandment

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Whose Son Is the Christ?

41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?”They said to him, “The son of David.” 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,

44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
    until I put your enemies under your feet”’?

45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”

In this part of God’s Word, we see yet again, more religious leaders, opposing Jesus. This time it’s a lawyer trying to trick Jesus. By taking a look at this part of God’s Word, and particularly at Jesus’ answer, we can learn how to have the type of faith that we are designed to have. 

How to Have the Type of Faith You’re Designed to Have:

  1. Love God with all of your heart

Matt. 22:37, 1 Sam. 1:8, 13, 25:37, Jud. 16:25, Jer. 15:16, 2 Chron. 6:7-8, Ps. 37:4,            Prov. 4:23, 2 Sam. 7:3, Ps. 51:10, Jer. 17:9, Ez. 36:26, Deut. 30:6

  1. Love God with all of your soul

Matt. 22:37, Num. 11:6, 31:19, Ps. 42:2-3, 105:18, Gen. 46:15, Deut. 24:7, Ps. 119:175,     S.o.S 3:1, 1 Cor. 6:17-20, 1 Pet. 4:10

  1. Love God with all of your mind

Matt. 22:37, 15:19, 2 Cor. 10:5, Heb. 4:12, Is. 55:7, Rom. 7:23, Phil. 4:8, Rom. 12:2

  1. Love God with all of your strength

Matt. 22:37, Gen. 1:31, 4:5, 7:18, 1 Sam. 11:15, Gen. 30:43, Num. 14:7

  1. Love others as yourself

Matt. 22:38-40, John 13:34, 1 Pet. 4:8, Eph. 4:32, John 15:12, 1 John 4:20

  1. Accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior

Matt. 22:41-46, Acts 4:12, 1 Tim. 2:5, 1 John 4:10

Reflecting on God’s Word

Getting Started

  • Take some time to read over Matthew 22:34-40 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 reflect on Jesus’ Words from this part of Scripture, on a scale from 1-10, where do you feel like your faith is during this season of your life? 

 

Diving In 

  1. As you think of your heart being a combination of the direction of your life, your interests, resources, and possessions, how well are you loving God with all of your heart during this season of your life? How could you better love God with all of your heart?

 

  1. As you think of your soul being a combination of your physical being and what you do with it, how well are you loving God with all of your soul during this season of your life? How could you better love God with all of your soul?

 

  1. As you think of your mind being a combination of thoughts and ruminations, how well are you loving God with all of your mind during this season of your life? How could you better love God with all of your mind?

 

  1. As you think of your strength being a combination of your energy and will, how well are you loving God with all of your strength during this season of your life? How could you better love God with all of your strength?

 

  1. Jesus makes it clear that you can’t love God without also loving others. Read 1 John 4:20. How can you better love others like Jesus instructs us to?

 

  1. Ultimately, our faith isn’t something that we get just by doing things. Read Ephesians 2:8-9. It starts by repenting of our sins, and accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Then, we can allow God to do His work in our lives. Who around you can you invite to follow Jesus? 

 

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?