Sunday: The Left & Right Hands — Matthew 6:1-4
Not only are we not to announce our acts of charity to the world, we shouldn’t even let our left hand know what the right hand has done. This really means that we aren’t to keep score, or mark our alms-giving down in a ledger so we can go back to it and pridefully regard our good works. It’s hard for some to do good without being noticed for it, but it’s even harder not to pat ourselves on the back when we’ve done good things. Everything we do, we should

Primary Text: Matthew 6:1-18

Memory Verse: “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:9-12

Introduction:
Matthew 6 focuses on what a Christian does, or how he acts, because of who he now is in Christ, and contains two major sections: (1) the Christian and his spiritual or religious life, and (2) the Christian and his non-spiritual or mundane life. The current lesson

Sunday: Hidden Lust — Matthew 5:27-28
The Pharisees and scribes had reduced the meaning of God’s holy commandments to apply only to outward actions. Jesus taught clearly that one who has sin within his heart need not commit sinful actions to be under sin’s penalty and destruction. The Old Testament separated sin into two primary categories: transgressions and iniquities. Transgressions were the outward commissions of sinful acts, while iniquity referred to the sinful inclinations and lustful passions within one’s heart. To have clean hands and a pure heart, we must deal with both aspects (Psalms 24:4), neither “lifting up the

Primary Text: Matthew 5:27-48

Memory Verse: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:44-45

Introduction:
Jesus illuminated the “heart” of God’s law, showing its core intent. He wasn’t nullifying the law, nor was He adding new concepts to it. The basic reasons

Sunday: The Salt of the Earth — Matthew 5:13
It takes only a little salt to affect a large mass. Its natural properties permeate everything it touches. So it is to be with a Christian life in the midst of an unbelieving world: although the dedicated Christian community is a minority flowing through an ocean of lost humanity, yet we are to wield a powerful influence upon the world. One major aspect of salt is its ability to prevent putrefaction and decay—to preserve wholesomeness. Another quality of salt is to provide savor and prevent staleness. The true Christian will naturally

Primary Text: Matthew 5:13-26

Memory Verse: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

Introduction:
In the Beatitudes, Jesus taught about a true Christian’s godly character. His teaching then moved to the practicalities of living a righteous life, and began by

Sunday: The Merciful — Matthew 5:7
While God’s grace is applied to people in their sins, God’s mercy is applied to people who are suffering as a consequence of their sin. Mercy incorporates sympathy for sin’s victims with the action needed to bring healing and restoration. The true Christian will not rejoice when they see others suffering due to their sinful nature and behaviors but will be filled with anxiety to relieve that suffering. This does not mean to adopt a lackadaisical or permissive attitude about sin, but indeed to hate it and all that it causes. We love the

Primary Text: Matthew 5:7-12; Luke 6:20-26

Memory Verse: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” Matthew 5:7-11

Introduction:
In the last lesson, the first four Beatitudes were studied, dealing with a Christian disciple’s attitude and the related

Sunday: A Night of Preparation — Mark 3:13; Luke 6:12
The multitude’s enthusiastic response to Jesus’ anointed teaching and healing (Mark 3:7-12) compelled Him to withdraw into a mountain for a solitary night of prayer to the Father (something He did frequently, Mark 1:35; Luke 4:42; 5:16). Prayer defined the person and ministry of Christ, and between His prayers He taught and worked miracles. For the demands of the ministry, more voices and hands were needed to carry out God’s work. Jesus’ choice was vital to success. He assembled His dedicated followers the following morning to select and commission the

Primary Text: Mark 3:13-19; 5:1-6

Memory Verse: And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:1-3

Introduction:

Jesus carefully selected men whom He could teach and endue with power to carry on the ministry and gospel of God’s kingdom to the needy multitudes. But these weren’t men chosen only to do a job, but men in whom Christ planned to show the character of God’s