CONNECT
If new people have joined your group, take time to introduce yourselves to each other.
Here are a couple of questions to get the conversation rolling:
1. On a scale of 0–10, how full (10) or drained (0) do you feel coming to group today? Why?
2. What’s a small moment from this week that felt meaningful?

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
This is the third part in a message series titled Jesus at the Center of the Kingdom. The series covers the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7. In the summer of 2024, we looked at Matthew 5. In the summer of 2025, we studied Matthew 6. We’re concluding the series this summer, studying Matthew 7.

Matthew 5-7 is most commonly referred to as The Sermon on the Mount because Jesus gave this powerful teaching from a mountainside (Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain… Matthew 5:1a ESV). The name simply points to where it happened, but the message is much more than a location. It’s an invitation to another way of life. It’s a call to a life of humility that restores and strengthens relationships. To a life of prayer that draws us closer to God and realigns us with His purpose for our lives. It provides us a way to know what is true and who we can really trust. It’s a call to build our lives on the foundation of Jesus so we can stand firm when the storms of life come crashing in. Ultimately, The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ announcement of what His kingdom is like and what kind of people His grace is forming us to become. May we be these kind of people.

PRAY
Take a few minutes to quiet your heart and release the cares of the day. Take a couple of deep breaths and allow any tightness you feel in your neck and shoulders to relax. Then pray together, asking God to meet each of you right where you are. Ask Him to show you more of His beauty, His truth and His direction. Invite others to voice their prayers as they feel led.

GROUP TIPS
◾If your group has eight or more people, it might be helpful to break into circles of four or five for greater participation and deeper discussion. When you come back together, invite each group to share a few takeaways from their conversation.

◾Don’t worry if you don’t get to all the questions. Spend time reading and really thinking about what the Bible is saying and what God is revealing to you personally.

1. Define anxious.
[The Greek word is better translated to worry anxiously].

2. The disciples left their work and families to follow Jesus. Why would they have been worried or anxious?

3. In what areas of life do you tend to worry the most?

4. What did Jesus say is a good remedy for being anxious? Why?

5. Do a search online for a description of lilies. Does that help you understand why Jesus chose this metaphor? Explain.

6. What contrast does Jesus make between your life and grass? How can that distinction be helpful?

7. Writers over the years have described Jesus as relaxed, present, never in a hurry.

a. How often would you say you have this sort of settled spirit?

b. What impact would this way of life have on your relationships?

8. Reflect on the idea of God’s tender care.

a. What are some ordinary ways God cares for you that you don’t always notice?

b. What’s a practical way you could develop a more ongoing awareness of God’s tender care?

9. When you ask people how they’re doing, many people respond I’m so busy. How is busyness related to worry?

10. What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness?

11. How is focusing on God’s kingdom related to His provision?

12. How can worry be a blessing in your relationship with God? How often do you think of it this way?

*️⃣ The Message is commonly understood as a paraphrase rather than a formal translation. NavPress explains, Eugene Peterson renders the meaning, tone, and force of the biblical text in fresh, idiomatic English rather than closely following the original wording. It can help familiar passages sound fresh again, especially for devotional reading. But for study, doctrine and memorization, a more formal or balanced translation such as NIV, ESV, NASB, CSB or NLT is safer.

LIVE IT OUT
Ask God what He wants to say to you, then spend a few minutes quietly listening for Him to speak. This could be a word or phrase from the passage that stands out to you, or a simple thought He brings to mind.

Based on this week’s lesson, God is calling me to _____________________________.

PRAY
Share what you sensed God saying to you and pray for each other.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY
Here’s a great verse to memorize based on this week’s teaching. Read it every day until you know it by heart. Trust God to bring it back to mind at just the right time!

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

App and the Daily Devotional
Spend time with God with the Daily Devotionals available on the App. You can also find Sunday Message resources and videos, leave prayer requests, give and more.

Why Jesus?
If you’ve never experienced God’s forgiveness and grace, we’d love the opportunity to talk with you about a life-changing relationship with Jesus. Email thepastors@brookwoodchurch.org or call 864.688.8200.

Additional Study Tools
For additional Bible Study tools, guides and devotionals, check out bible.com, youversion.com, biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org.