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Explore recent reflections, teaching articles, and encouragement designed to support spiritual formation, faithful presence, and Kingdom living in everyday life.

• Kingdom Alignment Part 2 with Discussion Guide

  Kingdom Alignment Part 2 Discussion Guide

  Summary

  In this sermon from Matthew 6, the pastor explores the theme of generosity as a foundational characteristic of kingdom living. He emphasizes that Jesus does not say ‘if you give’ but ‘when you give,’ making generosity an assumed part of life for followers of Christ. Because God Himself is the ultimate giver, demonstrated most clearly in the gift of Jesus, His children are called to reflect that same open-handed posture toward the world around them.

  Intro Prayer

  Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us together today. As we open your Word and discuss what it means to live generously, we ask that you soften our hearts and open our eyes to the ways you are calling each of us to reflect your character. Help us to set aside our own agendas and truly hear what you want to speak to us today. May this time together draw us closer to you and to one another. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  Ice Breaker

  What is one of the most memorable gifts you have ever received, and what made it so special to you?

  Key Verses

  • Matthew 6:2-4
  • John 3:16
  • Acts 20:35
  • Proverbs 11:25
  • 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

  Questions

  • Jesus says ‘when you give’ rather than ‘if you give.’ What does that distinction tell us about how generosity fits into the life of a follower of Christ?
  • The pastor described generosity as reflecting the heart of the Father. In what ways have you personally experienced God’s generosity, and how has that shaped the way you give to others?
  • The sermon points out that we can do good things for wrong reasons. Have you ever caught yourself being generous in order to receive recognition? What did that reveal about your heart in that moment?
  • Matthew 6:4 says the Father sees what is done in secret. How does knowing that God sees your hidden acts of kindness change your motivation for being generous?
  • The pastor broadened the definition of generosity beyond money to include time, attention, encouragement, listening, and presence. Which of these forms of generosity do you find most natural, and which do you find most challenging?
  • The sermon describes a tension between the culture’s tendency to hold tightly to what we have and the kingdom call to live open-handed. Where do you feel that tension most in your own life?
  • The pastor shared how during COVID the church chose to be generous even when their doors were closed. Can you think of a time when being generous in a difficult season led to an unexpected blessing or breakthrough?
  • How can your small group practically encourage one another to practice hidden generosity this week, and how might you hold each other accountable without turning it into a performance?

  Life Application

  This week, choose one act of generosity to carry out in secret. It could be encouraging someone with a kind word, giving your undivided attention to a person who needs to be heard, volunteering your time, or meeting a practical need. Do it without telling anyone and without expecting recognition. At your next group meeting, reflect on how that experience affected your heart and your sense of connection with God.

  Key Takeaways

  • Generosity is not optional for kingdom citizens. Jesus assumes it as a natural expression of a heart aligned with the Father, who is Himself the ultimate giver.
  • True generosity flows from gratitude, not guilt. Because God has already given us everything we need in Christ, we give in response to his grace rather than to earn His favor.
  • Motivation matters more than the act itself. Performing generosity for public recognition misses the point entirely. God is most honored by giving that is done quietly, in secret, and for His glory alone.
  • Generosity extends far beyond finances. Time, attention, encouragement, listening, patience, and simple presence are all powerful ways to reflect the heart of God to a needy world.
  • Living open-handed is a posture of trust. When we loosen our grip on what we have, we position ourselves to both receive from God and to be used by Him to meet the needs of others.

  Ending Prayer

  Lord, thank you for this time together and for the reminder that generosity is at the very core of who you are. You gave your greatest treasure so that we could have life. Help us to carry that same Spirit into our homes, our workplaces, and our communities this week. Teach us to hold loosely the things you have entrusted to us, and give us eyes to see the needs around us. May our giving, in every form, be an act of worship that points others back to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.

• Kingdom Alignment Part 1 with Discussion Guide

  Kingdom Alignment Part 1 Discussion Guide

  Summary

  This sermon opens a new series on the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on Matthew 6 and the theme of “the Father who sees in secret.” The pastor draws a contrast between outward religious performance and genuine, inside-out transformation that flows from a close relationship with God. Using Job’s ancient question about how a mortal can be righteous before God, and Paul’s declaration in 2 Corinthians 5 that righteousness is a gift received in Christ, the message establishes that true righteousness is not earned through rule-following but received through grace and cultivated in relationship with the Father.

  Intro Prayer

  Heavenly Father, we come before you today with open hearts and willing spirits. We ask that you quiet the noise around us and within us so that we can hear what you want to speak to each of us today. As we gather to discuss your Word, remind us that you are not a God of condemnation but of grace and mercy. Help us to be honest with one another and with you, and may your Holy Spirit guide our conversation toward the things you most want us to receive. In Jesus name, Amen.

  Ice Breaker

  What is one place or time of day where you feel most at peace and able to just be yourself, with no pressure to perform or impress anyone?

  Key Verses

  • Job 9:2
  • 2 Corinthians 5:19-21
  • Matthew 6:4
  • Matthew 6:6
  • Matthew 6:18
  • John 15:4-5
  • Galatians 1:10

  Questions

  • The pastor described the difference between ‘performing a life’ and ‘living the life we are called to.’ What does that distinction mean to you personally, and which one do you find yourself doing more often?
  • Job asked how a mortal can be righteous before God. How would you have answered that question before hearing this sermon, and has your thinking shifted at all after hearing it?
  • The pastor pointed out that Jesus says ‘be careful’ at the start of Matthew 6, warning that it is possible to do the right things for the wrong reasons. Can you think of a time when your motives behind a good action were more about how others saw you than about honoring God?
  • Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 to let our light shine before others, and then in Matthew 6 He warns us not to practice our righteousness in front of others to be seen. How do you personally navigate that tension in your daily life?
  • The sermon emphasized that transformation happens in relationship with God, not through rule-following. What has your experience been with trying to change through willpower or rules versus through spending time with God?
  • John 15 describes abiding in Christ as the source of bearing fruit. What does abiding actually look like in your daily routine, and what gets in the way of it most often?
  • Paul asks in Galatians 1:10 whether he is trying to win the approval of people or of God. Who do you find yourself most trying to please in your everyday decisions, and what does that reveal about your heart?
  • The pastor mentioned that the hidden life with God, those quiet and unseen moments, is where character is formed and motives are purified. What is one practical step you could take this week to protect or create more of that hidden time with God?

  Life Application

  This week, set aside at least one intentional block of time each day for just you and God, with no agenda other than being present with Him. During that time, ask yourself two honest questions: Who am I living for? and Why am I doing what I am doing? Bring your answers to God openly, and invite Him to do the inside-out work that only He can do.

  Key Takeaways

  • Righteousness is not something we achieve through performance or rule-following. It is a gift of grace that flows out of a transformed heart, as Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 5.
  • Jesus is not contradicting Himself between Matthew 5 and Matthew 6. He is clarifying that our visible lives should point people to God, while our private lives must be rooted in genuine relationship with the Father rather than in seeking human approval.
  • The kingdom life is formed in secret. The hidden moments we spend with God are where our character is shaped, our motives are purified, and the fruit that others eventually see is grown.
  • Abiding in Christ, as described in John 15, is the foundation of everything. Transformation happens in the presence of God, not under the pressure of trying to get everything right on our own.
  • Getting the order right matters deeply. We must first live for God and with God, and from that place He empowers us to love and serve people well. Reversing that order leads to exhaustion and empty performance.

  Ending Prayer

  Father, thank you for this time together and for the reminder that you are not a distant judge but a loving Father who sees us in our most private and honest moments. We confess that we sometimes drift toward performing for others rather than simply walking with you. Forgive us for that, and draw us back into the quiet place of abiding with you. As we go into this week, help each of us to live from the inside out, shaped by your grace and empowered by your Spirit. May the hidden moments we spend with you overflow into lives that naturally point others toward you. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus, who became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. Amen.

  Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.