LifeGroup Leader Podcast

The King and Counterfeit Kingdoms: Preparing for God’s Great Banquet | Matthew 22:1–14

Main Text: Matthew 22:1–14 (ESV) 1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” ’ 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” Preaching Point: We must respond appropriately to God’s gracious invitation to his Son’s banquet, or risk being excluded from his eschatological celebration. Teaching Points: 1. Don’t Neglect God’s Invitation (vv. 1-7) 2. Prepare to Stand Before God (vv. 8-13) 3. Call Everyone, Warn Everyone (v. 14) Application Questions: 1. Write down one observation or application that you found helpful from this week's sermon. Why did it stand out to you? 2. Read Isaiah 65:12–15 and Hebrews 2:1–4. How do these passages show you that "neglect" is not a neutral middle ground but its own form of rejection? 3. What "farms" and "businesses" (Matthew 22:5), work, hobbies, kids' activities, side projects, domestic activities, etc., are most likely to steal your attention from God's eschatological banquet? 4. What is one specific, concrete step you can take this week to put them in their proper place? 5. Read Revelation 19:6–8, Isaiah 61:10–11, and Matthew 22:8–13. What do these passages teach you about the significance of coming to God’s eschatological banquet with the appropriate attire? 6. What does the speechless man in Matthew 22:11–12 expose about the danger of someone coming to God’s eschatological banquet on their own terms? 7. Read Philippians 3:8–11 and Galatians 3:26–27. How does being clothed in Christ, rather than in your own moral performance, religious activity, or theological knowledge qualify you for the wedding banquet? 8. Read Ezekiel 33:1–9 and Acts 20:25–27. Salvation is God's sovereign choice, but God's sovereignty does not remove human responsibility. That means not only is each person responsible to respond to God’s invitation, but each believer is also responsible to call everyone and warn everyone concerning salvation and judgment. How does Ezekiel's warning to the watchman and Paul's confident "I am innocent of the blood of all" (Acts 20:26) sharpen your sense of personal accountability for those who do not yet know Christ?

The King and Counterfeit Kingdoms: Coups, Corruption and the Vindication of the Son | Matthew 21:33–46

Main Text: Matthew 21:33–46 (ESV) 33 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet. Preaching Point: Knowing that God will call our lives into account should move us from a self-focused life to one united with Christ and governed by his authority. Teaching Points: 1. Expect God to Collect (vv. 33-34) 2. Respect God’s Ownership (vv. 35-41) 3. Submit to the Son’s Authority (vv. 42-46) Application Questions: 1. Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon. 2. Read 2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:12, and Luke 12:42–48. What do these passages teach you about your accountability before God for what he has entrusted to you? 3. If Christ scheduled your BEMA judgment for next week, what specific areas of your life would you be most concerned about giving an account for? 4. How can you prepare now to account for those areas in a way that will honor the Lord? 5. Read Romans 1:18–25, Psalm 24:1, and 1 Corinthians 6:19–20. Why is the temptation to live as though your life is your own such a serious offense against God? 6. Where in your life have you been treating something as "mine" when it actually belongs to God? (Marriage, money, kids, time, body, gifts, work, influence, etc.) How do you plan on surrendering these to God? 7. Read Acts 4:11–12 and 1 Peter 2:4–10. Do you live as if Jesus is the cornerstone of your life? Explain. 8. Where are you most tempted to step around Christ's authority rather than build your life on him? 9. What is one specific area of your life you need to bring under Christ's authority today?

The King and Counterfeit Kingdoms: Counterfeit Confessions | Matthew 21:28–32

Main Text: Matthew 21:28–32 (ESV) 28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him. Preaching Point: Knowing how much God despises counterfeit confessions should strengthen our resolve to come to him with genuine faith marked by repentance and obedience. Teaching Points: 1. Understand What God Expects from You (vv. 28-31a) 2. Respond to God with Repentance and Faith (vv.31b-32) Application Questions: 1. Read Matthew 21:28–32. Why exactly did Jesus condemn the religious leaders? 2. What should you take away from this parable? 3. Read Luke 6:46–49. What does Jesus’ parable in Luke 6 teach you about the nature of genuine faith? 4. Why must obedience be determinative in examining whether or not you truly follow Jesus? 5. James 1:22–25. How do James’ words help you grasp what God thinks about the person who hears his words and does not act on them? 6. Where in your life are you most tempted to say the right things to God but fail to follow through? Be specific. 7. Read Luke 24:46–47 and Mark 1:14–15. Repentance and faith are the foundational elements to responding to Jesus. What dangers arise when faith is defined purely as “a mental ascent to the facts” and the importance of repentance is diminished or outright rejected? 8. How would you explain the concept of repentance and faith as they pertain to the gospel to a non-Christian? 9. How would you tell a Christian how they can apply repentance and faith in their life each day?

The King and Counterfeit Kingdoms: Confronting Counterfeits | Matthew 21:23-27

Main Text: Matthew 21:23-27 (ESV) 23 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. Preaching Point: Jesus’ tactic for exposing counterfeits should embolden us to use similar tactics to engage those who appear genuine yet lack the sincerity to follow Jesus. Teaching Points: 1. Probe for Genuineness (vv. 23-25a) 2. Expose Intent (vv. 25b-27a) 3. Refuse to Answer Insincere Questions (v. 27b) Application Questions: 1. Why did the religious leaders confront Jesus at the temple in Matthew 21:23-27 on the subject of authority? 2. What did the religious leaders’ answer to Jesus' question reveal about their intent? 3. Why did Jesus refuse to answer their questions? 4. Read Matthew 21:23-25a and Proverbs 14:15. Why is assuming that every spiritual question is sincere unwise? Where have you seen this play out in real conversations? 5. How can you grow in your ability to probe for genuineness as you talk to others about Jesus? 6. Read Proverbs 20:5 and Matthew 21: 25b-27a. What are some of the potential benefits (for you and for them) of exposing someone’s intent before answering their questions? 7. What would exposing someone’s intent, as Jesus did, look like today? What would be a sinful or unhelpful way to expose someone’s intent? 8. Read Proverbs 26:4, Proverbs 23:9, and Matthew 21:27b. Like Jesus, why should Christian’s refuse (for the most part) to answer insincere questions? 9. What are the dangers of continuing a conversation with someone who refuses to deal honestly with the truth?

Title: The King and Counterfeit Kingdoms: Figs and faith | Matthew 21:18-22

Main Text: Matthew 21:18-22 (ESV) 18 In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. 20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” 21 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Preaching Point: The words of Jesus should prompt us to consider the judgment awaiting all forms of counterfeit faith while encouraging us with the powerful effects of genuine faith in God. Teaching Points: 1. Grasp God’s Disdain for Counterfeit Faith (vv. 18-19) 2. Expect God’s Generosity Toward Unwavering Faith (vv. 20-22) Application Questions: 1. Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon. Why did it stand out to you? 2. Read Amos 5:21-24 and Matthew 15:7-9. Why do you think God rejects outward expressions of counterfeit faith? 3. How can you inspect yourself to make sure you aren’t a fruitless fig tree (Matthew 21:19) or someone who honors God with your lips while your heart is far from God? 4. Read Hebrews 11:6, James 1:5-8, and Matthew 21:21-22. Why is doubting, double-minded “faith” evidence of a lack of trust in God’s generosity toward genuine faith? 5. How can double-minded or wavering faith show up in your prayer life? How can you grow in faith-filled prayer? 6. Read 1 John 5:14-15. What is the difference between asking God out of selfish desires and asking according to his will? 7. How can you practically grow more confident that what you are asking for is God’s will? 8. Read Romans 4:18-21. What can you learn from Abraham’s trust in God’s promises? 9. How can his example shape the way you pray with both confidence and humility this week?