SUPPLEMENTAL SCRIPTURES
- Mark 11:24
- 1 John 3:22
Matthew 7:7-11; 9:27-30; 1 John 5:14-15
Prayer brings one into the presence of the highest, holiest, and most powerful Being in the universe. Prayer not accompanied by faith is an exercise in futility (Hebrews 11:6). Faith embraces God’s promise by action as well as by word. True faith and prayer cause the Spirit to make intercession for the petitioner, producing results in accord with the will of God.
QUESTIONS
- What three words did Jesus use to encourage people to pray? How does each of these words apply to faith when we pray?
- What results can be expected when following Jesus’ directions?
- What factor or element enters into successfully seeking for God? See Matthew 21:22. Has this factor always been an essential ingredient? Explain.
- “Have faith in God,” Jesus said in Mark 11:22. Where does faith come from? See Romans 10:17.
- In our Matthew 9 text, Jesus asked the blind men, “Believe ye that I am able to do this?” Why do you think Jesus asked this question?
- Read the account of the healing recorded in John 9. Jesus told the blind man: “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” What part did faith play in this healing?
- How can Christians be sure that they will receive an answer from God?
- How are the promises in Mark 11:24 and 1 John 5:14-15 similar?
THEME THOUGHTS
The teachings of Jesus comprise the fundamental basis of our Christian beliefs. One of the most familiar accounts of those teachings is known as the Sermon on the Mount. It is recorded in chapters five through seven of the Book of Matthew. Shortly after choosing the twelve disciples, who would be His closest followers, Jesus led them to a hillside not far from Capernaum. There, just as God had given the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai to guide His people’s conduct and service, Jesus gave His disciples the Sermon on the Mount to guide their conduct and service to Him and His Father.The purpose of this quarter is to give an overall view of the Sermon on the Mount. There are many different topics mentioned in these three chapters, so the lessons you study will be considered highlights of these chapters.As you go through these lessons, you will notice other Scriptures are given in the text in addition to the portion of Scripture from the Sermon on the Mount. These will reinforce the subject that is being taught, which is also indicated by the lesson title. For example, the first lesson deals with humility and its spiritual value. The first five verses of Matthew 5 deal with more subjects than humility, but other portions of the text will zero in on that topic. May God bless you as you study these lessons, and help you apply what you learn to your own life.