Series Resources

sermon-based study guide

This guide is designed to guide a group discussion around the weekend sermon. You can also use this as an individual, but we highly recommend finding a friend and inviting them to discuss with you. Menlo Church has Life Groups meeting in-person and online using these guides. We’d love to help you find a group.

What you will find in this guide: A discussion guide for groups and individuals. If you are using this as an individual be sure to engage with each question in a journal or simply in your mind as you prayerfully consider what you heard in the sermon and seek to discover what God is inviting you to know and do.

Study Guide: Smear Campaign, June 2

CONNECT

Think about a time you felt like an outsider. What made you feel that way?

ENGAGE

Read Luke 5:27-32 and discuss:

● Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to be a disciple. Why was this such a controversial choice?
● The Pharisees criticize Jesus for associating with "sinners." How does Jesus respond? What does this tell us about God's character and his desire for relationship?
● Matthew throws a feast for his fellow tax collectors. How might this gathering have challenged the disciples' preconceived notions about who could follow Jesus?

APPLY

These questions are designed to spark discussion around the 10 Kingdom Commitments presented in the sermon.

1. Prioritizing Worship: How can we ensure our daily lives reflect that worship is our primary commitment to God, not just a Sunday activity?
2. Love in Action: Beyond simply saying we love our neighbor, how can we demonstrate that love through practical acts of service and kindness in our community?
3. Beyond Differences: The "Image of God" commitment asks us to honor the dignity of everyone. Can we share personal stories of encountering someone very different from us, yet recognizing God's image in them?
4. Biblical Lens on Life: Are there areas in our lives where we might be resistant to letting the Bible challenge our viewpoints? How can we create a more open and scripture-centered approach to decision-making?
5. Faithful Citizenship: The "Biblical Justice" commitment encourages us to be involved. How can we engage in political and social issues from a perspective rooted in our faith, while still respecting those with differing views?
6. Building Bridges: (This replaces "Fruitful Speech" as that topic is for next week) In a world of heated arguments and online negativity, how can we cultivate the kind of "peacemaking" that promotes understanding and respectful dialogue?
7. Self-Reflection: The "Removing the Log" concept asks us to examine our own flaws before judging others. Can we share examples of how this self-reflection has impacted our interactions with people who hold opposing views?

8. Continuous Learning: "Humble Learning" encourages openness to growth. Have you ever encountered someone with a differing viewpoint who taught you something valuable? How can we create a culture of learning within our church community?
9. Love Beyond Boundaries: Loving our enemies is challenging. Can we share practical ways we can show love and respect to those who disagree with us, even politically?
10. Living as an Example: The sermon acknowledges that Christians haven't always lived up to these ideals. How can we, as a church community, better reflect the love and unity of Christ in our interactions with the Bay Area community?

PRAYER

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Ask everyone to pray for the courage to reach out to those who feel like outsiders, and for the ability to show love and respect to those with differing viewpoints.

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