Sermon Outline:
- Examine the roots of your righteousness
- Recognize if the root of your righteousness is selfish
- Desire that the root of your righteousness would be the love of your heavenly Father
- Guard the roots of your righteousness by keeping your generosity private
Discussion Questions:
- What is the main warning Jesus gives us in this passage?
- What can we expect from God if we want other people would recognize our good works?
- What kind of relationship with God is particularly important to Jesus in this passage?
- In what ways does the gospel change our whole view of righteousness?
- How does our righteousness depend on our awareness of who God is?
- Why is it important to remember that God is the God who sees in secret?
- How does our hope for the future affect our righteousness now?
- What does it mean that those who proclaim their righteousness already “have their reward?”
- Where in your life might you be tempted to seek the rewards of others for your righteousness?
- Do you desire that who you are in private is consistent with who you are in public?
- What tools does God give you to help you to regularly reexamine the roots of your righteousness?
