Small Group Questions Week 46
The Gospel of Matthew
Week 46 – Sin & Reconciliation
Transition:
Last week we started what is commonly called Jesus’ Fourth Discourse in the Gospel of Matthew. In
this discourse, Jesus’ teaching predominantly centers around relationships. The first relationship that He covers
is the relationship between a person and the kingdom of heaven. In illustrating it, Jesus uses a young child as an object lesson. He then continues using them to illustrate more truths about the kingdom.
Context:
This week we cover the next subject that Jesus taught on relationships, which is how to deal with
someone who professes to be a fellow disciple of Jesus but who continually refuses to repent of his/her sin,
even when confronted. This passage is incredibly helpful because it not only gives followers of Jesus (both as
individuals and as an assembly) a clear plan of action, but also powerful assurances that God is with them in the
midst of a difficult and sensitive situation.
Opening Questions:
• Have you ever fallen out with someone because one of you did something that the other thought was wrong?
Share the story. Did the two of you ever reconcile? If yes, how? If no, why not?
• Are you the type of person that will confront someone about something? If so, how do you determine when
to confront and when to let it go? Share a time when you did it and how it turned out. What did you learn?
Scripture/Storying:
Matthew 18:15-20
Discipleship Questions:
• Verses 15-17 are commonly known as Jesus’ teaching on church discipline. What is your understanding of
church discipline? In what ways is this passage about more than merely disciplining someone who continues
to sin (and is unrepentant)? What’s at stake if we follow Jesus’ teaching here? What’s at stake if we don’t?
• Have you ever witnessed a church practice church discipline as described here? If so, what are your
thoughts about the experience? If you’ve never witnessed a church practice discipline like this, what is your
overall impression of/response to what Jesus is teaching?
• What do you think Jesus means by “let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector”?
• Have you ever confronted someone because you were following Jesus’ teaching in this passage? What did
you go through spiritually, mentally, and emotionally in making the decision to do it? How did it turn out?
Looking back, do you think you did the right thing? What did you learn from it?
• In what ways are verses 18-20 important to take to heart for anyone who is trying to help willfully unrepentant
sinning people to be reconciled with God?
• V20 is often taken out of context. If you’re familiar with it being used out of context, share an example. What
do you do when someone takes this (or any) verse out of context?
• What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you today through His word?
Prayer time:
Pray that we will love our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord enough that we are willing to
involve ourselves in their lives (when appropriate), even to the point of lovingly (but directly) confronting their
blatant sin.