Chapter Summary

Sermon on the child text. Discipline in the church. Unity in prayer. Law of forgiveness.

Discussion Questions for Matthew, Chapter 18

1. What was Jesus meaning when he said that we should become like children? What attributes of children should we possess as believers? Do you possess these traits? Why or why not?
2. Does Jesus actually want us gouging out our own eyes and cutting off our own hands and feet? What is the intent here? What do you need to cut out of your own life?
3. Jesus desires to be in fellowship with everyone. Who is in your life that needs to be found like the lost sheep in verses 11 and 12? What will you do to present the Gospel to them this week?
4. Matthew 18:15 is difficult. Why is it so easy to go and gossip about someone's fault against you? Who do you need to reconcile with today?
5. Have you ever gone over someone's head to tell their boss or manager that they did something wrong? How might that situation have gone better if you humbly went to them and told them yourself?
6. Verse 20 is often taken out of context. While it is true that he will be there even if there are only two gathered in his name, what is the more specific meaning when combined with the surrounding verses? How does this change the meaning of the verse?
7. Typically, Jews were only required to forgive someone three times before they no longer had to forgive them. Peter suggested seven times, but did Jesus really mean that we should forgive 490 times? What is a good way to understand that? Are you this forgiving? Who do you need to forgive again?
8. How should we approach someone who is abusing forgiveness? Have you abused the Lord's forgiveness? How did He respond?
9. What is a talent worth? What about a denarii? How do these differing sums of debt compare to our debt to the Lord?
10. Who do you need to forgive? How much forgiveness have you been given? How much forgiveness have you given out?

Key Words/Phrase

Greatness, v. 1. Forgiveness, v. 21.

Characters

God, Jesus, Peter.

Strong Verse(s)

3, 4, 11, 19, 20, 21, 22.