Small Group Discussion Guide

"Check Your Heart" | Sermon on the Mount Series, Week 3

A Note to Facilitators: This guide is designed for a 60–90 minute meeting. You know your group best — feel free to skip questions, linger where conversation is rich, or swap in the Optional Deep Dive questions if your group is ready. Sensitive topics are addressed in this guide (sexual purity, divorce, marriage struggles). Create a safe, grace-filled environment where people feel free to be honest without fear of judgment. You don't need to have all the answers — your job is to create space for God to work.

OVERVIEW

In Week 3 of the Sermon on the Mount series, Pastor Mike challenged us to move beyond outward religious performance and let Jesus examine the condition of our hearts. Using Matthew 5:17–32, he showed us that Jesus didn't come to throw out God's law — He came to fulfill it, and to invite us into a relationship with Him so close that keeping His word flows naturally from love rather than obligation. The sermon zeroed in on two deeply personal areas — lust and marriage — as examples of how Jesus always traces sinful behavior back to the heart, calling us to guard what we allow to take root on the inside.

ICEBREAKER

(5–10 minutes)

Question: Think about a time you got a check-up — physical, dental, car inspection, anything. Were you nervous about what they might find? What happened?

[Leader Tip]: This light, fun opener helps people relax and naturally sets up the sermon's theme of "getting your heart checked." Don't rush it — let people laugh and connect. Transition by saying something like: "Today's message was essentially a spiritual check-up. Let's dig into what God's word has to say about the condition of our hearts."

SCRIPTURE READING

(5 minutes)

Ask one or two volunteers to read these passages aloud. Encourage the group to listen for words or phrases that stand out to them.

Matthew 5:17–20 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:27–30 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell."

Psalm 139:23–24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

[Leader Tip]: After reading, give 30 seconds of silence and then simply ask: "What word or phrase stood out to you? Why?" This brief response gets people engaged before the main discussion begins.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(30–45 minutes)

Work through these questions at a pace that fits your group. Questions are numbered for easy reference. Aim to spend roughly 5 minutes per question, but follow the Spirit of your conversation.

SECTION 1 — The Condition of Our Hearts

Questions 1–3 | (~12–15 minutes)

1. Pastor Mike opened with the question, "When's the last time you had your heart checked?" — spiritually speaking. What does a healthy spiritual heart look like to you? What are some signs that a spiritual heart might be in trouble?

[Leader Tip]: This is a warm-up question meant to get people thinking and talking before diving into scripture. Encourage a variety of answers — there's no single right response. If the group is quiet, share your own honest reflection first to model vulnerability.

2. The pastor referenced Jeremiah 17:9, which says "The heart is deceitful above all things." That's a sobering statement. Why do you think it's so easy to deceive ourselves about the true condition of our own hearts? What makes honest self-examination so difficult?

3. Pastor Mike described two ways Jesus "fulfills" the law: (1) by living it out perfectly so we can follow Him rather than just follow rules, and (2) by paying the penalty for our failure to keep the law. How does understanding both of these change the way you think about your relationship with God's word and God's commands?

[Leader Tip]: Some group members may have grown up in very rule-focused religious environments. Others may have swung to "grace means anything goes." This question helps both groups find the balance Jesus is pointing to. Tim Keller's quote from the sermon is helpful here: "Religion says, I obey, therefore I'm accepted. Christianity says, I'm accepted, therefore I obey." Feel free to share it if it helps move the conversation.

SECTION 2 — From Behavior to the Heart

Questions 4–6 | (~12–15 minutes)

4. Jesus says in Matthew 5:27–28 that looking at someone with lustful intent is already adultery in the heart. This teaching was shocking in His day — and it's still uncomfortable today. Why do you think Jesus goes after the heart instead of just the behavior? What does that tell us about how God sees us?

5. The sermon pointed out that we live in a culture saturated with sexual imagery, hookup culture, and entertainment that normalizes lust. How do you think this constant cultural pressure shapes the way people — including Christians — think about attraction, relationships, and marriage? How do we guard our hearts in that environment without becoming isolated or judgmental?

[Leader Tip]: This question can go many directions. Keep the tone grace-filled and honest — the goal isn't to shame anyone, but to have a real conversation about real pressures. If the group is mixed-gender, you may want to acknowledge that this struggle looks different for men and women, and both perspectives are valid and worth hearing.

6. Pastor Mike used a vivid illustration — a man in his congregation who switched to a flip phone to protect his marriage. Jesus uses equally vivid language: "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out." In your own words, what is Jesus really calling us to do here? What's something in your life (not necessarily sexual) that you might need to "cut off" because it's pulling your heart away from God?

SECTION 3 — Marriage, Covenant, and Grace

Questions 7–9 | (~12–15 minutes)

7. The pastor described marriage as a covenant — a sacred, lifelong commitment — and said Jesus elevated women in this passage by refusing to allow them to be treated as disposable property. How does viewing marriage as a covenant (rather than a contract) change the way we approach conflict, forgiveness, and commitment within a marriage?

[Leader Tip]: Be sensitive here. Many groups will include people who are divorced, separated, in difficult marriages, or single and longing for marriage. Acknowledge this gently. The goal is not to heap guilt on anyone, but to talk about God's design and His grace for wherever people find themselves. You might say: "We know this is a topic where many of us carry real pain. Let's hold this conversation with honesty and grace."

8. Pastor Mike said: "If your whole approach to God is rules, you will figure out a way around them." The Pharisees were experts at loopholes. Where do you see that same tendency in yourself or in modern Christian culture — finding technical ways to stay "within the rules" while missing the heart behind them?

9. The sermon ended with an encouragement to fight for your marriage and, for those who are divorced or single, to walk in purity and heal well before moving forward. What does it look like practically for a community of believers — a small group like this one — to support and protect one another's marriages and relationships? What role can we play for each other?

PERSONAL APPLICATION

(10–15 minutes)

These questions are for personal reflection. You may want to give people 2–3 minutes of quiet to think before inviting anyone to share. Remind the group that no one is required to share their response — some things are between them and God.

1. If Jesus — described in the sermon as the "good physician" — were to examine the condition of your heart today, what do you think He would find? What area would He want to work on with you?

2. The pastor challenged us to move from obedience out of obligation to devotion out of love. On a scale from obligation to devotion, where would you honestly place yourself right now in your walk with God? What would help you move closer to devotion?

3. Is there a specific "guardrail" — a boundary, habit, or change — that you sense God might be calling you to put in place after hearing this message? It doesn't have to be related to the specific topics in the sermon. What's one step you could take this week?

4. The sermon referenced Psalm 139:23–24: "Search me, O God, and know my heart." What would it look like for you to make that prayer a daily practice this week? What might you need to be willing to hear from God?

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

Choose one (or more) that fits where you are:

• 📖 Read Psalm 139 in full this week as a personal prayer. Let it be your daily "heart check-up" with God.
• 🛡️ Identify one guardrail you need to put in place to protect your heart, your marriage, or your purity — and tell a trusted friend or your small group leader about it this week.
• 💬 Have a conversation with your spouse or a close friend about one area where you want to grow in faithfulness, honesty, or intentionality.
• 🙏 Pray daily this week using just this phrase from the sermon: "Search me, O God. Know my heart." Let God do the rest.
• 📱 Do an audit of what you're consuming on your phone, streaming services, or social media. Ask honestly: does this draw me closer to Jesus or further away?

PRAYER FOCUS

(5–10 minutes)

Close your time together in prayer. You can pray as a group, in pairs, or have one person lead. Use these prompts to guide your prayer:

• Gratitude — Thank God that He loves us enough to examine our hearts and not just our behavior.
• Honesty — Invite God to search your heart and reveal anything that needs to change.
• Marriages and Relationships — Pray for protection over the marriages in your group and in your church. Pray for those who are hurting, healing, or hoping.
• Purity — Ask God for the strength and wisdom to guard your heart in a culture that constantly pulls in the opposite direction.
• Mission Partners — The church is currently in 21 Days of Prayer with a focus on missionaries and mission partners. Pray for those serving around the world — for open doors, protection, and fruitful gospel work.

[Leader Tip]: If your group is comfortable with it, consider breaking into pairs for prayer — especially around personal application. It's often easier to pray honestly with one other person than in a large group. Remind everyone that whatever is shared in the group stays in the group.

OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE

For groups with extra time or who want to go further

A. The pastor mentioned three types of Old Testament law: moral law, ceremonial law, and civil law. He argued that Jesus fulfills and upholds the moral law while fulfilling (and thereby completing) the ceremonial law. Read Hebrews 10:1–14 together. How does this passage help explain why we no longer need animal sacrifices, but still need to honor God's moral commands? What does it mean that Jesus is our "once for all" sacrifice?

B. Jesus says in Matthew 5:20 that our righteousness must "exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees." Read Romans 3:21–24 and 2 Corinthians 5:21. According to Paul, what is the source of our righteousness before God? How does this reframe what Jesus is saying in the Sermon on the Mount — is He calling us to try harder, or to something else entirely?

Romans 3:21–24 — "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it — the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

2 Corinthians 5:21 — "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

C. Pastor Mike said: "It's hard to violate God's word when you're walking close to God." Read Galatians 5:16–25 — the passage about walking by the Spirit. According to Paul, what is the relationship between the Spirit and our ability to live in a way that honors God? How does this connect to the sermon's message about devotion over obligation?

Galatians 5:16–17, 22–25 — "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do... But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."

RELATED SCRIPTURES FOR FURTHER STUDY

LEADER CHECKLIST

Before your group meets, review this quick checklist:

• Read through the full guide and pray over your group
• Decide which questions you'll prioritize based on your group's needs
• Note any sensitive dynamics in your group (divorce, marriage struggles, etc.) and prepare to hold space with grace
• Have Bibles available or encourage members to bring their own
• Print or share the guide digitally with your group ahead of time if possible
• Plan to start and end on time — people feel respected when you honor their schedule
• Follow up with anyone who seemed to be carrying something heavy after the meeting

"Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts. And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." — Psalm 139:23–24

This guide was prepared for Life Point Church Small Groups based on the Week 3 Sermon on the Mount message: "Check Your Heart in the Kingdom of God."