The Sermon on the Mount
Daily Bible Studies for September 1-6, 2008
Learn what we believe and how we are to behave!
This Week’s Scripture: Matthew 6:19-25 MOT & NLT
[Jesus said] 19Don’t store up your treasure on the earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves rip open and steal. 20But store up your treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in and do not steal. 21For where you treasure is, there will also be your heart.
22The lamp of the body is the eye. If, therefore your eye is single, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eye is evil your whole body will be filled with darkness. If, therefore, the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24No one is able to serve two lords; for either the one he will hate and the other he will love, or the one he will cling to, and the other he will despise. You are not able to serve God and “mamona.” Matthew 6:19-24 MOT
[Jesus said,] 19“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
22“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. 23But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
24“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:19-24 NLT
Monday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount! Thank You that He gave us such powerful and practical teachings for our lives. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit today and throughout this week that I may live the instruction found in Matthew 6:19-24 in my daily life. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
[Jesus said] 19Don’t store up your treasure on the earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves rip open and steal. MOT
[Jesus said,] 19“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. NLT
Why does Jesus tell us it isn’t practical to store our “treasure” on earth?
How does this agree with or conflict with our culture’s teaching on the matter?
Today’s Challenge: I will invest in Kingdom matters today, and not make worldly treasures the focus of my day!
Tuesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, empower me by Your Holy Spirit to store up heavenly treasures today and always! Use me to draw others to Yourself and glorify Yourself in my life today. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
20But store up your treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in and do not steal. MOT
20Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. NLT
What does it mean to store treasures “in heaven”? What ARE the treasures of heaven?
List several practical ways you can do this TODAY:
Today’s Challenge: I will invest my life in heavenly treasures today and each day this week, that more folks may know of Jesus’ salvation!
Wednesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father I want my heart to be IN you, and focused on Your treasure. That means I'm asking You to order my priorities to focus on “heavenly treasure”—on the people you have created and love who don’t yet know You. Empower me by Your Holy Spirit to be a faithful witness and “investor” in Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
21For where you treasure is, there will also be your heart. MOT
21Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. NLT
What do these words of Jesus mean to You?
How will you apply them as you live this day?
Today’s Challenge: I will make certain that my treasure is people, so my heart will be focused on them, and thus on heaven!
Thursday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray today that you will keep my eye “single.” Focus my gaze throughout the day on that which brings You honor, on that which will make me holy. This I pray in the strong name of Jesus. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
22The lamp of the body is the eye. If, therefore your eye is single, your whole body will be full of light. MOT
22“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. NLT
What does it mean to keep your eye “single” or “good”?
What will this look like as you live your life today?
Today’s Challenge: I will focus my eye—AND my life on Jesus today, that my life may be filled with His light and His life!
Friday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, keep me from evil. Keep me from darkness. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that all I think, say and do will be to Your glory and praise. This I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
23But if your eye is evil your whole body will be filled with darkness. If, therefore, the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! MOT
23But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
What do these statements mean to you?
What will you do to keep darkness from entering your life today?
Today’s Challenge: I will keep my “eye” from evil, so that my life will be a witness to others of Jesus’ presence in my life.
Saturday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I give myself fully to You today and always. Be my Lord, my Master. Use me as You see fit to advance the cause of Your Kingdom. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may remain faithful in everything. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
24No one is able to serve two lords; for either the one he will hate and the other he will love, or the one he will cling to, and the other he will despise. You are not able to serve God and “mamona.” MOT
24“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. NLT
Who or what are the “lords” or “masters” that compete for your allegiance to Jesus in your daily life?
What do you do to make certain that Jesus stays in charge?
Today’s Challenge: I will serve Jesus and Him alone today!