Week of October 30, 2011

1. Read Matthew 23:1-12.
2. Growing up, what "hot buttons" did you push to get your parents mad? What "hot buttons" do your kids, if any, use on you? If married, what do you do or say that pushes your spouse to get mad?
3. What was the seat of Moses?
4. Given Jesus' remarks about the Pharisees (like in chapters 21-22) what is surprising about His remarks in v. 3? How does Jesus limit His commendation of the Pharisees?
5. As Jesus sees it, what is the main evil of the Pharisees? How are the disciples to avoid falling into the same evil?
6. Why would it be important that the disciples not allow themselves to be called rabbi (remember that Jesus was called rabbi)? What distinction was Jesus trying to make between His followers and the Pharisees?
7. Compare the path to greatness followed by the Pharisees with that taught by Jesus (v. 5-12). What do these two views of greatness teach us about the two views of the kingdom?
8. How can you avoid making it hard for others to grow spiritually?
9. How can you best avoid what is preached against in this passage?
10. Pray for one another....