Radical Love

Matthew 5:38-42

Introduction

• Matthew 5:9

• Matthew 5:38

• Exodus 21:24

• Leviticus 24:20

• Deuteronomy 19:21

Retaliation: the act of hurting someone or doing something harmful to someone because they have done or said something harmful to you.

• Matthew 5:39

• Romans 12:17-21

• Proverbs 24:17-18

4 Principles regarding retaliation.

1. Turn the other cheek.

• Matthew 5:39

• Matthew 26:67-68

2. Give grace abundantly.

• Matthew 5:40

• Romans 5:20-21

3. Go the extra mile.

• Matthew 5:41

• Matthew 20:28

4. Give and give some more.

• Matthew 5:42

• 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

• 1 Peter 2:22-23

CONNECTION GROUP RESOURCES

Connection Builders

1.  If you were tasked with recreating Thanksgiving, what foods would you add and what would you take away?

2. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

3.  Share a time when someone surprised you by responding to a tense or unfair situation with unexpected kindness or grace.

Sermon Questions

Read Matthew 5:9 and Matthew 5:38-42.

1. Share typical responses that people have when relational conflict occurs.

2. Retaliation: the act of hurting someone or doing something harmful to someone because they have done or said something harmful to you. What makes retaliation feel so natural?

3. What might turning the other cheek look like practically in today's world?

4. In what way can we show grace to those who don't deserve it? How does God's grace guide us to show grace to people?

5. How does Jesus' teaching here challenge our natural responses in conflict? How does Romans 12:17-21 further guide our natural responses?