Matthew 7:7-11 • Receive
No Livestream this week - Audio only.
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Matthew 7:7-11
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
What wells up in you when a gift is on offer?
John 1:11 - 11 He (the living God) came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
John 1:12-13 - 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
John 1:16 - 16 Out of his fullness, we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
Feet, Children, Oil, and Mary.
(Feet)
John 13:6 -8 - 6 (Jesus) came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
St. Augustine - We are what we have received.
(Children)
Matthew 18:3 - And (Jesus) said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
(Oil)
2 Lings -4:3 - 3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.
(Mary)
Luke 1:38 - 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Luke 1:46-55 - 46 “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
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Each Sunday we come together we offer an open invitation into the way of Jesus. An invitation to enter into sacred rhythms - to draw near to God through singing, giving, learning, and praying.
As a community that desires renewal in Des Moines as it is in Heaven, we recognize that we cannot offer what we ourselves do not have. We cannot lead where we ourselves have not been led; in turn, these questions aim at reflection. Reflecting on God’s word and making space for his leadership.
After watching or listening consider the following discussion questions as a large group or in groups of three to four:
What stood out from the teaching?
What wells up in you when a gift - an affirmation or encouragement - is offered?
When you hear that God wants to heap blessing on you in Christ do you have a “gut reaction?” If so, is it positive, negative, neutral, or something else?
How can we learn to set down our merit before Jesus and receive? Is there anything in your life that’s helped?