Preparing the way
2 March - 4 May 2025
The book of Matthew · Lent is a period of 40 days during which many Christians remember the events leading up to and including the death of Jesus Christ, whose life and teachings are the foundation of Christianity. It is a time of reflection, of asking for forgiveness and of fixing our eyes on Jesus as King of our lives. Over this 9 week period, we will be exploring teachings from Jesus recorded by the disciple Matthew, preparing the way for life, death and resurrection.
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Matthew 3:1-12 · In a world where world leaders, on public stages, are seeking to build their own kingdoms—where do you go and what kingdom do you want to be part of? John the Baptist knew a different King and a different kingdom were coming. He prepares the way for that new King by giving one simple, and often misunderstood, direction: repent.
Study Questions
Can you recall a moment in your life when your ‘mind was blown’ by something, and your views or actions completely changed as a result?
Read Matthew 3:1-12.
John the Baptist calls people to "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near" (v.2).
Is repentance something you do, or something that happens to you? In today's world, what kinds of messages or events cause people to radically change their thinking and behaviour? What does it mean to ‘repent’ today?
The passage describes people coming to confess their sins and be baptised (v.6).
What do you think makes it easier or harder for people to admit their faults or seek change today?
What are the differences between Pharisees and Sadducees? John challenges both groups for relying on religious status rather than true repentance (v.7-9).
How can religious or cultural traditions become obstacles to real personal transformation?
What unhelpful ways of thinking and living might people need to "turn away" from in our world today, in order to experience real change?
In what ways does an encounter with Jesus have an impact on this?
John the Baptist describes Jesus as someone who will "baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire" (v.11). What do you think it means for someone’s life to be transformed by Jesus rather than just adopting religious habits? Does the baptism of the spirit happens at the same time as being baptised in water?
The phrase "the kingdom of heaven has come near" is central to Jesus’ message as well and the disciples’ preaching.
What does it mean for God’s kingdom to be present now, rather than just in the future? How does Jesus bring the kingdom in?
John calls people to bear "fruit in keeping with repentance" (v.8).
If repentance is about real-life change, what might "fruit" look like in your everyday life?
Commit to begin lent by praying for the salvation of one person, and continuing until God answers.
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Matthew 6:1-18 · How much of our lives are for show? It’s not uncommon in church to feel the need to present as ‘good’ or ‘righteous’. And yet, how often to we fall short of the expectations we put on ourselves? What if Jesus isn’t as interested in what we are showing externally, but instead wants full commitment from our inner lives? Fasting is a useful personal discipline of abstinence which can help us grow closer to King Jesus - do we need to make sure we are doing it for the right reasons?
Read what senior pastor Tim has written about fasting.
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Matthew 4:1-11 · The Bible says that we won’t be tempted beyond what we can bear, but that doesn’t mean we get to go through life without any temptation. Jesus himself was tempted physically and emotionally in the wilderness with desire, power and control. He uses his knowledge of scripture to counter the words of the devil. When we are distracted with other gods, kings and powers of the world, what can we learn from Jesus in how he fights temptation?
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Matthew 19:13-15 · All of us will have tried to aim high and achieve greatness at some point in life—it’s conditioned into us from a young age. The teaching of Jesus often goes against the ways of the world—the last shall be first and the poor and meek are blessed. The status quo is flipped upside down by Jesus throughout his years in ministry. And children, who were seen as nuisances at the time, are elevated as the “greatest” perhaps without even trying. So instead of aiming for the crown, should we aim to bow down?
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Matthew 11:25-30 · There is an expectation that we always have more to do, that resting is lazy, and that taking time out can be seen as failure. What if the Kingdom of God offers an alternative lifestyle to the constant capitalist wheel that never sleeps? God himself was the author of resting in the creation narrative. Is chilling on the sofa with endless streaming options enough? Or is there something more fulfilling out there for when we are feeling weary and just exhausted?
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Matthew 8:18-22 · Following Jesus is the best choice anyone will ever make, but it does come at a cost. Jesus models a life of sacrifice and service where he puts others first. What if we are faced with choices where we need to decide whether we have the stuff we’ve been dreaming of, or we lay it down to follow the servant King Jesus? Perhaps we will discover there is a greater treasure than what we previously had our hearts set on.
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Matthew 8:18-22 · Jesus is the King of kings, and yet the image we have of him riding into the city on a donkey doesn’t feel very valiant. Matthew records Jesus stating that the kingdom of heaven is near, and every kingdom needs a King. But what kind of King is Jesus really? Are we prepared to lay down our cloaks and cry out “Hosanna, save us”? Or subtly, has the notion that we are the king of our own lives crept in?
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Matthew 27:11-61 · The last thing people expected was for Jesus to be put to death on a cross. He was meant to be their Saviour. Like those who had come before him, he was the anointed one, the Christ, he was going to be King. How could this have happened? This moment in history was certainly not what people expected. And yet, it was exactly what God had planned in order to save each and every person in the whole world. Jesus died to save us all. The sacrificial king laid down his life for us. There is no greater act of love than this.
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Matthew 28:1-15 · It’s Easter Sunday! Jesus has risen, just as he said he would. What great news we have to share now! Jesus is alive and reigns as King over all of creation. This is the King that we have been preparing the way for - one who was able to defeat death once and for all and make a way for us to come into relationship with God the Father.
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Matthew 28:16-20 · So we know Jesus as King. He has all the power and authority in the world and in our lives. We have seen the ways he has claimed the victory on our behalf—but now what? Turns out, we have a part to play as well. Jesus gives us a clear mission, one that requires faithful action and steadfast obedience. Will we accept it?
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Matthew 23:23-24, Micah 6:8 · Have you ever been so obsessed with the little details of a task, you’ve missed the big picture? Some call this “missing the forest for the trees”, and our relationship with God can be a lot like this. We can become so focused on external rule-following that we miss the deeper call to justice, love and faithfulness. True faith is not just about checking boxes but about a heart surrendered to God, seeking genuine change from the inside out.
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