Join us this Sunday! In-Person 8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am, Online 9:30am, 11:00am & 5:00pm

Join us this Sunday! In-Person 8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am, Online 9:30am, 11:00am & 5:00pm

Join us at the next Sunday worship service:
In-Person
8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am
Online 9:30am, 11:00am & 5:00pm

X

watch liveWATCH LIVE
calendarEVENTS
homeNORTHSTAR
@HOME
crossGIVE

WEEK 9 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

June 14, 2026

Upside down living: The power of contentment

Introduction:

The Sermon on the Mount reflects the power of contentment as a source of inner peace and spiritual strength. Jesus Christ teaches that people should trust in God’s care rather than worry about material needs or the future. By seeking God’s kingdom first, believers learn to appreciate what they have and remain grateful. Contentment reduces anxiety, discourages greed, and promotes humility. It enables individuals to live with faith, joy, and confidence in God’s providence and love.

Something To Talk About:

  1. The Treasure of Our Lives: What We Possess: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ teaches that the true treasure of our lives is not found in material possessions but in our relationship with God and the values of His kingdom. He warns against storing up treasures on earth, where they can be destroyed, stolen, or lost. Instead, He encourages people to store up treasures in heaven through righteous living, faith, love, mercy, and obedience to God. According to the sermon, what we possess should never possess us. Wealth, status, and earthly success are temporary, but spiritual virtues have lasting value. Jesus emphasizes that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” showing that our priorities reveal what we truly value. When people focus only on material gain, they risk neglecting their spiritual well-being. However, when they seek God’s kingdom first, they discover lasting peace, purpose, and contentment. The sermon also teaches trust in God’s providence. Rather than being consumed by worry about food, clothing, or the future, believers are called to rely on God’s care. Thus, the greatest treasure of our lives is not what we own but the faith, character, and relationship with God that guide us toward a meaningful and eternal life.
  1. The Focus of Our Lives: What We Are: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ emphasizes that the focus of our lives should not merely be on what we do or what we possess, but on what we are. He teaches that true righteousness begins within the heart and is expressed through character. The Beatitudes describe the qualities that God values: humility, mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, and a hunger for righteousness. These traits define the kind of people God calls His followers to be. Jesus challenges outward religion that focuses only on appearances. He teaches that anger, hatred, lust, and hypocrisy are matters of the heart that must be addressed. Genuine discipleship involves inner transformation rather than mere external obedience. A person’s character is more important than status, wealth, or reputation because character reflects one’s relationship with God. The sermon also calls believers to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world,” influencing others through lives marked by goodness and truth. By focusing on who we are becoming, rather than on personal success or recognition, we grow in spiritual maturity. Thus, the Sermon on the Mount teaches that the true focus of life is developing a godly character that honors God and blesses others.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount challenge us to align what we treasure, who we are becoming, and how content we are, so that our lives more fully reflect trust in God and the values of His kingdom?
  2. How does contentment, as taught in the Sermon on the Mount, help us overcome worry and trust more fully in God’s provision?
  3. What practical steps can we take to cultivate contentment in a world that often encourages comparison, materialism, and the pursuit of more?
  4. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to begin with God’s name, kingdom, and will before presenting our own needs. What does this reveal about the priorities that should shape our prayers?
  5. What does Jesus mean when He says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” and how does this apply to our lives today?
  6. How can we balance the responsibility of earning and managing material possessions while still placing God’s kingdom first?
  7. In what practical ways can trust in God’s providence help us overcome worry, greed, and dissatisfaction with what we have?
  8. Which character qualities from the Beatitudes do you find most challenging to develop, and why?

Take one thing home with you:

Have you ever felt that what you have is not quite enough? Perhaps you compare yourself with others, worry about the future, or constantly look for the next thing that will make you happy. The Sermon on the Mount reminds us that true contentment is not found in having more but in trusting God more.

Jesus Christ pointed to the birds of the air and the flowers of the field as examples of God’s faithful care. They do not spend their days worrying, yet God provides for them. If God cares so deeply for His creation, how much more does He care for us? This does not mean life will always be easy or that every desire will be fulfilled. Rather, it means we can rest in the confidence that God knows our needs and walks with us through every season.

Contentment grows when we shift our focus from what we lack to what God has already provided. Gratitude opens our eyes to His blessings, while trust frees us from unnecessary anxiety. Today, take a moment to thank God for His faithfulness. As you seek His kingdom first, may you discover the deep peace that comes from knowing that in Him, you already have what matters most.