Read Matthew 5:20

  1. What do you think Jesus meant by this?

(Hint: if you get stuck, how did the Pharisees tend to define their “righteousness.”)

  1.  Why is it important for us to know what Jesus meant by this statement? In other words, what is Jesus asking of us?


Read Luke 6:43-45

  1.  We often tend to separate what we do and who we are (remember the “Lying vs. Liar” example Matt gave). What is Jesus teaching us here?
  1.  Do you agree with Jesus? Can you think of any examples where this is not the case?
  1.  Why do you think Christians sometimes get so focused on external things?


Romans 8:29 says, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be
conformed to the image of his Son…” In Galatians, Paul adds the phrase, “…until Christ is formed in you”

  1.  Looking at these verses, what would you say is the goal of the Christian life? Honestly, how realistic do you think that is?
  1. What things get in the way of this transformation happening in your own life? What things help?
  2. Lastly, what role are we given to play in our becoming like Christ? What role does God play?