Simply “Yes” and “No”
Passage: Matthew 5:33-37
QUICK RECAP
Forget fancy promises and spiritual spin - in this passage, Jesus is calling us to a life of radical authenticity.
In a world of manipulation and half-truths, He's challenging us to be so trustworthy that our "yes" or "no" is enough. No need for God-invoking oaths, slick words or fancy photos to cover our inadequacies or shortfalls.
Why? Because the Kingdom of God is all about relationships. And in this Kingdom, relationships are built on rock-solid integrity. So here’s the invitation: to drop the facade that we are doing better than we really are and be real with each other. When we're real, we give others permission to get real too. And He calls us to back up what we say with what we do. Let our yes mean yes. Let our no mean no.
This isn't just about ancient oath-keeping—it's a revolution in how we relate. It's imaging the God who always keeps His word. So, let's ditch the spin, speak truth in love, and watch as trust grows and the Kingdom breaks through in our everyday lives.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
Here are some questions about blessing for you to ponder.
In what areas of your life do you find yourself using "spin" or manipulation to make yourself appear more trustworthy or impressive? Why do you think this is?
How comfortable are you with saying "I don't know" or admitting your limitations? Reflect on a time when being vulnerable actually strengthened a relationship.
What is one specific way you can practice letting your "yes be yes" and your "no be no" this week? Consider a situation where you might need to be more direct, honest, or follow through on a commitment.
SMALL GROUP STUDY
Opening Prayer:
Lord, help us to understand the importance of integrity in our relationships. Guide us to be people of our word, reflecting Your truth in all we say and do. Amen.
Read Together:
Introduction (5 minutes):
Jesus' teaching on oaths goes beyond ancient practices. It's about integrity in relationships and being so trustworthy that our word alone suffices. Let's explore how this applies to our lives today.
Discussion Questions (30-40 minutes):
What stood out to you most from the sermon on Jesus' teaching about oaths?
The sermon mentions that healthy relationships are a key feature of God's Kingdom. How does this teaching on oaths relate to building strong relationships?
The sermon talks about "spin" and manipulation in our communication. Can you share an example of when you've encountered or used this kind of language?
Jesus says, "Let your yes be yes and your no be no." What challenges do you face in living out this principle?
The sermon mentions that trust in society is decreasing. How have you observed this in your own experience?
How might being vulnerable and admitting our limitations actually strengthen our relationships?
What might it look like if people really started to be able to trust each other?
Personal Application (10 minutes):
Choose one of the following to think about on your own:
Identify one area in your life where you struggle with complete honesty or ‘being real’. Why might that be?
Identify an area of your life where you would like to “let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’ be no. Write down one specific action you can take this week to improve in this area.
Group Prayer (10 minutes):
In pairs, share your application point and pray for each other, asking for God’s help and grace to grow in integrity, courage and trustworthiness.
Closing Thought:
This week, let’s pay attention to our words. Are they always truthful or do we find that we sometimes add flourish or ‘spin’? Do our actions match our commitments? Do we find it hard to commit to a ‘Yes!’? Or do we struggle with saying ‘No’? Why might that be? Bring what you find to God in prayer…