Covenant Group Questions (2/19-2/25)

During our current sermon series focused on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we will publish weekly a set of small group questions for your Covenant to make use of should you desire to use them.  Here are the questions for this week:

1. Read Mathew 5:33-37.
2. What was “vow taking” like in Jesus’ day?  What lies behind Jesus forbidding the making of vows?  How did this apply to the day in which he spoke?
   
3. Should Christians today stay away from oaths completely (i.e. taking the stand in a trial, being sworn in for government office).  Why or why not?
   
4. How important is truth to Christian faith?  If someone asked if truth was more important than love how would you answer?
   
5. As we interact with children at home, church, or classroom, how do we help them see the long term value of truth telling over the short time "advantage" of lying?  Make the case for those who follow Jesus and for those who do not.  What differences do you find in the two approaches?
   
6. The tendency to fudge when telling the truth is universal.  Today, perhaps more than before in the modern era, politicians make up truth that fits their needs.  What standard should we hold for our governmental leaders regarding telling the truth?
   
7. What are other implications of this teaching of Jesus for our day and age?