Benjamin Murphy
Small Group Questions
Benjamin Murphy
Sermon Series Highlights
Sermon Series Highlights

What ARE We Waiting For? Watch the Signs

Introduction:

3 Reasons to Believe History Is Going to Go Down as Jesus Said (Matthew 24:32-35):

  1. The Signs are still happening. (Matthew 24:32-33)
    • 184-280 - Three Kingdoms War (36-40 mil)
    • 755-763 - An Lushan Rebellion (13 mil)
    • 1206-1324 - Mongol Conquests (40-70 mil)
    • 1562-1598 - French Wars of Religion (2-4 mil)
    • 1616-1662 - Qing Dynasty Conquered Ming (25 mil)
    • 1803-1815 - Napoleonic Wars (3.5 - 6 mil)
    • 1850-1864 - Taiping Rebellion (20 mil)
    • 1914-1918 - WWI (17 mil)
    • 1939-1945 - WWII (60 - 85 mil)
    • 2001 – Today - War on Terror (1.3 - 2 million)

    2 Timothy 3:1-4 - But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God...

  2. Israel is still going strong. (Matthew 24:34)

    Matthew 23:33-36 - You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and dpersecute from town to town, so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of gZechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between hthe sanctuary and ithe altar. Truly, I say to you, jall these things will come upon this generation.

  3. Jesus' Words still prevail. (Matthew 24:35)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 24:32-35

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. What was Jesus' point about the fig tree (Matt 24:32-33)? Which signs seem the most obvious to you?

  3. What did Jesus mean by “this generation” (Matt 24:34)? If He is indeed referring to Israel, how is the existence of Israel strong proof that history will close as the Bible tells us?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Want more eschatology teaching?

Catch up on the previous verse by verse teaching through Revelation

Catch up on the previous verse by verse teaching through 2 Thessalonians

What ARE We Waiting For? The Return of the King

Introduction:

The Return of the King:

  1. Will be Obviously Announced . (Matthew 24:29)

    Luke 21:25-26 - And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

  2. Will be Impossible to Ignore or Deny . (Matthew 24:30)

    Daniel 7:13-14 - I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

    Revelation 19:11-16 - Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and whe will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

    Philippians 2:10-11 - ...so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

  3. Will be a Glorious Celebration if You Love Him . (Matthew 24:31)

    Col 3:4 - When Christ who is your life happears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

    2 Tim 4:7-8 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

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Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 24:29-31

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. What do the signs announcing Jesus’ return teach us about God?

  3. Why do most people miss and dismiss Jesus in this life?

  4. Can you honestly say that you long for and eagerly anticipate the return of our Lord? How can we increase our expectation of His second coming?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Want more eschatology teaching?

Catch up on the previous verse by verse teaching through Revelation

Catch up on the previous verse by verse teaching through 2 Thessalonians

What ARE We Waiting For? It's Going to Get Worse

Introduction:

What is the Rapture? - The rapture is the future event when Jesus Christ descends from heaven to gather his people, those who died and those living, to be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air, to receive their glorified bodies and be kept from God's vengeance & judgment on unbelievers in the 7-year period known as the Tribulation (see Revelation 6-19).

Reasons to Believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture:

  1. It's the most Straightforward understanding of the biblical language.

    Revelation 3:10 - I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

    1 Thessalonians 5:9 - For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ...

  2. We never see the Church in the tribulation in Revelation!
  3. God has a track record of Removing His people before He judges the wicked.

It's Going to Get Worse: How to Survive the Tribulation (Matthew 24:15-28):

  1. Watch for the Abomination . (Matthew 24:15)
  2. Be ready to Run . (Matthew 24:16-22)

    Revelation 6:9 - I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God...

    Revelation 12:11 - ...they loved not their lives even unto death.

    Revelation 13:7 - Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.

    Revelation 17:6 - And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

    Revelation 16:10 - The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.

  3. Don't be Fooled . (Matthew 24:23-26)
  4. Keep your eyes to the Skies . (Matthew 24:27-28)

    Revelation 1:7 - Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 24:15-28

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. What Biblical reasons do we have for believing Jesus will rapture His church before the Tribulation? Why will Jesus do this?

  3. Why do you think Jesus tells people to run instead of telling them to witness to their attackers or fight back (Matt 24:16-22)?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Want more eschatology teaching?

Catch up on the previous verse by verse teaching through Revelation

Catch up on the previous verse by verse teaching through 2 Thessalonians

What ARE We Waiting For? It's Going to Get Bad

Introduction:

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 - And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

It's Going to Get Bad: How To Get Through Birth Pains (Matthew 24:1-14):

  1. See that you're not Deceived . (Matthew 24:4-5)
  2. See that you're not Alarmed . (Matthew 24:6-8)
  3. See that you're not Wavering . (Matthew 24:9-13)

AND SOME GOOD NEWS (Matthew 24:14):

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 24:1-14

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. Some people believe all these events Jesus described (Matt 24:4-14) happened in the 1st century, and some people believe they are all in the future tribulation. What reason do we have to believe that these events take place during the “church age” (=now)?

  3. Jesus said when we see these signs, we should not be alarmed (Matt 24:6b). Do you get alarmed at the news? What’s the difference between “not really caring about what’s happening” to “not being alarmed”?

  4. Read Matt 24:9 again. If you are a parent: how are you preparing your children for this?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Want more eschatology teaching?

Catch up on the previous verse by verse teaching through Revelation

Catch up on the previous verse by verse teaching through 2 Thessalonians

The Cross in the Old Testament - He Will Not See Corruption

Introduction:

Isaiah 53:10 - Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

The Cross in Psalm 16:

  1. What is the prophecy of the messiah's suffering?

    Psalm 16:8-11 - I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

  2. How did Jesus fulfill this prophecy on the cross?

    "Holy One"

    Luke 23:46 - Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.

    Hebrews 12:2 - who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross...

  3. What does this prophecy mean for us?

What NO Resurrection of Jesus Means to Me: (1 Corinthians 15)

  1. NO RESURRECTION = No Reason for Faith . (1 Cor 15:14-15)
  2. NO RESURRECTION = No Forgiveness of sin. (1 Cor 15:16-17)
  3. NO RESURRECTION = No Reunion with those who died before Us. (1 Cor 15:18)
  4. NO RESURRECTION = No Hope . (1 Cor 15:19)

    Romans 10:9-10 - if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Psalm 16:8-11, Acts 2:22-32, Acts 13:34-41, 1 Corinthians 15:14-20

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. How do we know Psalm 16:8-11 is about the Messiah (Jesus), and not David? How do we know this is specifically about the resurrection of the Messiah?

  3. In 1 Corinthians 15:14, Paul says if Jesus didn’t resurrect, our faith is in vain. Why is the resurrection of Jesus the most crucial doctrine of faith?

  4. 1 Corinthians 15:16-17 says if Jesus did not resurrect, we are still in our sins. If Jesus died for our sins, why did He HAVE TO resurrect? Why can’t we just believe He died for our sins, without believing He rose from the dead?

Breakout
Pray for one another.