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

Matthew

What ARE We Waiting For? You Get One Shot

Introduction:

Jesus Demands Productivity: How to Make Your One Shot Count (Matthew 25:14-30):

  1. I must to see myself as a Manager . (Matthew 25:14)

    1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.

    Matthew 16:24 - Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

    Matthew 16:25 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

  2. Must make the Most of what God Entrusted to me. (Matthew 25:15-17)
  3. I must show Jesus what I Produced for Him. (Matthew 25:21,23,26)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 25:14-30

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

  2. What do the talents represent (Matt 25:15)? What determines how the Master distributes the talents?

  3. Why was the Master not pleased with the man who buried, and returned, the Master’s talent? What did that servant’s response reveal about that servant’s heart?

  4. Is this parable teaching that you are saved by works? Why or why not?

  5. How are you using what has been given to you by Jesus FOR Jesus?

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? Stay Ready

Introduction:

Three Lies Unprepared People Tell Themselves (Matthew 25:1-13):

  1. I'll always have Time later. (Matthew 25:6,10)
  2. I'm prepared because I'm with the right Group . (Matthew 25:8,12)

    Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 2And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'"

  3. Oil isn't that important. (Matthew 25:8-9)

Five Evidences of Salvation:

  1. I love and long for God's Word .

    1 Peter 2:2 - Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation...

  2. I live in Repentance .

    Matthew 3:8 - Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

  3. I am Growing more spiritually mature.

    Philippians 1:6 - And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

  4. I love other Christians .

    1 John 3:14 - We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

  5. I love giving Money .

    Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

    Revelation 19:9 - And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb."

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Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 25:1-13

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

  2. How do we know this passage is about final judgment and not the rapture? (Hint: See Matt 25:12).How do these principles apply for us today?

  3. What does the oil represent? What does this have to do with the foolish virgins not being allowed into the marriage feast?

  4. What evidence of salvation (of those listed) do you struggle with the most? Is this a point of growth in your walk, or does this make you question if you have a true walk with Christ at all?

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? You Don’t Know

Introduction:

Since I Don’t Know the Exact Timing of the Second Coming... (Matt 24:36-51)

  1. I must stop trying to figure out What Only God Knows . (Matthew 24:36)

    Deuteronomy 29:29 - The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

  2. I must stay awake and Be Ready . (Matthew 24:37-44)

    Ephesians 5:14 - for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

  3. I must be faithful in carrying out My Assigned Tasks . (Matthew 24:45-51)

    John 14:15 - "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

    John 15:10 - "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love."

    John 15:14 - "You are my friends if you do what I command you."

    Luke 6:46 - "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?"

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Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 24:36-51

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

  2. Why do so many people try to guess/figure out the exact date/time of the rapture? Why is this unwise and unhelpful?

  3. What does it look like to “stay awake” and “be ready” in light of the second coming of Christ? How do you see yourself falling asleep spiritually right now?

  4. What tasks has the Lord assigned to us that we must be diligent in carrying out before He returns?

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? 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.

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

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