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

Church 101

How Does the Church Deal with Difficult People?

Introduction:

Nehemiah 13:25 - And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair.

The 3 People You Meet in Church (and How to Deal With Them.):
(Titus 3:9-15)

  1. The Divisive Person: You Avoid . (Titus 3:9-11)

    4 Things Divisive People Major In:

    1. Foolish Controversies .
    2. Genealogies .
    3. Dissensions .
    4. Quarrels about the Law.

    Romans 16:17 - I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

    2 Thessalonians 3:14 - If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.

  1. The Other Servants: You Support . (Titus 3:12-13)
  2. The Person in Need: You Help . (Titus 3:14-15)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read Titus 3:9-15

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

  2. How do you know who is stirring up division (Titus 3:10)? What’s the best way to confront them and warn them?

  3. How can a divisive person be restored after being avoided (Titus 3:10)?

  4. BONUS - What’s the craziest “foolish controversy” (Titus 3:9) you have ever heard a church fight over?

Breakout
Pray for one another to do your part to make HBC a healthy church: avoiding divisive people, supporting fellow servants, and helping those with urgent needs.

How Does the Church Impact the Community?

Introduction:

How We Can Make a Difference:
(Titus 3:1-8)

  1. By taking our Christian Duties Seriously . (Titus 3:1-2)

    Luke 6:35 - "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your heavenly Father is merciful."

  1. By choosing to remember What Christ Has Done for Us . (Titus 3:3-7)
  2. By Devoting Ourselves to Putting Others First . (Titus 3:8)

    Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Titus 3:1-8

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

  2. What are the seven Christian duties that Paul lists in Titus 3:1-2? Which of these characteristics do you need to work on/grow into the most?

  3. Why does Paul take the time to preach the gospel message in between his teachings about good works (Titus 3:3-7)? Why is it so important to preach the gospel message to yourself on a daily basis and remember where you came from?

  4. What does it look like to devote yourself to good works (Titus 3:8)? Who and how is the Lord calling you to serve right now?

  5. Why is it so encouraging and empowering to know that the Lord has prepared good works for us to carry out and specific people to bless (Eph. 2:10)?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

What is the Church's Mission?

Introduction:

Roles and Responsibilities in God's Mission:
(Titus 2:11-15)

  1. God's part: Saving and Changing people. (Titus 2:1-10)
    1. Justification: I Was saved from the Penalty of sin. (Titus 2:11)
  1. Justification: I Was saved from the Penalty of sin. (Titus 2:11)
  2. Sanctification: I Am being saved from the Power of sin. (Titus 2:12)

    1 John 3:8-9 - Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God'’'s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.

  3. Glorification: I Will be saved from the Presence of sin. (Titus 2:12)
  4. Security: I'm Forever saved from the Possesion of sin. (Titus 2:12)

    John 10:28 - I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

  1. Our Part: Preaching and Responding to God's Word. (Titus 2:15)

    Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

    Acts 17:30 - now (God) commands all people everywhere to repent...

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Titus 2:11-15

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

  2. How is salvation brought for “all people” if some people refuse to come to Christ to be saved (Titus 2:11)?

  3. How does a person’s attitude toward Jesus & their attitude towards sin reveal the condition of the heart? Can a sincere Christian live in unrepentant sin? Read 1 John 3:8-9.

  4. What does it mean to be “zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14)?
    Be real: scale of 1-10, how “zealous” are you for good works? If you are on the low end, how do you restore a zeal for good works?

  5. BONUS: What is the mission of Harvest Bible Chapel?

Breakout
Pray for one another, and pray for HBC to stay on mission.

What is Expected of a Church Member?

Introduction:

What is Expected of a Church Member?
(Titus 2:1-10)

  1. Live what you believe. (Titus 2:1-10)
    1. Older Men . (Titus 2:2)
    2. Older Women . (Titus 2:3-4a)

    Proverbs 10:18 - ...whoever utters slander is a fool.

    Psalm 101:5 - Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy.

  1. Younger Women . (Titus 2:4b-5)
  2. Young Men . (Titus 2:6-8)
  3. Employees . (Titus 2:9-10)
  1. Invest in others. (Titus 2:3-4, 6-7)
  2. Shine on. (Titus 2:5, 8, 10)

    Matthew 5:16 - let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Titus 2:1-10

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

  2. What benefits come from older women discipling younger women & older men discipling younger men (Titus 2:3-4, 6-7)? Name an “older” person that the Lord has used in your life.

  3. What exactly is “slander” (Titus 2:3)? Why do you think people are so strongly tempted to hurt another person’s reputation? How should you respond if someone is speaking to you and slandering another person?

  4. What does your conduct have to do with the church’s evangelism (Titus 2:5, 8, 10)? How can that “make or break” a church’s outreach efforts?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

How Does the Church Deal with False Teaching?

Introduction:

The Truth About False Teaching: (Titus 1:10-16)

  1. It cannot go Unnoticed . (Titus 1:10)

    2 Timothy 4:3 - For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.

    Acts 17:11 - "they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."

The Four Levels of Theological Disagreement:

  1. Heresy
  2. Destructive Thinking
  3. Ignorance
  4. Difference of Opinion
  1. It must be Silenced and Rebuked . (Titus 1:11-14)

    2 Timothy 2:24-26 - And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

  2. It should Serve as a Warning . (Titus 1:15-16)

Luke 6:45 - "For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."

Jeremiah 6:16 - This is what the LORD says: "Stop at the crossroad and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path and you will find rest for your souls."

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Titus 1:10-16

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

  2. What does it mean to be a Berean (Acts 17:11)? How can you grow in your ability to be discerning about what you hear/read?

  3. What are the four levels of theological disagreement? Why is it so important to be able to discern the differences between these four levels?

  4. What are some of the most destructive lies/false teachings that the church has to face right now?

  5. How do false teachers serve as warnings to us? What should we learn from their negative example?

Breakout
Pray for the leaders of HBC!