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

I AM: Jesus

To the Powerless: I am the Vine

  1. The cast of this passage: (Jn 15:1-6)

    1. Vine = Jesus Christ = The Source of Life.

    2. Vinedresser = God the Father = The Active Worker.

    3. Branches = Man = The Fruit Bearers.

  2. How do I know I'm abiding? (Jn 15:7-11)

    1. I experience a powerful Prayer life. (Jn 15:7)

    2. I experience a fruitful Ministry. (Jn 15:8)

    3. I experience a loving Obedience. (Jn 15:9-10)

    4. I experience a supernatural Joy. (Jn 15:11)

So what do I need as a Christian?

  • I need money
  • I need happiness
  • I need more time
  • I need to get things done
  • I need to be the best
  • I need to be perfect
  • I need to abide!

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

Small Group Questions ­(Whole Group):
Read John 15:1-11

  1. What does it mean to abide in Christ? (Jn 15:4-7, 9-10) Describe specifically what that looks like in the life of an “abider”.
     
  2. Tell of a way God has “pruned” you with hard circumstances, and how that has resulted in fruitfulness in your life.

Breakout Questions:

Take the Test! Evaluate the proofs of abiding from John 15:7-11
Rate the following from 1­-10 (1 = poor, 10 = strong).
Go around the group for each question, then everybody answer the last one.

  1. I am experiencing a powerful prayer life. (Jn 15:7)
  2. I am experiencing a fruitful ministry. (Jn 15:8)
  3. I am experiencing loving obedience. (Jn 15:9-10)
  4. I am experiencing supernatural joy. (Jn 15:11)
  5. In the area I am weakest, what choices can I make to abide in Christ?
,

To the Troubled: I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

,

John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,"

  1. There is a PEACE that Jesus PROVIDES (Jn 14:1)

  2. There is a PLACE that Jesus PREPARES (Jn 14:2-3)

  3. There is a PATH that Jesus PRESCRIBES (Jn 14:4-6, Jn 3:16)

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

Small Group Questions ­(Whole Group):
Read John 14:1-6

  1. How does “believing in God, Believing also in <Jesus>“ keep your heart from being troubled? (Jn 14:1)
  2. How does Jesus calling heaven “My Father’s House” make you think about heaven? (Jn 14:23)
  3. How would you respond to someone who says, “There are many ways to God.” (Jn 14:6)

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.

To those in Despair: I AM the Resurrection

John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,"

  1. R.I.P. - My doubts about God's Timing (Jn 11:1-16)

  2. R.I.P. - My doubts about God's Ability (Jn 11:17-27)

  3. R.I.P. - My doubts about God's Motives (Jn 11:28-38)

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

Small Group Questions ­(Whole Group):
Read John 11:1-46

  1. John 11:5-6 says Jesus loved Lazarus, so He waited 2 days before He went to him! Why does it seem that God is always late?
     
  2. Jesus allowed Lazarus to die so Jesus’ glory could be revealed in raising him. Tell of a time God allowed suffering in your life, and you saw how He revealed His glory through it.
     
  3. In Jn 11:24, Martha said she believed Lazarus would resurrect in the future, but not now. Why do we sometimes fall into that kind of thinking, hesitating to believe God can do something now?
     
  4. Why did Jesus weep (Jn 11:35)? What does this tell you about God?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.

To the Defenseless: I AM the Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherds Job Qualifications:

  1. Committed Love (Jn 10:11-13)

  2. Uniting Love (Jn 10:14-16)

  3. Obedient Love (Jn 10:17-18)

Why is obedience important to the follower of Christ?

  1. Obedience is evidence that we Know God.

    2. 1 John 2:3 - And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.


  2. Obedience is evidence that we Love God.

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


  3. Obedience is evidence that we Trust God.

    4. Deuteronomy 6:24 - And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always...

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

Small Group Questions ­(Whole Group):
Review John 10:11-21

  1. Why does Jesus say (four times!) that he is “laying down His life for the sheep (Jn 10: 11,15,17,18)? How does that make you view the cross?
     
  2. How would you describe the place obedience has in a Christian’s life? 

Breakout Questions: 

  1. In what area do you struggle the most with obedience? Why? What steps are you taking to honor God in this area of your life?
     
  2. Pray for one another.

To the Helpless: I AM the Door

  1. The Context:

  2. The Lesson:
    • Sheep:
    • Shepherd:
    • Porter:
    • Sheepfold:
    • Door:

  3. The Meaning:

  4. The Point:

    1. The Shepherd Warns Us: Be Alert! (Jn 10:1-2)

    2. The Shepherd Calls Us: Follow Him! (Jn 10:3-6)

    3. The Shepherd Provides for Us: Rest in Him! (Jn 10:7-10)

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

Small Group Questions ­(Whole Group):
Read John 10:1-10

  1.  In John 10:4, Jesus said His sheep know His voice. How do you know when it is the voice of Jesus speaking? How do you respond when someone says, “God (or the Holy Spirit) told me...” when you are not convinced.
     
  2. How can you tell when someone is a false shepherd (the “thief and robber“, Jn 10:1, 8)?
     
  3. How have you experienced “abundant” life in Jesus? (Jn 10:10)

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.