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

Intentional Hope

What ARE We Waiting For? There Are Only Two Options

Introduction:

Are You a Sheep or a Goat? (Matthew 25:31-46):

  1. Jesus Knows who is who. (Matthew 25:31-33)

    Hebrews 9:27 - And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment...

  2. Sheep are known by their Compassion . (Matthew 25:34-40)

    Ephesians 2:8-10 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

    Revelation 22:12 - Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

    Am I Compassionate? 3 Marks You Have True Compassion:

    1. You take Action .
    2. You aren't doing it for people to Notice .

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

    3. You aren't looking for something in Return .

      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.

  3. Goats are known by their Lack of Compassion . (Matthew 25:41-45)

    2 Thessalonians 1:9 - They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might...

    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?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

  4. Your destination is Eternal . (Matthew 25:46)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 25:31-46

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

  2. We are judged based on our works (See Revelation 21:12.) Since we can’t be saved by our good works, why are works the basis for judgment? How does this tie into Jesus' teaching in Matthew 25:31-46?

  3. What kinds of works will Jesus evaluate on this day of judgment (Matt 25:35-36,42-43)? Since Jesus is speaking to believers at the end of the Tribulation, how does this principle apply now?

  4. How would you respond to this statement:? “If hell is real, it’s only temporary. Eventually God either brings everyone to heaven or just wipes out of existence those who have rejected Him.”

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 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."

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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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?"

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

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)

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

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