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

Luke

How to Love Difficult People: How to Love Your Enemies

Introduction:

Who Are My Enemies?

  1. My enemies are people With bad intentions .
  2. My enemies are Who I say they are .

Jesus's Example (Romans 5:8-11)

Romans 5:8,10-11 - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us... For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Titus 3:3-5 - For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy...

To Love My Enemies:

  1. I must prepare To be humiliated . (Luke 6:27b-30)
  2. I must see that Reciprocity is not love . (Luke 6:32-34)
  3. I must Intentionally love them the way God does . (Luke 6:31,35-36)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 6:27-36

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

  2. What are obstacles we face in loving our enemies?

  3. Think of a time you were humiliated by someone – how were you wounded (physically, mentally, emotionally, or in your concept of self)? How is it different if we are humiliated for Christ (i.e., is there a greater purpose for our suffering)?

  4. What are some ways you live reciprocally with others? What changes will you need to make to move beyond reciprocal living?

  5. What can we do to love our enemies?

  6. BONUS QUESTION: What is the reward for loving our enemies? Is that reward valuable to you?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

How to Love Difficult People: How to Love Your Neighbor

Introduction:

Questions to Answer To Love Your Neighbor (Luke 10:25-37):

  1. Why Should We love our neighbor? (Luke 10:25-28)

    1. When we love others, we Show Our Love For God . (1 John 4:20-21)
    2. When we love others, we Are Most Like God . (1 John 4:7-8)
    3. When we love others, we Live . (Luke 10:28)
  2. Who is our neighbor? (Luke 10:29-37)
  3. WHat Do We Need To love our neighbor? (Luke 10:33-37)

    1. Awareness – See the need. (Luke 10:33a)
    2. Ccompassion – Feel the need. (Luke 10:33b)
    3. Tactile Action – Meet the need. (Luke 10:34-37)

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 10:25-37

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

  2. What motivation is most compelling for you to do a better job of loving your neighbor?

  3. Which of your neighbors do you need to show love to?

  4. Which of the ACT steps are you missing? Awareness? Compassion? Tactile action? Make a plan to do something different.

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Did God Really Say… Hell is Real?

Introduction:

The Truth About Hell (Luke 16:19-31):

  1. It is filled with people who Never Expected to be There . (Luke 16:19-23)

    Matthew 7:21-23

    John 6:29 - “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

  2. It is a place of Unimaginable Torment . (Luke 16:24-25)

    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.

  3. It cannot be Escaped Once You are There . (Luke 16:26)
  4. It can be avoided by Submitting to the Word of God . (Luke 16:27-31)

    Romans 9:3 - For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

    Charles Spurgeon - “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 16:18-31

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

  2. Why is hell such a controversial and neglected doctrine? Why do many churches/Christians shy away from talking about it?

  3. How can we lovingly and graciously talk about the reality of hell with unbelievers in our lives as we share the gospel?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Baby's First Christmas - The Perks of Waiting

Introduction:

What Happens to Me When I Wait on the Lord (Luke 2:36-38)

  1. My Woes become Small . (Luke 2:36-37)
  2. My Worship becomes Authentic . (Luke 2:37)
  1. My Witnessing becomes Natural . (Luke 2:38)
  2. My Waiting becomes Worth it. (Luke 2:38)

Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 2:36-38

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

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Baby's First Christmas - Great Expectations

Introduction:

(Luke 2:22-36)

  1. Mary and Joseph were expected to Follow the law, which They did. (Luke 2:22-24)

    See: Lev 12:4, 6, 8

  2. Simeon expected to See the Messiah, which He Did! (Luke 2:25-32)

See Isaiah 42:1,6-7 | Isaiah 49:5-6

  1. I am expected to Believe in Jesus, which I Do. (Luke 2:33-35)

    Acts 17:30 - The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent...

    1 John 3:23 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 2:22-35

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

  2. Have you ever felt so unclean or so unworthy that you thought God could not possibly have anything to do with you? Does the knowledge that Jesus makes everyone He touches clean and holy change your perspective?

  3. Share an example of a time you waited on or cried out to God – did you focus on your circumstances, or on His promises and His Holy Spirit? If you are going through trying circumstances now, how can knowing His Word and listening for the Holy Spirit’s counsel give you hope?

  4. Have you repented and believed in Jesus for salvation?

  5. Consider this statement: “Salvation requires obedience” (See Acts 17:30 and 1 John 3:23). Discuss.

Breakout
Pray for one another.