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

Guest Speaker

Grace in the Garden

Introduction / Context:


Romans 1:21-22 - "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools..."

Ephesians 5:25 - "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her..."

5 Examples of Grace Displayed at the Fall (Genesis 3):

  1. Grace is Exclusively for Humans. (Gen 3:14)
  2. Grace promises Ultimate Victory. (Gen 3:15)

    3. 1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

  3. Grace permits Continued Creation. (Gen 3:16)
  4. Grace leaves us Frustratingly Fallen. (Gen 3:17-19)
  5. Grace gives Accessible Life. (Gen 3:22-24)

    6. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

    Revelation 22:14 - "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates."

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Genesis 3

  1. The Fall is possibly one of the most basic and well known stories in the Bible, and yet there's so much depth here. Discuss some of the complex concepts you've learned from this story.

  2. It has been said before that most people suffer from two problems: failing to see how big their sin is and failing to see how big God's grace is. Do you believe this? Why or why not?

  3. Describe a time where you have experienced God's grace in your failures.

Breakout Questions:

What is causing you to be distant from God right now? How are you going to respond to His grace?

Shaped by the Master Sculptor

Allow God To SCULPT Your Life While In The Land Of The DYING

  1. Submit to God's Sovereignty. (Rom 8:28 | Jer 29:11)

    1. Discover the power of "TIPHLAH" (Job 1:22)

  2. Confess your Weakness.

    1. Don't deny it or indulge it (Psalm 61:2) The ELIOENAI Treatment – 9 times

    2. Remember what we really are

      1. Weak Sinners (Rom 5:6, 8 | Matt 26:41)

      2. Self - exaltation denounced by Paul (Rom 12:3b)

      3. God knows your frame (Psalm 103:12-14)

    3. Realize that accepting weakness can breed strength (2 Cor 12:10)

    4. Strength comes from humbly abiding in God's Presence (Ps 91:1 | Isaiah 57:15)

    5. Don't LIMIT the Holy One by a lack of trust or unbelief (Psalm 78:41)

  3. Understand God's Big Picture

    1. Develop a "Better than I deserve" mentality (Rom 6:23 | Luke 17:10)

    2. Remember God is the Creator and Owner

      1. You NEVER have a right to be ANGRY WITH GOD!!! (Matt 5:22)

    3. Remember: A strong root always produces fruit

  4. Leave Self on the Shelf

    1. Change your focus to the Lord – BELIEVE (Psalm 16:8-9 | Isaiah 26:3)

      1. Not like Job (Job 29:20-23)

    2. BELIEVE (2 Cor 1:3) – "the God of all comfort"

      1. God is NOT a persecutor, abandoner, adversary, accuser, or prosecutor

      2. Replace your Why with a What (Acts 9:6 | 2 Cor 1:4)

    3. Don't just Live With your mistakes, Learn From your mistakes

      1. Don't live in the WHAT IF, but in the What Now (Phil 3:13)

    4. Confess rather than depress (1 John 1:9 | Proverbs 28:13)

    5. Use your gifts to serve others (Js 4:6 | 1 Pet 5:5b)

  5. Praise God for His Provision

    1. Praise is the ULTIMATE "Depression Medicine" (Psalm 61:8)

    2. Take a "Scripture Prescription" and rejoice

      1. Psalm 16:8-9 | Phil 4:6 | 1 Cor 15:55-57 | Rom 8:37)

  6. Testify to God's AMAZING GRACE

    1. The LIBERATING "Stephen Principle" (Acts 7:51-60 | Rom 1:20 | Eph 2:10)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Homosexuality

The Bible and My Response

- (Genesis 2:24-25)

Intro:


What is marriage in the eyes of God?

  1. A Covenant relationship between a man and a woman.

  2. A Picture of Christ and the Church.

  3. A married couple enjoying a God Designed sexual expression.

Jeremiah Canfield - Pastor Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh East

Review: Leviticus 18:22; 20:13 | Romans 1:18-33


What do we do?

  1. Stop Avoiding them.

  2. Give them the Gospel first.

  3. Love them, but not Accepting what they do.

  4. Guide them as part of the body of Christ.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Genesis 2:24-25

  1. What overall thoughts do you have from the message and what where some take-a-ways and "nuggets".

  2. What other "street level" objectives have you heard. If so, talk about them and come up with an answer for them.

  3. How do we show love and give the gay community the Gospel in today culture?

  4. If you still have time and you would like to watch a 35 min video by Matt Chandler answering questions on this topic, you can find it on YouTube. He gave two talks on homosexuality and then took questions from the audience. The Q&A time is good, and it is 35 minutes.

Breakout Questions:
Spend time praying for those in the your small group who know someone that is struggling with this issue. Pray for God to free them of their bondage. 

Seeking God

Lessons from the Life of King Asa

- (2 Chronicles 14-16)

Intro:


Romans 15:4 - For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.


A Person Who Truly Seeks God is One Who:


  1. Is Serious about it. (2 Chron 14:2-7)

  2. Makes it Personal. (2 Chron 14:11)

  3. Perseveres in their seeking. (2 Chron 15:7)

  4. Is Serious about it. (2 Chron 15:8-16)

  5. Is not without Flaws. (2 Chron 16:1-12)

HBCPN Elder - Mark Ort

Click illustration to enlarge

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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read 2 Chronicles 14-16

  1. Christians live under the New Covenant. So why is it important to study the Old Testament?

  2. Describe what 'seeking God' really means?

  3. What obstacles are in your way that prevent you from a serious pursuit of God? What kind of plan will you put into place to change that?

  4. How can other believers help you in your quest to seek the Lord? In what ways will you help them in their quest?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another to act on their plan to intentionally seek God this week. Hold each other accountable in this plan. 

Worth Repeating

Alex Giannetti - alexgiannetti.com

With over a decade of Real Estate experience, Alex began as an investor and at the market's peak in 2006 owned 11 properties including his personal residence. The bubble burst and hit his family hard, but they regrouped and carried on with a No Debt Philosophy thanks to discovering the teachings of Dave Ramsey. Alex and his wife, Stacie, began teaching Dave's course, Financial Peace University and to date have helped hundreds of people to pay off over a million dollars in debt. Alex and Stacie are members of Harvest Bible Chapel with their two teen boys, Christian and Samuel

Intro:

Matthew 6:24 - No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

  • There is no such thing as Good Debt. (Prov 22:7)

  • Protect your Four Walls. (Prov 21:20, 13:22, 22:6)

  • Align your finances with True North. (Romans 12:2, Phil 4:6)

  • Keep it Real. (Prov 6:1-5)

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Proverbs 6:1-5

  1. Money and sex are probably the two areas of our lives that separate us most from God.
    Why do churches then avoid these topics?

  2. Proverbs 22:7 reads, "The rich rules over the poor and the borrower is slave to the lender."
    Have you ever borrowed or lent money to or from a friend or family member? How did that work out? Is your relationship the same today?

  3. US consumer debt is at an all time high. What would you do if you were completely debt free?
    - For your family
    - For your church
    - Would your giving look different? How

  4. Who is teaching your children about money and do you know what they are learning

  5. Money problems and money fights are the #1 cause of divorce.
    How would you rate your communication about money?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for each individual and their relationship with money as God has design us to.