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

Knowing Jesus

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Value

Introduction:

Knowing His Value: When Your Actions Reveal Your Heart (John 12:1-11):

  1. Three Marks That Jesus is Highly Valued By You. (John 12:1-3)
    1. You Serve Him. (John 12:2)
    2. You desire His Presence . (John 12:2)
    3. You Sacrifice for Him. (John 12:3)
  1. Three Marks Jesus is Not Valued By You. (John 12:4-11)
    1. You are quick to Criticize . (John 12:5)
    2. You are fixed more on Getting than giving. (John 12:6)
    3. You want to remove anything Associated with Jesus. (John 12:10-11)

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 12:1-11

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

  2. If Jesus knew Judas was a thief (John 12:6, and see John 2:24-25), why did Jesus allow Judas to be the treasurer and steal from their funds?

  3. Explain Jesus’ statement in John 12:8. What was He saying about worship? What was He saying about taking care of the poor?

  4. Why did the chief priests want to kill Lazarus (John 12:10)? How is this like “cancel culture” in our day?

  5. How would you show an unbeliever Jesus’ worth?

Breakout
Pray for one another to demonstrate how you value Jesus, as Martha, Lazarus, and Mary did.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Providence.

Introduction:

God@Work Results In 3 Different Reactions (John 11:45-57):

  1. Those that Obey Jesus. (John 11:45)

    (Luke 9:35) - And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!"

    See: Acts 2:38 | Acts 3:19 | Acts 17:30 | Romans 1:5

  1. Those that Oppose Jesus (John 11:46-54).

    Isaiah 53:6 - ...the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

  2. Those that Observe Jesus (John 11:55-57).

    Luke 11:23 - Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 11:45-57

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

  2. Explain how believing in Jesus is an act of obedience.

  3. Why do people see Jesus as a threat? In what way is Jesus a “threat” to a person? Explain how that keeps people from believing.

  4. If someone does not truly believe in and follow Jesus, why would that person continue to attend church?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Resurrection Power.

Introduction:

The Two Most Amazing Things That Jesus Does (John 11:38-44):

  1. He Raises the Dead .

    (John 5:25) - Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

  1. He Partners with People.

    1 Corinthians 3:6-9 - I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 11:38-44

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

  2. How is Lazarus’ resurrection like an illustration of salvation?

  3. Explain how we see a combination of Divine and human work in Jesus’ miracles. Why do you think Jesus chooses to work this way?

  4. Read 1 Corinthians 3:6-9. How should “being God’s fellow workers” change the way we view working for Christ?

    BONUS: Where do you think Lazarus was during those 4 days he was dead? Support your answer.

Breakout
What are some things we learn about praying from John 11:41-42? Incorporate these into your prayer time together.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Compassion.

Introduction:

Knowing Jesus When You're Hurting (John 11:17-37)

  1. He is Present and Powerful today. (John 11:17-27)
  2. He Feels your hurt. (John 11:28-37)

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 11:17-37

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

  2. Martha believed God would do something big in the future, but not in the present (John 11:24). Have you ever been guilty of that? Why do we sometimes struggle to believe in Jesus’ power today?

  3. Why did Jesus address Mary differently than Martha, even though they both led with the same statement (John 11:21, 32)?

  4. John 11:33 says Jesus was “deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled”, an expression that indicated anger and anguish. Why was Jesus feeling these emotions here?

  5. Why did Jesus weep (John 11:35) if He knew what He was going to do? What does this tell you about God?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Perspective.

Introduction:

Knowing Jesus' Perspective (John 11:1-16)

  1. Suffering is about seeing Jesus' Glory . (John 11:1-4)
  2. Delaying is an act of Love . (John 11:5-15)
    • I will follow Jesus even when my faith is Weak . (John 11:16)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read John 11:1-16

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

  2. Explain how illness can be for the glory of God (John 11:4). What does that mean? How does that look?

  3. Read John 11:5-6 again. Why was “staying two days longer” actually an expression of Jesus' love?

  4. Though Thomas seemed to display some unbelief (John 11:16), explain what was commendable about his statement / attitude. What does this teach you, when your faith isn't where it needs to be?

Breakout
Pray for one another.