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

Power & Witness

Power in Obedience

Review:


Obedience: I won't back down...BUT

  1. I will be obedient, and trust God with the Results. (Acts 5:12-16)


  2. I will be obedient, even when it seems Crazy. (Acts 5:17-21a)


  3. I will be obedient, even in the face of Hostility. (Acts 5:21a-32)

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 5:12-32

  1.  In Acts 5:1-11, God dealt with sin. What effect did this have on non-believers (Acts 5:13)? What does this say about the mentality of a church that is “just going after numbers”, that is, just wants to bring in as many people as possible?

  2. Compare Peter’s sermon in Acts 5:29-32 with his sermon (to the same audience) in Acts 4:8-12. What is the difference? What does this say about how you should witness?

  3. Share something crazy God called you to do. How did you know that was what He wanted? Why did you think it was crazy at the time? How did obedience work out for you?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.

Power of Discipline

Review:


Hypocrisy: Just Don't Do It.

  1. Hypocrisy is a Serious sin. (Acts 5:1-2)

    2. Review Matthew 6:2


  2. Hypocrisy always gets Found out. (Acts 5:3-4)

    3. Review Numbers 32:33


  3. Hypocrisy will be Dealt with. (Acts 5:5-10)

    4. Review 1 Peter 4:17 | 1 Cor 5:11-13 | 1 Cor 11:30 | 1 John 5:16


  4. We must All be deadly serious about hypocrisy. (Acts 5:11)

    5. Review 1 Tim 5:12 | Prov 28:13

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 5:1-11

  1. What was Ananias and Sapphira’s sin? What was the real issue? How do we know it’s not about the amount of money given? (hint: see Acts 5:4)

  2. Do you think Ananias and Sapphira were true believers in Jesus Christ? Why or why not? What difference does it make in understanding the passage?

  3. *What lesson does this passage teach about God’s attitude towards sin in the church

  4. How should church leaders (elders) address unrepentant sin in the church? See also 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 and 1 Peter 4:17.

  5. *Do God’s actions seem extreme in this passage to you, considering the nature of the offense? Why did God deal with this sin so personally, abruptly, and definitively?

Breakout Questions:

This passage is a reminder of how vital this breakout time is. Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another. Sin and hypocrisy are serious matters to God. Make them serious to you.

 

Power in Unity

Review:


The Power of Unity is displayed in an Unselfish church. (Acts 4:32)

See John 17:21

I Am Unselfish When:

  1. I keep my eyes on the Mission. (Acts 4:33)


  2. I come to Give. (Acts 4:34-35)

    3. Review and listen to the I Want to Give Sermon Series

    New Testament Giving is:
    • sacrificial
    • voluntary
    • joyful

  3. I follow Godly Examples. (Acts 4:36-37)

    4. Encouragement is:

    • encourage
    • voluntary

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 4:32-37

  1. How does selfishness destroy unity? How does focusing on Jesus squelch selfishness? (Acts 4:32-33)

  2. What are creative ways YOU can give to the mission, locally and abroad? Sell something, earn money on the side, etc? (Acts 4:34-35)

  3. How can you set an example like Barnabas without (pridefully) drawing attention to yourself? (Acts 4:36-37)

Breakout Questions:

Pray for unity at HBCPN! Specifically that we:

  • Stay focused on the mission.
  • Cultivate an attitude of giving, not taking.
  • Set an example for other believers. 

Power for Boldness

Review:


I Want to Be Bold for Jesus.

  1. So I need the church to Encourage me. (Acts 4:23)


  2. So I need the bible to Equip me. (Acts 4:24-28)


  3. So I need prayer to Empower me. (Acts 4:29-31)

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 4:23-31

  1. Why do you think Peter and John went straight to their friends (Acts 4:23)? What does this say about the purpose and importance of Christian fellowship?

  2. Why did their prayer mention creation (Acts 4:24)? Why did they mention that in praying in the aftermath of persecution?

  3. *How does the verse they quoted (Psalm 2:1-2) apply to Jesus and their current situation? What does this tell you about why knowing God’s Word is important?

  4. *How does understanding God’s sovereignty help us in persecution (Acts 4:28)?

  5. What signs does God give us today to confirm His message (Acts 4:30-31)?

Breakout Questions:
Pray specifically for boldness.

The Power to Be a Witness

Witnessing is Easy!

  1. ...When you are rightly Prepared. (Acts 4:13)


  2. ...When God’s Work is clearly Seen. (Acts 4:14)


  3. ...When you love God more than you Fear Man. (Acts 4:15-19)


  4. ...When you Remember what Jesus has done for You. (Acts 4:20-22)

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 4:13-22

  1. How did the religious leaders know Peter and John had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13)? How will people know YOU have?
     
  2. Why do some people, like these religious leaders in this passage, refuse to accept Jesus even though they can’t deny the evidence of Who He is? Hint: See John 3:19.
     
  3. Share some things that you have seen Jesus do in your life, or the lives of those around you, that you cannot deny (as Peter said in Acts 4:20).


Breakout Questions:

  1. Pray for each person in the group, by name, to be a better witness. Take turns praying, pray for the person on your left, he prays for the person on his left, etc...