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

When Life Seems Empty

Finding Balance in an Unbalanced World

Introduction:

How Can I Live a Balanced Life:
(Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:1)

  1. By choosing to be Godly Instead of Unrighteous and Self-Righteous . (Eccl 7:15-20)

In God you come up against something which is in every respect immeasurably superior to yourself. Unless you know God as that - and, therefore, know yourself as nothing in comparison - you do not know God at all. As long as you are proud, you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.

- C.S. Lewis

  1. By choosing to be Wise Instead of Arrogant and Foolish . (Eccl 7:21-29)
  1. By choosing to Stand Out Instead of Blend In . (Eccl 8:1)

    Isaiah 5:20 - "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:1

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

  2. How can you see yourself being a bit self-righteous at times? How should you deal with this temptation/attitude when it arises?

  3. What is wisdom and why is it so important? What did Taylor mean when he said that we need to admit our own limitations as well as the limitations of wisdom?

  4. How is the Lord calling you to stand out from the crowd and shine the light of wisdom right now? (Ecc. 8:1)

Breakout
Pray for one another.

How Can Adversity Be Good

Introduction:

5 Fantastic Things You Only Get from Adversity:
(Ecclesiastes 7:1-14)

  1. Perspective . (Eccl 7:1-4)
  2. Maturity . (Eccl 7:5-6)
  3. Patience . (Eccl 7:7-9)
  1. Wisdom . (Eccl 7:10-12)

    Numbers 11:4-6 - Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, "Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at."

  2. Reliance . (Eccl 7:13-14)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 7:1-14

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

  2. Why is attending a funeral more beneficial than attending a party? Has a death of a loved one ever brought you to self-evaluation?

  3. How well do you handle a rebuke? How do you typically respond?

  4. Are you apt to rebuke a brother or sister in Christ when you see that they are out of line? How do you go about that, or do you try to avoid / ignore it?

  5. Tell of how the Lord has used, or is using, adversity in your life. How have you grown?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

How Can Prosperity Be Bad?

Introduction:

Money Won't Make You Happy:
(Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:12)

  1. More money brings more Problems . (Eccl 5:10-17)
    1. More money = more Dissatisfaction . (Eccl 5:10)
    2. More money = more Moochers . (Eccl 5:11a)
  1. More money = more Disappointment . (Eccl 5:11b)
  2. More money = more to Worry about. (Eccl 5:12)
  3. More money = more Hurting . (Eccl 5:13-14)
  4. More money = more to Leave behind . (Eccl 5:15-17)
  1. Unless God gives you Power to enjoy it. (Eccl 5:18-6:9)
  2. Because God Said so . (Eccl 6:10-12)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:12

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

  2. Why do you think people look to money for happiness, despite the fact that the Bible and history both say that this has never happened?

  3. Have you ever seen someone hurt themselves in the pursuit of more, or when they got more (no names!)? Do you have a personal experience in this?

Breakout
Pray for one another to go after healthy relationships.

Why Would God Allow This?

Introduction:

5 Ways to Fail at Relationships:
(Ecclesiastes 4:1-5:7)

  1. Don't show Compassion . (Eccl 4:1-3)
  2. Work for the wrong reasons. (Eccl 4:4-8)
    1. Envy : bad motivation. (Eccl 4:4-6)
    2. Greed : bad motivation. (Eccl 4:7-8)
  1. Don't see the Benefits of relationships. (Eccl 4:9-12)
    1. You get More (and Better) work done. (Eccl 4:9)
    2. You have help when you're in Trouble . (Eccl 4:10-11)
    3. It's Safer . (Eccl 4:12)
  2. Refuse to take Action . (Eccl 4:13-16)
  3. (Regarding God) Talk , don't Listen . (Eccl 5:1-7)

    2 ways to "guard your steps":

    1. Come expecting to Learn from God. (Eccl 5:1-3)
    2. Don't try to Bribe God. (Eccl 5:4-7)

    Matthew 22:37-39 - And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 4:1-5:7

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

  2. How well do YOU take advice (Eccl 4:13)? Do you seek out advice? Why or why not? How do you respond to “unsolicited” advice?

  3. Is it appropriate to make a vow to God (Eccl 5:4-6)? Why or why not?

Breakout
Pray for one another to go after healthy relationships.

What's the Alternative?

Introduction:

How to Live By Faith:
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-22)

  1. Appreciate every season of life. (Eccl 3:1-8)
  2. Acknowledge there's more than this. (Eccl 3:9-11)

    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.

  1. Allow God to be in charge. (Eccl 3:12-15)

    Deuteronomy 10:12 - And now, Israel,what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul...

  2. Accept injustice (for now). (Eccl 3:16-22)

    Acts 17:30-31 - The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

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

  2. What does it mean that God “put eternity into man’s heart” (Eccl 3:11)? What are the implications of this?

  3. How would you explain to an unbeliever that God allows even “bad” seasons into our lives (Eccl 3:1-8)?

  4. Injustice shows our beastly side (Eccl 3:18). Can you give an example from your own life? How should faith make us adopt an attitude like Christ when He faced injustice? See 1 Peter 2:21-23.

Breakout
Pray for one another.