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

The Power of Meeting Jesus.

Review:

1 Timothy 1:15-16 - The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
 

What We Learn About Grace:

  1. The Worst people can receive grace. (Acts 9:1-14)


  2. Grace Chooses you because God wants to use you. (Acts 9:15)

    3. Review: Eph 2:10


  3. Receiving grace does not mean "Exempt from Suffering". (Acts 9:16)

    4. Review: Phil 1:29 | 2 Cor 11 | Acts 5:41 | Phil 3:10


  4. We have the privilege of Demonstrating grace. (Acts 9:17-19)

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


Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 9:1-19

  1. *Read 1 Timothy 1:15-16. How does Paul’s conversion story serve “as an example”?
     
  2. Why do you think Saul was so zealous to hunt down and arrest Christians (Acts 9:4)? How do you see such zeal against Christians today? Do you think it’s the same kind of motivation?
     
  3. Why do you think God got Ananias involved (Acts 9:10-12)? What does this say about how God may use you to disciple someone?
     
  4. Paul obviously had a special calling (Acts 9:15). Does every believer have a special calling, or just some? Defend your answer biblically!

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another. Pray specifically for those baptized: Corinne, Sherri, Stephen, Kate!

Guilt, Goats, and God's Grace

Introduction:


  1. Men must be persuaded by the Holy Spirit of their Guilt. (Romans 8:1-2)

    2. Review: 2 Peter 1:21 | John 14:16 | Col 2:13

    Review: Lev 16 | John 8:3-11


  2. Believers must be persuaded by the Holy Spirit of their Innocence. (Romans 8:3-4)

Guest Speaker - Mark Ort (HBCPN Elder)

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Romans 8:1-4

  1. What is the purpose of the Law? Is the Law good?

  2. If it were possible to obey every aspect of the Law, would that be enough to save someone? Provide scripture as to why or why not?

  3. Describe the difference between ‘guilt’ and ‘conviction’.

  4. What is the Holy Spirit’s role in a believer dealing with feelings of guilt?

  5. What does the theological term ‘justification’ mean? 

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.

Celebrating our Great God

  1. Celebrating God is a Daily, Forever thing!


  2. CELEBRATE God Specifically by praising Him for Who He is!


  3. CELEBRATE God Publicly for What He has done!


    4. Faithful Celebration of God is:

    • Intentional

    • Inter-generational

    • Theological

    • Personal

    • Prayerful

  4. COMMIT to celebrating God by Praising Him Verbally!

Guest Speaker - Richie Reeder HBCPE Pastor

"God is so GREAT that the human mind cannot fathom Him (Isaiah 40:28, Job 5:9; 9:10; 11:7; Romans 11:33; Ephesians 3:8), but the human heart can love Him and tell others how great He is. God’s CHARACTER and God’s awesome WORKS furnish us with more material than we could ever exhaust, and we will have all of eternity to keep learning more!”
– Warren Wiersbe

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Psalm 145

What Do You Celebrate?

  1. If what we celebrate shows what we value, than what is your celebration (or lack thereof) showing about what you value?

  2. What about when I dont' feel like celebrating (praising God)? David had a history with God…what's your history with God? What has he done in your life that you need to be giving Him public praise for?

  3. How does you daily routine incorporate praising God?

30 Observations of who GOD is from Psalm 145:
King, Great, Unsearchable, Mighty, Glorious, Wondrous, Awesome, Good, Famous, Righteous, Gracious, Merciful, Compassionate, Loving, Patient, Steadfast, Powerful, Faithful, Everlasting, Kind, Strong, Provider, Sustainer, Satisfier, Near, Preserver, Listener, Just, Worthy, Eternal…

  1. Which of these characteristics encourages you / strengthens you / means the most to you?
     
  2. How can this passage change our prayer life?
     
  3. Take the attributes of God in this passage and do some introspection - Which characteristic of God do you need to ask the Holy Spirit to infuse into you?

  4. Do you agree with the assertion that most Christ followers can improve how we celebrate?

  5. What if your Facebook Wall and Instagram Feed reflected how great your God is, rather than "how great you are?"

Faithful Celebration of God is:

  • Intentional
  • Inter-Generational
  • Theological
  • Personal
  • Prayerful
  1. Which of these themes from Psalm 145 resonated with you the most? Which of these is the most challenging for you?
     
  2. Name several of the Verbal Phrases and Celebratory Actions from Psalm 145.

David’s Celebratory Actions:
Extol God, Bless His Name, Praise Him Greatly, Commend God’s works to others, Declare God’s mighty acts, Meditate on His majesty & wondrous works, Speak of His might & great deeds, Declare His greatness, Pour forth (or CELEBRATE) the fame His goodness, Sing Aloud of His righteousness, SPEAK of the Kingdom, TELL of His power, Make Known his deeds, Call on Him, Fear Him, Love Him, and SPEAK the praise of the Lord!

  1. Give an example of what it would look like to live out these actions in your life.
     
  2. How can you effectively COMMEND God’s works to the next generation?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.

Questions and Answers - Part 5

Note: The time signatures [00:00] below indicate the start of a question if you'd like to skip to a particular one of interest in the audio file.

  1. [01:32] - Q: Can you do whatever you want to in heaven?
     
  2. [02:35] - Q: How did we get the Bible we have today (with books, chapters, and verse numbers)?
    A: See Luke 24:44
     
  3. [06:49] - Q: If infant baptism is not Biblical, what is the justification of so many churches/denominations practicing it? What is the history/origin of the practice?
    A: See Acts 2:37
     
  4. [13:39] - Q: What’s your favorite cliché that Dan Smith uses?
    A: "Prayerlessness is carelessness!"
    A: "Hell is too long to be wrong, so you better get it right!"
     
  5. [17:22] - Q: Can Christians lose their Salvation?
    A: No! See: John 10:28-30 and 1 John 2, security (the fact: objective) vs. assurance (the feeling: subjective) 
     
  6. [21:12] - Q: So if you are supposed to be able to see Jesus in heaven, how can that happen? The bible says that He is so bright you can't look at Him or see Him.
    A: See Rev 1
     
  7. [21:58] - Q: Please discuss what the Bible says about why women of all ages should dress modestly.
    A: See 1 Tim 2: 9-10, Rom 14:13. Modesty = having regard for others
     
  8. [26:05] - Q: Other than His birth, what reliable history is out there about the childhood, teen, and younger man years of Jesus? Since much of that isn't in the Bible...I think...
    And if it is not in the Bible, should we assume not to trust it anything else that is out there?
    A: See John 2:11, Luke 2:41
     
  9. [29:34] - Q: Can you explain the term "ministry" and broad examples of ministries?
    Can I make something that I love, that isn't "churchy," a ministry that is God-honoring and valuable in a Kingdom perspective?
    A: Ministry = service in the name of the Lord with the mindset of advancing His kingdom or glorifying His name.
     
  10. [33:11] - Q: Can we pray to the Holy Spirit, that is asking for wisdom or discernment, or are we only supposed to direct our prayers to God the Father. And what is the biblical basis for this?
    A: See Matt 6, Luke 11 (Jesus teaches how to pray), John 17 (Jesus praying), John 14:14 (Jesus teaching prayer to God the Father), Rom 8:26 (the Holy Spirit prays with us), John 15:16 (we pray in the name of the Son). No biblical basis to pray to anyone else.

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):

Review and discuss the questions and answers given on Sunday's Q&A day together. Have you found any additional biblical support for the answers given?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.

The War on Sin

Why I Must Fight My Sin:


  1. Because my sin Dishonors God. (Col 3:5)

    2. Review: Psalm 16


  2. Because my sin Brings serious consequences. (Col 3:6)

    3. Review: Romans 6:1-2


  3. Because my sin Belongs in the past. (Col 3:7-10)


  4. Because my sin Ruins relationships. (Col 3:8-11)

    5. Review: 1 Cor 10:13

Guest Speaker - Taylor Brown

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Colossians 3:5-11

  1. When you sin, what are you telling God with your actions? Why do we at times

    believe that sin is more satisfying than God? Why can sin never compare to a

    relationship with Christ?

  2. Even though we are new in Jesus, why do we choose to go back to our old ways

    of living? How can we fight against the temptation to go back to the old self?

  3. Does sin only ever affect us? How does it hurt other people? How can we help each other to fight against sin?

Breakout Questions:

  1. Confess the recurring sin(s) in your life that you struggle with. Pray for one another and develop an accountability plan to grow in your support among each other.