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

The Bible

How We Got It / How to Read It


  1. What is the Bible?

    2. 2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness...


  2. How Did We Get It?
  • Old Testament

    Review: Luke 11:49-51

    Don’t some Bibles have extra books?


  • New Testament

    • Review: John 16:12-14

    How do we know what books belong?

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  1. How Do We Know It’s True?

    • Archeology

    • Science

      Isaiah 40:22 - It is he who sits above the circle of the earth...

      Review: Isaiah 46:9-10 | Mark 12:35-37


  2. How Do I Read It?

    1. Read it Seriously. (Psalm 138:2)


    2. Read it Straightforwardly.


    3. Read it Seekingly.

Questions to Ask Yourself When Reading the Bible:

  1. What stands out to me from the passage?

  2. Is this passage calling me to do something? Stop doing something? Think about something?

  3. Is someone serving as an example in the passage? Is this a good or a bad example?

  4. Does this passage give me a promise from God to claim?

John 5:24 - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Review the Message! 

  1. Who wrote the Bible? How do we know?
     
  2. How is the Bible structured? What parts make up the Bible?
     
  3. How do we know the Bible is true? What evidences do we have, internally and externally?
     
  4. What are some ways you can improve your understanding in reading the Bible?

Breakout Questions:

How is your personal time in the Bible? How does this information encourage you to be a better Bible student? What are your plans to do better?

Unstoppable Against Idols

Review / Intro:


How Do You Witness to Greeks? (Acts 17:16-34)


  1. Meet them where they Are. (Acts 17:22-23)

  2. Just share the Basics. (Acts 17:24-29)

Who is God? (101):

  1. God Created you. (Acts 17:24)


  2. God Provides for you. (Acts 17:25)


  3. God Cares about you. (Acts 17:26)


  4. God wants a Relationship with you. (Acts 17:27-28)


  5. Rethink how you View God. (Acts 17:29)

  1. Encourage a Decision. (Acts 17:30-31)


  2. Leave the Results to God. (Acts:17-32-34)

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 17:16-34

  1. Why was Paul's approach different in witnessing to these "marketplace" people than it was to the Jews in the synagogue? What does this say about how we should approach people with the Gospel?

  2. List some things about God that Paul taught. Why did he focus on these things in particular? See Acts 17:24-31.

  3. Was Paul's preaching successful in Athens? Why or why not? See 2 Corinthians 2:14.

  4. When was the last time your spirit was provoked (righteous anger) to the point where you had to act (Acts 17:16)?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another to have opportunity and boldness in sharing the love of God with people. 

The Unstoppable Word.

Review / Intro:

Acts 9:25 – Damascus
Acts 9:30 – Jerusalem
Acts 13:50 – Antioch
Acts 14:6 – Iconium
Acts 14:19 – Lystra
Acts 16:23 - Philippi
Acts 17:5 - Thessalonica


Two Life Changing Decisions You Must Make About the Bible. (Acts 17:11)


  1. I will Receive it Eagerly.

    I'm Ready to Receive the Word When:

    1. My desire is to stop sinning. (1 Pet 1:22-2:3, James 1:21)


    2. My desire is to do God's will. (John 7:17)


  2. I will Examine it Daily.

    Review: Proverbs 2:1-5


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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 17:10-15

  1. What made the Bereans "noble"?

  2. How can I receive the Word of God with eagerness (Acts 17:11) if I am not doing that NOW

  3. Should you examine the Scriptures to verify EVERY message you hear? Why or why not?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another to grow as Bible students. Pray for our upcoming Bible 101 series.

Unstoppable and World-Changing!

Review / Intro:


The Four Crucial Elements of the World-Changing Message:


  1. Jesus Christ had to die for my Sins. (Acts 17:3)

    Romans 5:19 - For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

Four Reasons Jesus Had to DIE for My Sin:

  1. To be my Sacrifice. (John 1:29)

  2. To be my Propitiation. (1 John 4:10)

  3. To bring Reconciliation. (Romans 5:10)

  4. To pay for my Redemption. (Mark 10:45)

  1. Jesus Christ had to rise from the dead to give me Life. (Acts 17:3)

    Four Reasons Jesus Had to RISE from the Dead:

    1. Because He Said He would. (Luke 18:32-33)

    2. Because the Old Testament Promised the Christ would rise. (Psalm 16:10)

    3. Because that's how He gives His Righteousness. (Romans 4:25)

    4. Because that's how He gives His Eternal life. (1 Corinthians 15:17-18)


  2. Jesus Christ has to be my King. (Acts 17:7)

    Luke 6:46 - Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?



  3. There is a Cost to following Jesus. (Acts 17:6-9)

    Matthew 16:24 - Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

    John 13:16, 15:20 – a servant is not greater than His master

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 17:1-9

  1. What would you say are the essentials of the Gospel? Do you agree with the four presented in this message? Why or why not? Would you add anything, or remove any of these four?

  2. How do you think Paul kept from being discouraged, since it seems in every city he preached in the synagogue, he faced a serious backlash?

  3. Acts 17:5 says the Jews were jealous. What do you think caused this jealousy?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another to be bold witnesses who KNOW the Gospel and SHARE the whole Gospel. 

Parenting on Purpose - Part 4

The Turnaround: The Discipline of Discipline

Review:

  1. A Wrong Attitude about Discipline will Make You Discipline Wrongly

    1. Wrong Attitudes:

      1. Correction alone is Enough. (Ephesians 6:4)

      2. Every perceived Wrong deserves discipline. (Proverbs 18:13)

      3. Discipline always equals Spanking.
  1. Will Make You Discipline Wrongly:

    1. I discipline because of my Emotions. (James 1:20)


    2. I discipline when it's Convenient.


    3. I discipline without ever Praising.


    4. I discipline with Improper methods.

  1. A Biblical Attitude about Discipline will Make You Discipline Biblically

    1. Biblical Attitudes:

      1. Discipline is motivated by Love. (Hebrews 12:5-9)


      2. Discipline is about Correction not Punishment.


      3. Discipline must be God-glorifying. (James 1:5)

    2. Will Make You Discipline Biblically:

      1. I give appropriate Expectations.

        • Clear
        • Reasonable (age appropriate)
        • Definable
        • Enforcable

      2. I follow through as Soon as possible. (Ecclesiastes 8:11)


      3. I discipline with Proper methods. (Prov 13:24, Prov 22:15, Prov 23:13-14)

        • Don't threaten; inform
        • Make sure the offense had been committed; verify
        • Go to a private setting
        • Review
        • Have the child assume the position
        • Only hind quarters
        • Allow them to regain composure
        • Encourage
        • Make them appologize
        • Hug; pray

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read various passages from sermon

  1. What are some wrong ideas of discipline you’ve heard? What makes them wrong

  2. What’s the Biblical purpose of discipline? How does this reflect the character of God? How does this affect how you should go about it?

  3. Give reasons why you should never discipline in anger.

  4. How do you know when you disciplined your child properly? What are the signs you see from your child?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for God’s wisdom for yourself, and other parents, in administering Biblical Discipline.