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

Sin

What is Wrong with the World.

(Genesis 3:1-21)

Intro / Review:


  1. What is Sin?


  2. Where did sin Come From?
  1. What Problems does sin bring?

    1. Sin brings shame we try hide. (Gen 3:7)

    2. Sin brings shame we try to avoid. (Gen 3:8-10)

    3. Sin brings shame we try to deflect. (Gen 3:11-13)

  2. What is God's Response to sin?

    1. To the serpent: Defeat. (Gen 3:14-15)

    2. To the woman: Pain at home. (Gen 3:16)

    3. To the man: A hard and temporary life. (Gen 3:17-19)

    4. To fallen humanity: Forgiveness. (Gen 3:20-21)

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Genesis 3:1-21

  1. If God didn't want Adam and Eve to eat from the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil", why did He put it in the Garden?
     
  2. What caused Eve to disobey (Genesis 3:6)?
    Note: Not WHO (we know that) - WHAT.
     
  3. What "curses" were given to the serpent, woman, and man (Genesis 3:14-19)? How does each curse relate to the one God is addressing? (i.e., Why did man get THAT curse, and why did woman get THAT curse, etc.)
     
  4. Explain the progression of sin (doubt, deny, disobey). What would that look like in the following scenarios:
  • A teenager tempted to drink alcohol with friends.
  • A man tempted by porn.
  • A woman tempted to shoplift.
  • A child tempted to lie. 

Breakout Questions:

How have you seen the above progression play out in your own life? How can you be on guard against it next time?

Creation

In the Beginning...

Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.


  1. Hasn't Science proven evolution?

    2. But what about the Big Bang?

    But what about the "Cavemen"?

    Mark 10:6 - But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.

But what about Fossils?

Evidences for Young Earth / Literal Genesis:

  1. 2nd Law of Thermodynamics

  2. Recession of the moon

  3. Salt in the Sea

Psalm 14:1 - The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.


  1. How do we know God didn't Use evolution?

    1. Because the text is specifically literal.

      2. day = yom


    2. Because death came after Adam.

  2. Why does a Literal Genesis matter to me?

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Respond to the following statements:

  • Why does it matter what I believe about creation?

  • Does it matter if Genesis is literal or figurative?

  • Hasn't science proven evolution is true?

  • How do we know God didn't use evolution?

  • Why should I believe what the Bible says about the origin of the earth / man?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.

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?

(click thumbnail to enlarge)

  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.