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

Jesus In The Clutch

Introduction:

How Do I Know Jesus Will Come Through In The Clutch?

  1. Because He's My authority . (1 Pet 5:6)
  2. Because He Cares . (1 Pet 5:7)
  3. Because He's Stronger than my opponent . (1 Pet 5:8-9)

    Genesis 49:8-10 - "Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples."

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Revelation 5:5 - And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scrolls and its seven seals."

Revelation 20:10 - "and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."

  1. Because He Always sees it through . (1 Pet 5:10-11)

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

Small Group Discussion
Read 1 Peter 5:6-11

  1. Are there anxieties in your life that you keep from God? Is there a reason you do that?

  2. What does your adversary “seeking someone to devour” look like in your life?

  3. How would you describe being “firm in your faith” mentioned in 1 Peter 5:9?

  4. What are some ways that we can humble ourselves daily so that God may exalt us?

  5. Is there a time that God came through in the clutch for you?

Breakout
Pray for each other’s anxieties that may be keeping you from your faith in God.

Lifecycle of Redemption

Introduction:

Lifecycle of Redemption (Psalm 107:10-22):

  1. Recognizing our need for it is as hard as we make it (Ps 107:10-12 | Ps 107:17-18)

    How do we recognize our need for redemption?

    1. How are things working out for you now?
    2. Are you trying to do it on your own?
    3. Is there some nagging sin you're dealing with?
    4. How's your walk?
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  1. But being redeemed is practically free as we make it (Ps 107:13,19)

    How do we cry out to the Lord?

    1. In humility
    2. In reverence

      3. Psalm 145:19 - "He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them"

    3. In faith
    4. Submissively

      5. Psalm 66:18 - "If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would have not listened"

  2. And fulfills our needs abundantly (Ps 107:14,16,20)

    Psalm 50:15 - "and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

    Revelation 4:11 - "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

    How do we respond to being redeemed?

    1. Thanks and gratitude (Ps 107:15,21,22a)
    2. Sharing what he's done for you (Ps 107:22b)

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Psalms 107:10-22

  1. What prevents us from asking for redemption?

  2. Why is redemption practically free and not scot-free?

  3. How do we cry out to the Lord and why is it important to do it “properly”?

  4. Why should we give God glory after being redeemed?

  5. What is the appropriate response to being redeemed?
    What’re your favorite ways to go about doing those responses?

Breakout
Share with one another a time you went through a ‘Lifecycle of Redemption’.

Living in the Wrath of God

Introduction:

  1. God Abandons a Nation That Abandons God.

    Read: Judges 10:13-14 | Hosea 4:17 | Matthew 15:12-14 | Acts 14:16

  2. Why Does God Abandon a Nation? (Romans 1:18-23)

    They clearly Know about God.

    But they clearly don't Want God.

    3. What Happens When God Abandons a Nation?

  3. 3 Progressive Steps a Nation Takes When God Abandons It.
    1. First the Heart goes: Sexual Immorality. (Romans 1:24-25)
    2. Then What is Natural goes: Dishonorable Passions. (Romans 1:26-27)
    3. Finally, the Mind goes: Debased Minds. (Romans 1:28-32)

    Psalm 81:11-16 - "But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Romans 1:18-23

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

  2. Have you heard of this aspect of God’s wrath (abandonment) previously? If not, what is your initial response to this concept?

  3. Read Romans 1:19-20 again. How is it that everyone is “without excuse” when it comes to knowing there is a God? Explain how people know of God’s existence solely through creation.

  4. What is the connection between giving thanks and having faith (Romans 1:21)?

  5. Explain, briefly and in your own words, the progression that takes place when God “gives up” a nation (Romans 1:24-32). What can we do about it as a church?

Breakout
Pray for our nation, using Psalm 81:11-16 as your guide.

Questions from the Congregation - Part 13

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.

Q: How can we as Christians actively combat white privilege and racism? How are we at Harvest able to make a difference despite the lack of diversity in our church and immediate community?

A: See Acts 17:26 - And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place…

Ephesians 2:13-16 - But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Revelation 5:9-10 - And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”


Any question that was missed due to time constraints during the service Pastor Jeff will address the answer on the blog.

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):

Discuss any of the topics covered on Sunday! Consult the thorough notes I’m certain you took.

Breakout Questions:
Pray for our nation - and pray for our church to have opportunity to love people with the Gospel in the face of racial tension.

Questions from the Congregation - Part 12

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. [02:42] - Q: God said it was not good for man to be alone and created women. Why wouldn't God have the same for Himself?
    A: See John 17:5, 24 | Ephesians 5:25-32 | Revelation 19:9

  2. [05:54] - Q: What is a Christ-like response to people you don't know stopping you on the street and asking for money? What's the best way to show the love of Christ without enabling/hurting more than helping the situation?

    A: The safest bet is to offer them food. But always make it an opportunity to share the gospel with them.

  3. [12:20] - Q: The Bible states "absent from the body present with the Lord" but also talks about the dead in Christ will rise at Christ's return and forever be with the Lord. Explain please.
    A: See 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 | 1 Corinthians 15:35-55

  4. [14:26] - LIVE TXT Q: We are to believe that the Bible is the truth because it is Gods word, and I want to believe this, but the Bible has been translated and copied so many times by so many people. What if the truth has been lost in the process?
    A: The test to verify an ancient document, the Biblographical Test. 2nd ancient document, the Homer’s Ilead 600ish copies…the New Testament has 24,000+ ancient copies.

  5. [23:29] - Q: Christ tells us to do communion but He also washed feet and told us to do that too. Why do some churches wash feet and not others. (BTW the fact that we don't is not a problem with me.)
    A: See John 13:15 - For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

  6. [27:47] - LIVE AUDIENCE Q: Could you talk about eschatology? What the church’s position is on end times. His scripture descriptive of what’s going to happen, what’s already been fulfilled, just generally like that.
    A: See Revelation, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Daniel 9 | Last year we covered the entire book of Revelation.


  7. [30:50] - Q: Can you please explain to me the meaning of Psalm 108:7-9? thank you.
    A: See Psalm 57:7-11 | Psalm 60:5-12

  8. [33:39] - Q: To my understanding, the devil was cast from Heaven due to the sin of Pride, is that correct? And if so, I don't understand that as I didn't think sin was possible in Heaven? Thanks.
    A: See Revelation 12:4 | Matthew 25:41

  9. [35:00] - LIVE TXT Q: How does Harvest reconcile the thought that some parts of scripture are cultural (like head coverings) but others like the role of women in the church are not?
    A: See Timothy 2:11-15 | It’s the context of and surrounding the passage as to whether it’s cultural or theological, take out your biases and read the text straightforwardly.

  10. [39:21] - Q: Melchizedek. Please Explain.
    A: See Hebrews 7 | Psalm 110:4 | Genesis 14
    Melchizedek was a “type”, a picture of the Messiah, in at least 5 ways:
    1 – His name: my king is Righteousness
    2 – His title: King of Salem (Peace)
    3 – He was BOTH king AND priest
    4 – He was not a Levitical priest (Jesus was from Judah)
    5 – No beginning or end. Mel shows up suddenly and vanishes suddenly from the Scriptures, no genealogy or parents mentioned, “resembling Jesus” as a “priest forever”. (Heb7:3)

  11. [42:58] - Q: What about white privilege and racism? And what about diversity in our church? How are we supposed to respond as a body and as individuals?
    A: Join us next week for a Bonus QnA day! Bring your friends and family as we have a special guest joining the QnA, submit your questions now!


    Any question that was missed due to time constraints during the service Pastor Jeff will address the answer     on the blog.

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):

Review the questions submitted above. Discuss any of these that stuck out to you, or that maybe your group finds particularly interesting.

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another!