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

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."

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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.

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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.

Does Anything Matter?

Introduction:

Here are Three Things That Don't:
(Ecclesiastes 2:1-26)

  1. Pleasures Don't Matter. (Eccl 2:1-3)

    1 Kings 4:22-23 - Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl.

  2. Projects Don't Matter. (Eccl 2:4-6)
  3. Possessions Don't Matter. (Eccl 2:7-23)

Does Anything Matter? Here is One Thing That Does:

  1. Pleasing God Matters. (Eccl 2:24-26)

    1 Timothy 6:17 - As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

Living Life from the Hand of God Results In:

  1. Being Thankful .
  2. Being Content .

    3. Philippians 4:11-13 - Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

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Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

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

  2. Have you ever been disappointed in pleasures, projects, or possessions? Share a time you felt like Solomon in (Eccl 2:1-21).

  3. Thankfulness and contentment are the two signs of someone living life by the hand of God. Do you struggle with either thankfulness or contentment in this season of your life? How can you turn this around?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Is This It?

Introduction:

Two Big Problems with Life: (Ecclesiastes 1:1-18)

  1. Problem: Life is just an Endless Cycle. (Eccl 1:2-11)
  2. Bigger Problem: We're not Smart enough to find a Solution. (Eccl 1:12-18)

When you Know Jesus, these 2 things aren't a problem at all:

  1. Solomon said under the sun, life is just an endless cycle. Jesus said under the Son of God, you were made for eternity, and you have an eternal purpose in this life.

    Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

  2. Solomon said under the sun, we're not smart enough to find a solution. Jesus said under the Son of God, you discover that He is the solution.

    1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ (is) the power of God and the wisdom of God.

    John 10:27 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

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Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

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

  2. What are some things people do (or get) that they think will bring fulfillment? Why don’t they work?

  3. Honesty time: have you ever felt like your life was a meaningless, endless cycle (Eccl 1:4-7)? Describe what made you feel this way.

  4. Explain what Solomon means by “under the sun / under heaven” (Eccl 1:3, 9, 13, 14)? Why is this such an important phrase to understanding Ecclesiastes?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Victory Celebration

Introduction:

It Is Impossible to Lose Your Salvation: (Jude 1:24-25)

  1. Because of God's Power . (Jude 1:24a)

    See: John 10:28-29

  2. Because of God's Promise . (Jude 1:24b)

    See: John 6:39 | Philippians 1:6

5 Descriptions of How Thoroughly God Dealt with Your Sin:

  1. Your sin is Washed away . (Isaiah 1:18)

    See: John 15:10

  2. Your sin is Removed . (Psalm 103:12)
  3. Your sin is Lost . (Micah 7:19)
  4. Your sin is Forgotten . (Jeremiah 31:34, Heb 8:12, 10:17)
  5. Your sin is Pardoned . (Romans 8:1)
  1. Because of God's Prestige . (Jude 1:25a)

    See: Psalm 23:3 | Psalm 25:11 | Isaiah 48:9, 11 | Ezekiel 20:44 | 1 John 2:12

  2. Because of God's Permanence . (Jude 1:25b)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Jude 1:24-25

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

  2. What do you think makes true Christians doubt their salvation?

  3. Have you ever doubted your salvation? Why? How did that situation resolve?

  4. Can a true Christian ever become apostate? Why or why not?

Breakout
Pray for one another.