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

The Useful Servant

Introduction:

Characteristics of a Useful Servant: (1 Samuel 3:10-21)

  1. A Useful Servant: is Submissive to God's Word. (1 Sam 3:10-14)
  2. A Useful Servant: Truthfully Speaks God's Word. (1 Sam 3:15-18)

    Proverbs 30:56 - "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar."

  1. A Useful Servant: is Blessed by God's Word. (1 Sam 3:19-21)

Steps we can take when Declining in Usefulness:

  1. Step Away
  2. Step Up

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

Small Group Discussion
Read 1 Samuel 3:10-21

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

  2. Why do you think Eli didn’t fully submit to God’s instruction?

  3. In what areas are you lacking useful servitude to God and how can you be better?

  4. What are some ways you’ve seen God’s blessings in your life when serving Him faithfully?

  5. Step away vs Step up… when should each approach be used? Specifically to Step Up, what are some examples of doing this?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Questions from the Congregation - Part 17

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. [00:00] - Q: My question is how as followers of Christ are we to equip ourselves and our children (besides prayer) to stand up against evil ideology but particularly LGBTQ agenda in our schools and the "in your face" push throughout media. How do we teach our kids to respond to teachers/peers when confronted with these movements?
    A: See - TBD

  2. [00:00] - Q: Why should I pray for this world if the Bible says that the world is going to get worse?
    A: TBD

  3. [00:00] - Q: There's a lot of dialogue in our country about rights. What rights are actually given to us by God?
    A: See TBD - TBD

  4. [00:00] - Q: In light of many current events, shortages, and inflation, I feel the need to hoard food and necessities. Is it wrong to have an excess of these items in stock. Does that show a lack of faith in God’s provision?
    A: See TBD - TBD

  5. [00:00] - Q: What is a woman?

    A: TBD

  6. [00:00] - Q: What are your thoughts about churches with women pastors? What does the bible say about this?
    A: See 1 Timothy 2:12-15 - TBD

  7. [00:00] - Q: People at work say Christians can swear. Can they swear to be relevant?
    A: See Ephesians 5:4
    TBD

  8. [00:00] - Q: What does the Bible say about the use of Western Medicine example anti depressants, pain killers, medical marijuana, etc.?
    A: See Proverbs 31:6 TBD

  9. [00:00] - Q: Psalms are psalmists praises and often supplications, too. They are not necessarily God's promises. How shall we then treat those supplications? For example 1, Ps 6:23a, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Is this true for US? For example 2, Ps 90:15, Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. Does this prayer being included in Bible mean approval of this supplication by God? Can WE make the same supplication?
    A: See TBD - TBD

  10. [00:00] - Q: If Jesus was a Galilean Jew, why aren’t we?
    A: See TBD - TBD

  11. [00:00] - Q: Are there spirits outside of angels and demons on earth? Is there any scripture that would lead us to believe that people once they die would be a spirit on earth?
    A: See TBD - TBD

  12. [00:00] - Q: Are we missing something when it comes to the Sabbath and the value of rest? Jesus addresses the Pharisees' legalistic approach to the Sabbath and much of the OT has been fulfilled through the cross, but this is the only one of 10 commandments that isn't expected to be followed still.
    A: See TBD - TBD

  13. [00:00] - Q: Does Nicodemus believe that Jesus is who he says he is?
    A: See John 19:39 - TBD

  14. [00:00] - Q: Gen. 3:15 makes mention of Satan's "offspring". Did Satan procreate with humans? Who was Satan's offspring?
    A: See John 8:44 - TBD

  15. [00:00] - Q: What do you think is the strongest evidence outside of the Bible that Jesus of Nazareth is a historical existence?
    A: See TBD - TBD

  16. [00:00] - Q: In Daniel chapter 10 at the very end of the chapter it says “but I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael your prince.” Why is Michael called a prince? Are there other angels known as princes like Michael?
    A: See TBD - TBD

  17. [00:00] - Q: When do the O.T. saints get their glorified bodies? If it is not at the time of the rapture when the dead rise first, can you explain?
    A: See TBD - TBD

  18. [00:00] - Q: Why does the Lord send Saul an evil spirit several times in 1 Samuel? Why would the Lord do that? We are told to ‘resist the devil and he will flee…’?
    A: See TBD - TBD


    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

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!

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."

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.