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

The People of God Give to the Work of God

Introduction:

What Moves the People of God to Give to the Work of God? (1 Chronicles 29:1-19)

  1. We know Everything Belongs to God. (1 Chronicles 29:10-16)
  2. We know we only have a Limited Time to give. (1 Chronicles 29:15)

    Matthew 6:19-20 - Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

  3. We know God is Testing Us with money. (1 Chronicles 29:17-19)

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Small Group Discussion
Read 1 Chronicles 29:1-19

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

  2. In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus says to give in secret, yet in 1 Chronicles 29:1-5, King David announces his giving in great detail. Should all giving be done in secret? If not, when is it appropriate to not give in secret?

  3. How does remembering that “everything belongs to God” encourage us to give joyfully (1 Chron 29:10-16)?

  4. What did David mean that God is “testing the heart” (1 Chron 29:17)? What, exactly, is the test? How is money part of this test? How do we pass or fail?

Breakout
Pray for one another, and for continued faithfulness and generosity in HBC (1 Chron 29:18).

Money is Where I Need to Repent

Introduction:

What is Money?

  1. Money is a Tool .

    How do I know this tool has become an idol to me?

    1. It causes me constant worry and anxiety.

      Ecclesiastes 5:12 - Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.

    2. It gives me hope and security.

      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

    3. It pulls me away from the faith.

      1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

      Matthew 6:24 - No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

  2. Money is a Spiritual Gauge .

    Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

    Read also: Matthew 19:16-22, Luke 19:1-10, Luke 3:10-14, Luke 12:13-20

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Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 19:16-22, Luke 19:1-10 (Optional: Matthew 6:21, Luke 3:10-14, Luke 12:13-20)

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

  2. Why do you think money so easily becomes an idol? What do you do when you realize it has become one in your life?

  3. Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything and give to the poor before he follows Jesus. Is this the command for everyone who wants to follow Jesus? Why or why not?

  4. The man in the parable in Luke 12:13-21 seemed like a good businessman, and it didn’t seem like he did anything inherently wicked or evil. Why - exactly - did God call him a “fool”? How does this lesson apply to you and I?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Believe

Introduction:

Matthew 10:34-36 - Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.

When You Start to Despair: Believe (Micah 7:1-20)

  1. Put your eyes on your Walk with God. (Micah 7:7-10)
  2. Put your eyes on God's Promises . (Micah 7:11-17)
  3. Put your eyes on God's Love . (Micah 7:18-20)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Micah 7:1-20

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

  2. In light of the wickedness of man (Micah 7:1-6), do you ever feel any degree of despair as Micah did (Micah 7:1)? Why or why not?

  3. Which promise of God is especially comforting to you? Why?

  4. What was your biggest takeaway from this series?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Repent

Introduction:

I Want to Repent... (Micah 6:1-16)

  1. Because God has been Good to me. (Micah 6:1-5)
    • Redemption
    • Leadership
    • Protection
    • Promise
  2. Because Holiness matters to me. (Micah 6:6-8)
  3. Because I'd rather not face God's Discipline . (Micah 6:9-16)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Micah 6:1-16

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

  2. What does it mean to ”repent”? Which of these reasons from Micah is the most motivating for you to repent (God’s goodness, my desire for holiness, avoiding discipline)?

  3. Why do you think even some born-again believers struggle with repentance? What makes them put off repenting?

  4. Read Matthew 3:8 and explain what exactly that verse means.

Breakout
Pray for one another. How are you doing with repentance?

Worship

Introduction:

Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Changes Coming Under Messiah's Leadership (Micah 5:1-15):

  1. Messiah's people will be Secure . (Micah 5:3-6)
  2. Messiah's people will be Prominent . (Micah 5:7-9)
  3. Messiah's people will be Dedicated . (Micah 5:10-15)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Micah 5:1-15

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

  2. What is the significance that the “ruler in Israel” would be from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)?

  3. Micah 5:7-8 tells us that in Messiah’s kingdom, Israel will be like dew and like a lion. What do these pictures mean and how can they both be true at the same time?

  4. In Micah 5:12-14, God promises to remove idols from Israel during the Messiah’s kingdom. Why does God do this, and not just command Israel to not worship them?

Breakout
Pray for one another.