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

Living on the Edge

In the Meantime: Don't Be Lazy

Introduction:

Proverbs 26:13 - The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion on the streets!"

1 Thessalonians 4:11 - and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you

How to Deal with Lazy Freeloaders in the Church (2 Thessalonians 3:6-18):

  1. Set an Example . (2 Thes 3:7-9)

    1 Corinthians 9:9 - For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned?

    1 Timothy 5:8 - But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

  2. Don't be an Enabler . (2 Thes 3:10-12)
  3. Avoid Him. (2 Thes 3:13-15)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

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

  2. Why is refusing to work a sin? Why is work so important to God?

  3. How would you respond to someone who says “Isn’t it harsh to not give food to someone just because they refuse to work?”

  4. How specifically can the church fulfill the command to keep away from someone who refuses to work, yet treat him as a brother at the same time (2 Thes 3:6, 14, 15)?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

In the Meantime: Pray

Introduction:

Three Things to Pray For While We Wait for Jesus (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5):

  1. The Message to go out. (2 Thes 3:1)
    1. The Word of God to Advance .

      Psalm 147:15 - He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.

    2. The Word of God to be Accepted .
  1. The Messengers to be protected . (2 Thes 3:2-3)
    1. Protection from evil Men .
    2. Protection from the evil One .
  2. The Motivation to come from the Lord (2 Thes 3:4-5)
    1. God's Love .

      John 14:15 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

    2. Christ's Steadfastness .

      Deut 6:24 - And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always...

      1 Peter 2:23 - When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

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

  2. What are some reasons you think many Christians struggle with consistent prayer? What one piece of advice would you give someone who struggles with consistent prayer?

  3. Why are New Testament evangelistic prayers (see 2 Thes 3:1) directed at those who are bringing the Word, instead of those who need saved? How should this shape the way we pray?

  4. What are specific ways “wicked and evil men” (see 2 Thes 3:2) inflict harm on those in the church? How does God “deliver” (ie, rescue) us from them?

Breakout
Pray for some of the things this passage calls us to pray for.

In the Meantime: Stand Firm

Introduction:

Three Things To Ask Yourself When You Have Doubts If You Are Really Saved (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17):

  1. Have I been Changed ? (2 Thes 2:13a)

    Four Amazing Aspects of Salvation:

    1. God Loves you.
    2. God Chose you.
    3. God Saved you.
    4. God is Changing you.

Change in:

  1. Affections
    1. Love God's Word

      1 Peter 2:2 - Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation

    2. Love other Believers

      1 John 3:14 - We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

  2. Actions
    1. Repentance

      Matthew 3:8 - Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

    2. Growing into Christlikeness

      Romans 8:29 - For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son...

  3. Ambition
    1. Witnessing

      2 Corinthians 5:20 - Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.

    2. Money

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

  1. Do I Believe the Gospel ? (2 Thes 2:13b-14)
  2. Am I unwilling to Compromise ? (2 Thes 2:15-17)

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Small Group Discussion
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message? What was the most helpful thing for you in regard to assurance?

  2. How would you respond to a friend opening up to you saying, “Sometimes I have doubts. How do I know if I am saved?”

  3. How would you explain “God chose you” (2 Thes 2:13)? Why do people struggle with the doctrine of election? How would you counsel someone really struggling with this?

  4. Look at (2 Thes 2:15) again. In what areas are you tempted to compromise, either in behavior (“stand firm”) or belief (“hold to the traditions”)?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Rebellion is Coming

Introduction:

When Things Are Bad and You're Starting to Freak Out (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12):

  1. Don't Be Alarmed . (2 Thes 2:1-2)
    1. It's the Most Straightforward Understanding of the Bible.
    2. We Never See the Church in the Tribulation in Revelation.
    3. Before God Brings Judgment on Unbelievers, He Removes His People First.
  1. Don't Be Deceived . (2 Thes 2:3)

    1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…

  2. Don't Be Forgetful . (2 Thes 2:4-12)

Five Things You Need to Know about the Antichrist:

  1. He's Blasphemous . (2 Thes 2:4)

    Matthew 24:15-16 - So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

  2. He's Restrained until God allows him to be revealed. (2 Thes 2:5-7)

    Matthew 5:13 - You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?

  3. He will be Destroyed . (2 Thes 2:8)
  4. He is Satan-powered . (2 Thes 2:9)
  5. He is Deceptive . (2 Thes 2:10-12)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

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

  2. What are your views on the rapture? What reasons were given to support a pre-Tribulation rapture?

  3. What was Paul’s point in giving the lesson on the Antichrist (“the man of lawlessness”)? How does this lesson give comfort to God’s people?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Payback is Coming

Introduction:

2 Timothy 3:1-5 - But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Great News About Suffering! (2 Thessalonians 1:1-12)

  1. Suffering is Proof God is at work. (2 Thes 1:1-5)
  2. Things will not Always be as they are Now . (2 Thes 1:6-10)

    1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…

  3. It doesn't stop our Mission . (2 Thes 1:11-12)

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

Small Group Discussion
Read 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

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

  2. God says repaying with affliction(vengeance) is “just” (2 Thes 1:6). How so? How is it “just” for God to give relief to His people (2 Thes 1:7)?

  3. ”A loving God wouldn’t send someone to hell.” How would you reply to this?

  4. Read 2 Thes 1:9 again. What phrases are used to describe hell? How does this motivate you to reach the lost people you know?

  5. How is suffering proof that God is at work (2 Thes 1:4-5)?

Breakout
Pray for one another according to the 3 things Paul was praying for in 2 Thes 1:11-12.