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

Questions and Answers

Questions from the Congregation - Part 19B

Note: The time signatures [00:00] below indicate the approximate start of a question if you'd like to skip to a particular one of interest in the audio file.

Family / Kids:

  1. [02:15] - Q: How can Christians help transgender family members fit into a family structure without alienating them?

    Creation / End Times:

  2. [07:28] - Q: Why did Adam live so long on the earth when we can’t now?

  3. [10:30] - Q: Buckle up, this is a doosey! :) How are scientists using Carbon Dating to find rocks that are millions of years old? Carbon Dating works by using the Half-Life of Carbon (the amount of time for half of the carbon in something to decay (5,730 Years in Carbon-14, which is used for Carbon Dating)). If the Earth is only 6,000ish years old (which I believe it is), then I should be able to get my own doohickey that tells me how much carbon is decayed, and find that only about half-of the carbon is decayed. This would mean that the scientists were lying, but all the carbon dating says the Earth is millions of years old. Are the scientists lying? Or when God created the Earth did he create it with a lot of the carbon decayed? And if so, why would he do so? Wouldn’t he want it to show that the Earth is only 6000ish years old? Is this whole Carbon Dating thing false and is a lie? Or does it have something to have to do with the fall, or something else entirely? Okay, that’s your homework assignment for the next few weeks! Enjoy, and thank you!

  4. [13:53] - Q: During the Millennium, where Christians reign with Jesus, people will sin, but I’m confused about who. 1. Will the Christians who have already died on the earth and received their glorified bodies sin? 2. Will the Christians who were raptured and did not receive their glorified bodies sin? 3. Will the children that the Christians in the millennium have sin? Thank you!

  5. [15:43] - Q: Why aren’t Christians talking about the Bible prophecies from thousands of years ago that are happening in our day and age? How is this not fascinating to every Christian? SOOO many Scriptures point to what is happening right now. How is it that Christians don’t know or care? I actually do want an answer to this question.

    Miscellaneous / Potluck:

  6. [21:16] - Q: How long does somebody have to be dead before it’s considered “archeology” instead of “grave robbing”? ***How is this Bible related? I’m not sure, but grave-robbing is definitely a sin!***

  7. [23:20] - Q: In 2 Sam 16:5-14 Shimei cursed David and David said, “it may be that the Lord will look on my affliction and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day”. What is going on here? Why did David accept this cursing?

  8. [26:02] - Q: What does the Bible say about cremation?

    Reprise (from Part 1):

  9. [31:01] - Q: What does the “gift of tongues” accurately look like in today’s church? Since I’ve only seen the “crazy” – there must be a legit use for it since Paul spent so much time on it in 1 Corinthians 14. And if it is no longer valid, how do you determine what gifts are valid or not?

  10. [36:40] - Q: Do the leaders of this church like each other? If so, how do you show it to each other?

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!

Questions from the Congregation - Part 19A

Note: The time signatures [00:00] below indicate the approximate start time of a question if you'd like to skip to a particular one of interest in the audio file.

Prayer:

  1. [02:25] - Q: Prayers of believers vs. unbelievers – when a person that has belief but doesn’t have a daily walk says, “I’ll pray for you,” “Sending prayers,” are they heard the same? How should I respond to them?

  2. [07:10] - Q: What is the biblical response to proclamation prayer or prayer where people pray with the authority to command things? How should we respond to believers who pray or want to pray for us in this way?

  3. [11:45] - Q: How should we view or even practice the “listening prayer”, in which we listen for God’s speaking or answer to us? Is that charismatic Christianity?

    The Church:

  4. [16:45] - Q: Do the leaders of this church like each other? If so, how do you show it to each other?

  5. [20:40] - Q: What is this church’s strategy concerning choosing worship songs that overuse the repeat button? I am unable to see the benefit of singing the same words over and over?

  6. [22:18] - Q: What does the “gift of tongues” accurately look like in today’s church? Since I’ve only seen the “crazy” – there must be a legit use for it since Paul spent so much time on it in 1 Corinthians 14. And if it is no longer valid, how do you determine what gifts are valid or not?

  7. [27:48] - Q: Can Christian women baptize new believers?

    Family/Kids:

  8. [29:27] - Q: Do babies go to heaven if they die? Similar Question: “The age of accountability” being made up – or not found in the Bible, what biblical basis is there for understanding what will happen to young children or the disabled when they die unexpectedly or if Jesus returns?

  9. [34:36] - Q: Is it okay for a Christian couple to decide that they do not want to have children or to prevent conception? Also, is it okay for a Christian couple to decide what size of a family they would prefer, or should we let those decisions up to God?

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!

Questions from the Congregation - Part 18

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.

Ice-Breakers:

  1. [01:08] - Q: What is your favorite color?
    A: Gray (Jeff), Royal/Navy Blue (Taylor)

  2. [02:19] - Q: What is your favorite book of the Bible and why?
    A: OT - Ecclesiastes / NT - Romans (Taylor), OT - Ecclesiastes / NT - Revelation (Jeff), James (Matt)

  3. [04:40] - Q: What Christian book has made an impact on you that you would recommend to others?
    A: See TBD - TBD

    The Bible:

  4. [06:35] - Q: Does God still speak to us today?
    A: See Hebrews 1:1-2 - Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

  5. [10:06] - Q: Do you guys know anything about why certain books were included and others weren’t, such as other books found in Dead Sea scrolls? And what about books mentioned in Bible such as Enoch?

    A: TBD

    Old Testament:

  6. [12:22] - Q: Who was the third person on earth?
    A: Cain

  7. [12:45] - Q: If Cain killed Abel, who did Cain marry? How did humanity continue?
    A: His sister

  8. [14:05] - Q: Genesis 5:4 - The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. Who or what are the Nephilim?
    A: See TBD

  9. [18:25] - Q: What is your stance on Psalm 83? Is it a war, a lament? If you believe it to be a war, is it a past war or yet future?
    A: See TBD - TBD

    New Testament:

  10. [19:55] - Q: In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus talks about narrow & wide gates, one that leads to destruction & one that leads to life. He indicates that there will be few who find the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. Is Jesus revealing in these verses that proportionally speaking that most people born throughout the ages will go to hell compared to those that truly come to salvation through Jesus?
    A: See TBD - TBD

  11. [24:25] - Q: The Bible says “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matt 7:1), but there are other places like I Cor 2:15 where God says “but he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one”. Can you explain the seeming contradiction between these two verses?
    A: See TBD - TBD

  12. [28:28] - Q: Can you discuss the Bema seat? I know it is a judgment for believers (good and not so good) that will take place post rapture for how we spent our lives on earth, but since God forgives our sins past, present, and future and wipes them from his memory once we confess our salvation in Him, why do we stand in judgment for things we did that are not so good?

    Or is it just situations where we could have shared the gospel or helped someone and didn't do anything that will be called out and judged?
    A: See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 - According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
    2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

    Potluck:

  13. [31:05] - Q: With as flawed, hypocritical, & inconsistent as we are as believers, why would God choose to limit Himself in such a way to effectively share the truth of His message to the lost world?
    A: See - TBD

  14. [33:40] - 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 - Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress...

  15. [35:15] - Q: Is drinking alcohol, using tobacco/ marijuana, or gambling all sins? Should a born again believer stop these activities?
    A: See TBD - TBD

  16. [On the Blog] - Q: Why does God allow trials in my life to test my faith, if in His sovereignty He already knows how I’ll respond (positively or negatively)?
    A: See 1 Peter 1:6-9 - In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

  17. [On the Blog] - Q: Can you explain what Jesus means in Luke 14:26-27 where He says we can not be His disciples unless we hate our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, children? This seems totally contradictory to His message for us to love one another as He has loved us.
    A: See Matthew 10:37 - Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.


    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!

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!

Questions from the Congregation - Part 16

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. [02:45] - Q: What does scripture say about one world currency?
    A: See Revelation 13:16-17 - Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.

  2. [6:18] - Q: If you could experience any moment in The Bible as an observer what event would you witness?
    A: Lazarus being raised from the dead by Jesus. No wrong answers here.

  3. [09:12] - Q: How do you break generational curses?
    A: See Exodus 34:6-7 - The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
    See Ezekiel 18:20-23 and 1 Corinthians 15:33

  4. [15:31] - Q: How long after the birth of Jesus did the 3 wise men appear? Most nativity scenes have them there along with the shepherds. Matthew 2 says they arrived about the same time as his birth. Some have told me they arrived more than 1 year after his birth which would beg the question, what did they do in Bethlehem all that time.

    A:     See Matthew 2:11 - And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:16 - Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. See Matthew 2:2

  5. [21:26] - Q: Romans 13:3a → “For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.” This is backwards these days. 12:21 says not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. So, we are to fight. Why don't we? Or are we to passively accept evil rulers?

    A: It is God who puts up and takes down kingdoms. We war by praying.

  6. [28:58] - Q: Are there any verses in the Bible that speak against a multiverse theory (as an explanation for why our universe is so finely tuned)?
    A: The only reality that we are aware of is the one that God created.

  7. [32:07] - Q: Is there an “Age of Accountability”?
    A: See Numbers 32:11, Psalm 51:5, Jonah 4:11
    There is an age, but it differs on a person by person basis. There has to be a point in your life where it’s possible that you can understand and make a decision whether you are going to follow and accept or reject Christ in your life.

  8. [36:55] - Q: If we are called to forgive everyone, should we forgive the devil? Is that our place to do that?
    A: Forgiveness is about the healing of a relationship. God doesn’t forgive everyone because not everyone wants to fall into a right relationship with God.

  9. [40:51] - Q: Why should we bring children / babies into the world? Especially if we are in the end times.
    A: See Gen 1:28, Gen 9 - We are commanded to be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth.

  10. [42:35] - Q: If it took the Council of Trent to determine the Old Testament, how can we as Christians be assured there are not some books missing from the Old Testament and/or the Bible as a whole?
    A: See Luke 11:51 - from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.

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

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!