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

Shaped by the Master Sculptor

Allow God To SCULPT Your Life While In The Land Of The DYING

  1. Submit to God's Sovereignty. (Rom 8:28 | Jer 29:11)

    1. Discover the power of "TIPHLAH" (Job 1:22)

  2. Confess your Weakness.

    1. Don't deny it or indulge it (Psalm 61:2) The ELIOENAI Treatment – 9 times

    2. Remember what we really are

      1. Weak Sinners (Rom 5:6, 8 | Matt 26:41)

      2. Self - exaltation denounced by Paul (Rom 12:3b)

      3. God knows your frame (Psalm 103:12-14)

    3. Realize that accepting weakness can breed strength (2 Cor 12:10)

    4. Strength comes from humbly abiding in God's Presence (Ps 91:1 | Isaiah 57:15)

    5. Don't LIMIT the Holy One by a lack of trust or unbelief (Psalm 78:41)

  3. Understand God's Big Picture

    1. Develop a "Better than I deserve" mentality (Rom 6:23 | Luke 17:10)

    2. Remember God is the Creator and Owner

      1. You NEVER have a right to be ANGRY WITH GOD!!! (Matt 5:22)

    3. Remember: A strong root always produces fruit

  4. Leave Self on the Shelf

    1. Change your focus to the Lord – BELIEVE (Psalm 16:8-9 | Isaiah 26:3)

      1. Not like Job (Job 29:20-23)

    2. BELIEVE (2 Cor 1:3) – "the God of all comfort"

      1. God is NOT a persecutor, abandoner, adversary, accuser, or prosecutor

      2. Replace your Why with a What (Acts 9:6 | 2 Cor 1:4)

    3. Don't just Live With your mistakes, Learn From your mistakes

      1. Don't live in the WHAT IF, but in the What Now (Phil 3:13)

    4. Confess rather than depress (1 John 1:9 | Proverbs 28:13)

    5. Use your gifts to serve others (Js 4:6 | 1 Pet 5:5b)

  5. Praise God for His Provision

    1. Praise is the ULTIMATE "Depression Medicine" (Psalm 61:8)

    2. Take a "Scripture Prescription" and rejoice

      1. Psalm 16:8-9 | Phil 4:6 | 1 Cor 15:55-57 | Rom 8:37)

  6. Testify to God's AMAZING GRACE

    1. The LIBERATING "Stephen Principle" (Acts 7:51-60 | Rom 1:20 | Eph 2:10)

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

Getting Back to an Eternal Perspective

Introduction:


It Gets Better: An Eternal Perspective Keeps You On Track.

  1. It gets better, and no one is more Excited than God. (Mal 3:16-17)


  2. It gets better, but not for Everyone. (Mal 3:18-4:1)
  1. It gets better, in Every Way. (Mal 4:2-3)

    2. Luke 1:78 - ...the sunrise shall visit us from on high.


  2. It gets better, and I'll wait Faithfully. (Mal 4:4-6)

    3. Review: Matthew 17:10-13

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Malachi 3:16-4:6

  1. What exactly does it mean to "fear the Lord" (Mal 3:16)? List ways people display the fear of the Lord, and ways people don't. (Bonus if your list comes from things we've seen in Malachi.)

  2. How much does eternity fill your thoughts? How can you grow in having eternal perspective?

  3. "No One Is More Excited than God" about eternity. How do we know this from Malachi 3:17?

  4. Bonus theological discussion: How do you understand Malachi 4:5-6 in light of the ministry of John the Baptist and the future (not yet fulfilled) Day of the Lord?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another to constantly be seeking to get back, and stay, on track - especially in the 5 areas Malachi mentions: Worship, Marriage, Holiness, Giving, and Looking Beyond Today(Eternal Perspective). 

Getting Back to Faithful Giving

Introduction:


Review: Luke 3:10-14 | Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


Faithful Giving

  1. How should I give? (Mal 3:6-9)

    2. 2 Corinthians 8:3 - For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means,of their own accord...


  2. Why should I give?
  1. Because giving to God is good for your Wallet. (Mal 3:10-12)

  2. Because giving to God is good for your Soul. (Mal 3:13-15)

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

Supporting Series on Biblical Giving from God's Word:
I Love to Give
(4 part series with audio sermon and notes)

Covering 2 Corinthians 8 - 9

 

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Malachi 3:6-15

  1. Why is "getting on track" with giving so important towards "getting back on track" with God? What does this say about our attitude towards money?

  2. What does the New Testament say about "how to give" (see 2 Corinthians 8:3)? How would you respond to someone who says, "You don't have to tithe, that's Old Testament Law."

  3. Why do you think God wants tested in the area of giving? How can YOU test Him (specifically) as He called you to?

  4. The more you give to God, the more God gives to you. Why is this so? How would you respond to someone who doesn’t believe that?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another. Ask, "How have you been doing getting 'Back on Track'?" What area that Malachi addresses (so far in our series) has impacted you the most? (worship, marriage, holiness, giving)

Getting Back to Personal Holiness

Introduction:


Letting God Deal with My Sin

  1. You can be Refined. (Mal 3:1-4)

    2. Review: 2 Corinthians 5:21 | Ephesians 4:30 | 1 Thessalonians 5:19


  2. ...or you can be Judged. (Mal 3:5)

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Malachi 2:17-3:5

  1. In your own words, summarize the problems stated in Mal 2:17. How do you see these same problems in our culture?

  2. How would you summarize God’s answer (Mal 3:1-5) to the questions in Mal 2:17?

  3. What does it mean that God is a refiner (Mal 3:2-3)? How does God refine His people? How will God ultimately refine all His people (Mal 3:3-4)?

Breakout Questions:

What areas need "burned" off of you to make you more like Christ?
Go around, state the area needing refined, and pray over these things. 

Getting Back to Marriage Commitment

Introduction:


Faithless in Marriage is Faithless to God

Review: Matthew 5:23 | 1 Timothy 3:4-5 | 1 Timothy 5:8


  1. Because you made a Covenant before God. (Mal 2:10-12)


  2. Because you are being Joined Together by God. (Mal 2:13-15a)

    3. Matthew 19:6 - So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.


  3. Because you have a Purpose for God. (Mal 2:15b-16)

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Malachi 2:1-16

  1.  What were the issues God was calling out the priests on in Malachi 2:8? What does this say about people in (any) ministry today?

  2. Why is it you need to be faithful in your horizontal relationships in order to be faithful in your vertical relationship with God? See Matthew 5:23 & 1 John 4:20.

  3. What are some specific modern day examples of people not keeping their word? Why do you think people don’t keep their word today?

  4. How is oneness in marriage a reality and a process at the same time (Mal 2:15)? See Genesis 2:24.

  5. What are some ways, if you are married, you can "guard yourself" (Mal 2:15-16)? Be specific.

Breakout Questions:
Married people: How are you making your marriage a priority?