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

Addiction is a Worship Disorder

Introduction:

Seeing Addiction as God Sees It:

  1. Addiction Defined: Addiction is bondage to the domination of a substance (legal or illegal) which becomes the central focus of my life.

    Disease defined: A disease is a diagnosable condition with a primary physical cause.

    See Proverbs 23:20, 1Corinthians 6:10, Galatians 5:21

    Sin (including addiction) is Enslaving .

    John 8:34 - Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin."

    Ephesians 5:18 - And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit...

    Sin (including addiction) is Deceptive .

    Five Signs of Addiction:

    1. Absorbing Focus (it occupies my thoughts, dictates my schedule, claims my money).
    2. Increasing Tolerance (always need more)
    3. Growing Denial (I don't have a problem, I can quit when I want, it's no big deal)
    4. Damaging Consequences (money, job, marriage, friendships, health)
    5. Painful Withdrawal (quitting is physically painful, emotionally painful)
  1. Addiction Described:
    1. Addiction is Idolatry

      Eph 5:5 – For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

      1 Cor 1:18 - For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

    2. Addiction is Adultery
    3. Addiction is Foolishness

      No one tells me how to live.

      Prov 28:26 - Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

      I'm not really worried about the consequences.

      Prov 9:17-18 - "Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
      But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

      I'll always get away with it.

      Prov 15:3 - The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

      No matter how bad things have gotten for me (relationships, money, health), I can't give this up.

      Prov 27:22 - Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.

      I know it's bad for me but I can't stop! I keep going back to it over and over.

      Prov 26:11 - Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

      It's God's fault I am like this.

      Prov 19:3 - When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.

  2. Addiction Destroyed :

    1 Cor 6:9-11 - Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

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

Small Group Discussion
Read any of the passages from this week’s message

  1. What was your big “take-away” from this message?

  2. Define addiction in your own words. How do you know when something is an addiction?

  3. Is addiction a disease? Why or why not? What are the differences between addiction and a disease (like diabetes)?

  4. How is addiction idolatry? How is it adultery? How is it foolishness?

Breakout
Pray for this sermon series to save lives in bondage to addiction.

Questions from the Congregation - Part 11

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. [00:21] - Q: Why was Zechariah “punished” for questioning God, but others- Gideon- were not?

  2. [01:58] - Q: How old do you believe the earth is? If man has been here since the first week, did we coexist with dinosaurs?

    A: Based on the genealogies recorded, 6-10K years old. Yes, according to Gen 1:24-31 God created dinosaurs and man on the same day living together. A fossil record also supports both man and dinosaur living together.

  3. [08:58] - Q: Where do animals go when they die?
    A: See Eccl 3:21 which alludes to the concept of the spirit of man and beast. Rev 21:6 notes that we will be fully satisfied in heaven. Book suggestion by Randy Alcorn “Heaven”

  4. [12:01] - Q: Do you have any suggestions on Bible reading programs for the start of the new year? What works, what doesn't, etc? And how do you guard against this discipline becoming just a mechanical exercise?
    A: Read what you’re in the mood for from the bible to keep yourself engaged.

  5. [14:29] - LIVE AUDIENCE Q: Why is demon possession primarily mentioned in the New Testament versus the Old Testament?

  6. [15:20] - LIVE AUDIENCE Q: Do you think there is anything the church has failed to do with our societal confusion with sexuality and gender confusion situation?
    A: See the excellent sermon from Pastor Jeremiah on homosexuality and how we’re to respond as Christians.

  7. [22:01] - Q: Short-term vs long-term missions work, what the right balance between the 2 should be, when does helping sometimes hurt (in the case of short-term trips being more about the people going than the ones being served, a team coming in with their own agenda rather than local partnership... etc).

  8. [25:50] - Q: After a spouse dies, does the surviving spouse love in the same way again? If there is another love, will it be the same or will it be a different love?

  9. [27:51] - Q: Why do you think church people struggle with those who might not be led by the same life choices? Ex (view-meaning) married people to singles: When are you going to settle down and marry? or Parents to Newlyweds: When are the babies coming? Maybe that isn't where the Lord is leading.

  10. [29:10] - Q: When I'm struggling with a life situation where God doesn't seem to be answering, why do people tell me, "you just need to have more faith"? It just makes my pain worse.

    A: It’s not about the amount of faith you have, but whom you have your faith in. See Matt 17:21

  11. [31:24] - Q: In Job 38:7 the Bible says the morning stars sang together. Jesus and Lucifer are both referred to as "the morning star" in Revelation and Isaiah, so who is being mentioned here?
    A: The morning star in this context refers to God’s angels in a general sense, no specific angel or person. Job 38:7 specifically is a reminder to Job that He is God and we are not!

  12. [32:51] - Q: What is the church's response on protecting kids from sexual immorality NOW in this sex driven culture? Some possible ideas; promote early marriage to avoid temptation? Also what can parents do to help?

    A: Parents are the disciple-makers of their children. The source of authority is always God’s Word and it’s the parents’ responsibility to sow God’s Word into their own children’s hearts.

  13. [35:45] - Q: Do you think today’s church has replaced Israel?"
    A: No, see Romans 11

  14. [37:01] - Q: What was the reason/symbolism/significance of baptism when JTB was baptising? Was baptism a new thing? How did the aspect/act of getting baptized help? Repentance of sins was encouraged. What did the priests/sanhedrin/pharisees think about JTB doing this? How did JTB create baptism? Was he the first or was this a new thing?
    A: John’s baptism was for repentance and to prepare the way for the Messiah, see Acts 19:4 and Luke 3.

  15. [39:52] - LIVE TXT Q: When we pray, are we only to address God the Father, or can we also pray to Jesus and the Holy Spirit?

    A: We are praying to God the Father in Jesus’ name while the Holy Spirit also prays with us.

  16. [40:36] - LIVE TXT Q: Who / what are angels?
    A: Eternal beings that God created for His glory.

  17. [41:35] - LIVE TXT Q: What are your thoughts about people who claim to cast out demons or perform exorcisms?
    A: See Eph 6

  18. [42:44] - LIVE TXT Q: Luke 11:12-14 tells of Jesus cursing the fig tree for not having figs. However, it was not fig season. Why would Jesus do this? How is this different from Christians not having a specific spiritual gift, such as teaching? Are we still expected to teach?
    A: The Holy Spirit gives gifts as God provides them. See the sermon on the fig tree from Pastor Jeff as we studied the book of Mark.
    See James 3 on a warning to teachers and a fantastic sermon on this topic by Michael Wolski.

  19. [44:36] - LIVE TXT Q: Due to abortion being a so controversial, and in my opinion a human rights issue, ...1. what does the Bible say about pre-born life? (Psalm 139, Jeremiah 1:5). 2. The church does need to speak truth in love, but is this an instance, like slavery, where we need to get more involved directly?

    A: This is a modern day version of child sacrifice to demons as outlined in the Old Testament


    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
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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!

We're Expecting! We Expect Joy!

Introduction:

How to Live in the Joy of the Lord (Luke 1:39-56)

  1. Magnify the Lord. (Luke 1:46-47)
  2. Minimize myself. (Luke 1:48)
  3. Meditate on God's work. (Luke 1:49-55)
    1. Get Personal . (Luke 1:49)
    2. Get Hopeful . (Luke 1:50-53)
    3. Get Reflective . (Luke 1:54-55)

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 1:39-56

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

  2. You want joy? Give thanks like Mary did in Luke 1:49-55!
    List 1-3 things from each category.
    Things I am thankful for:
    I am thankful right now God is _____________.
    I am thankful God promised to _____________.
    I am thankful that in the past, God has _____________.

Breakout
Pray for one another. Merry Christmas!

We're Expecting! We Expect a King.

Introduction:

What Kind of King Is This? (Luke 1:26-38)

  1. As God, Jesus Rules over me. (Luke 1:32, 35)
  2. As Man, Jesus Relates to me. (Luke 1:31)

    Hebrews 2:17 - Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect...

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

  1. As Savior, Jesus Rescued me. (Luke 1:31)

    Matthew 1:21 - She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 1:26-38

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

  2. Why was Zechariah disciplined for questioning God’s Word, but Mary wasn’t? Support your answer. (hint: see Luke 1:38)

  3. How would you respond to someone who asks, “Why should I bow down to Jesus now?”

  4. How does it encourage YOU knowing that Jesus has experienced everything human beings experience?

Breakout
Pray for revival in Pittsburgh! Pray that area churches would faithfully preach God’s Word, and the Spirit would open hearts to receive Jesus Christ.

We're Expecting! We Expect God to Keep His Word.

Introduction:

I Pray with Expectation (Luke 1:5-25):

  1. Because God will keep His Word . (Luke 1:13-17)

    Jeremiah 1:12 - ...I am watching over my word to perform it.

  2. Because God will keep His Word, according to His Timing . (Luke 1:20)

    Psalm 27:14 - Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

  3. Because God will keep His Word, according to His Timing and unbelief only hurts Us . (Luke 1:20)

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 1:5-25

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

  2. Why do you think Zechariah didn’t believe the angel? Have you ever “lost expectation” while praying for something for a long period of time?

  3. Zechariah faced some consequences for not believing the word from God. What are some consequences WE face when we choose not to believe the Word of God?

Breakout
Pray that we learn to wait on the Lord. And pray that He would restore in us a spirit of belief and expectation, trusting Him to keep His Word