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

Baby's First Christmas - Who is Jesus For?

Introduction:

Who is Jesus For? (Luke 2:1-21)

  1. Jesus is for people who make Him Priority . (Luke 2:7)

    Colossians 1:18 - And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent...

  2. Jesus is for who are actively Seeking Him. (Luke 2:8-16)

Proverbs 2:3-5 - ...if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

  1. Jesus is for people who need a Savior . (Luke 2:11)

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

    If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator;
    If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist;
    If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist;
    If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer;
    But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

    Mark 2:17 - "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

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Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 2:1-21

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

  2. In what ways have you made Jesus a priority in your life? Have you been guilty of giving Him leftovers? If so, what changes do you need to make?

  3. Why do you think God chose the shepherds to give the big birth announcement to?

  4. How would you explain to a non-believer what it means to “seek the Lord”?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Restoration

Introduction:

3 Things Jesus Calls Restored Failures to Do (John 21:1-25):

  1. Care for His people. (John 21:15-17)
  2. Follow Him to the end. (John 21:18-19)
  3. Refuse to Compare yourself with others. (John 21:20-23)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read John 21:1-25

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

  2. Why did Jesus ask Peter three times if Peter loved Him (John 21:15-17)? Why was Peter grieved (John 21:17)? What does this conversation teach us about the Lord's restoration of a failure?

  3. What was Jesus telling Peter to do when He said “Feed my lambs / Tend my sheep” (John 21:15-17)? What is this commanding us to do, ie, how do we fulfill that?

  4. Why did Peter ask about John (John 21:21)? Why do we tend to compare our walk with Christ with someone else's? Why is this foolish?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Resurrection - Part 2

Introduction:

Answers from an Empty Tomb (John 20:19-31):

  1. A Mission . (John 20:21)

    John 17:18 - As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

Two Ways We are Sent Like Jesus:

  1. You are sent in the Power of the Sirit . (John 20:22)

    Genesis 2:7 - then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature

    Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

  2. You are sent to Deal with Sin . (John 20:23)

    Matthew 16:19 - I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

  1. A Blessing . (John 20:24-29)

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 20:19-31

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

  2. Explain John 20:23 in your own words. What does this say about our evangelism? Compare this with Jesus' words to Peter in Matthew 16:19.

  3. How are people who have not seen the resurrected Christ (US), blessed, specifically (John 20:29)? How are we blessed in believing without seeing?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Resurrection - Part 1

Introduction:

Answers from an Empty Tomb (John 20:1-18):

  1. Skeptic: Look at the Evidence of the resurrection. (John 20:1-7)

    Romans 10:9 - because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

  1. Student: Look at God's Word to Understand the resurrection. (John 20:8-10)

    Psalm 16:10 - For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

    Romans 5:17 - For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

    1 Corinthians 15:22 - For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

  2. Sorrowful: Look to Jesus for Comfort . (John 20:11-18)

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 20:1-18

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

  2. Why do you think Jesus chose Mary Magdalene to be the first person to witness His resurrection? Why do you think He revealed Himself to her in the way that He did (John 20:14-16)?

  3. If Jesus' death paid for our sin (recall John:19:30), why was it necessary that He resurrect?

  4. Bonus: Explain the significance of the linen clothes (John 20:6-7). Explain the significance of the two angels (John 20:12). Why do these details matter?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Sacrifice - Part 3

Introduction:

Two Things That Must Be Verified (John 19:31-42):

  1. Jesus' Death . (John 19:31-37)

    See - Deuteronomy 21:22-23 | Psalm 69:20 | Psalm 34:20 | Zechariah 12:10

  2. Your Faith . (John 19:38-42)

    3. See - Isaiah 53:9 | John 12:42-43

How to Verify Your Faith:

  1. Go Public with your faith. (John 19:38)
  2. Look for Growth over time. (John 19:39)

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

Small Group Discussion
Read John 19:31-42

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

  2. Why is it important that Jesus' death was verified (John 19:35)? What are the implications in the truth that Jesus literally died?

  3. What do you think prompted Joseph and Nicodemus to step up at this point (John 19:38-40)? In other words: why do you think it was here that they decided to stop being “secret disciples”? What kind of event(s) could happen today that might encourage a “secret disciple” to go public with their faith?

Breakout
Pray for one another.