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

What is the Church's Mission?

Introduction:

Roles and Responsibilities in God's Mission:
(Titus 2:11-15)

  1. God's part: Saving and Changing people. (Titus 2:1-10)
    1. Justification: I Was saved from the Penalty of sin. (Titus 2:11)
  1. Justification: I Was saved from the Penalty of sin. (Titus 2:11)
  2. Sanctification: I Am being saved from the Power of sin. (Titus 2:12)

    1 John 3:8-9 - Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God'’'s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.

  3. Glorification: I Will be saved from the Presence of sin. (Titus 2:12)
  4. Security: I'm Forever saved from the Possesion of sin. (Titus 2:12)

    John 10:28 - I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

  1. Our Part: Preaching and Responding to God's Word. (Titus 2:15)

    Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

    Acts 17:30 - now (God) commands all people everywhere to repent...

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Small Group Discussion
Read Titus 2:11-15

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

  2. How is salvation brought for “all people” if some people refuse to come to Christ to be saved (Titus 2:11)?

  3. How does a person’s attitude toward Jesus & their attitude towards sin reveal the condition of the heart? Can a sincere Christian live in unrepentant sin? Read 1 John 3:8-9.

  4. What does it mean to be “zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14)?
    Be real: scale of 1-10, how “zealous” are you for good works? If you are on the low end, how do you restore a zeal for good works?

  5. BONUS: What is the mission of Harvest Bible Chapel?

Breakout
Pray for one another, and pray for HBC to stay on mission.

What is Expected of a Church Member?

Introduction:

What is Expected of a Church Member?
(Titus 2:1-10)

  1. Live what you believe. (Titus 2:1-10)
    1. Older Men . (Titus 2:2)
    2. Older Women . (Titus 2:3-4a)

    Proverbs 10:18 - ...whoever utters slander is a fool.

    Psalm 101:5 - Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy.

  1. Younger Women . (Titus 2:4b-5)
  2. Young Men . (Titus 2:6-8)
  3. Employees . (Titus 2:9-10)
  1. Invest in others. (Titus 2:3-4, 6-7)
  2. Shine on. (Titus 2:5, 8, 10)

    Matthew 5:16 - let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

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Small Group Discussion
Read Titus 2:1-10

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

  2. What benefits come from older women discipling younger women & older men discipling younger men (Titus 2:3-4, 6-7)? Name an “older” person that the Lord has used in your life.

  3. What exactly is “slander” (Titus 2:3)? Why do you think people are so strongly tempted to hurt another person’s reputation? How should you respond if someone is speaking to you and slandering another person?

  4. What does your conduct have to do with the church’s evangelism (Titus 2:5, 8, 10)? How can that “make or break” a church’s outreach efforts?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

How Does the Church Deal with False Teaching?

Introduction:

The Truth About False Teaching: (Titus 1:10-16)

  1. It cannot go Unnoticed . (Titus 1:10)

    2 Timothy 4:3 - For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.

    Acts 17:11 - "they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."

The Four Levels of Theological Disagreement:

  1. Heresy
  2. Destructive Thinking
  3. Ignorance
  4. Difference of Opinion
  1. It must be Silenced and Rebuked . (Titus 1:11-14)

    2 Timothy 2:24-26 - And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

  2. It should Serve as a Warning . (Titus 1:15-16)

Luke 6:45 - "For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."

Jeremiah 6:16 - This is what the LORD says: "Stop at the crossroad and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path and you will find rest for your souls."

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Small Group Discussion
Read Titus 1:10-16

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

  2. What does it mean to be a Berean (Acts 17:11)? How can you grow in your ability to be discerning about what you hear/read?

  3. What are the four levels of theological disagreement? Why is it so important to be able to discern the differences between these four levels?

  4. What are some of the most destructive lies/false teachings that the church has to face right now?

  5. How do false teachers serve as warnings to us? What should we learn from their negative example?

Breakout
Pray for the leaders of HBC!

How is the Church Led?

Introduction:

5 Musts for Church Leaders: (Titus 1:1-9)

  1. You must see yourself as Entrusted by God. (Titus 1:1-3)
  1. You must be pouring into Specific People . (Titus 1:4-5)

    Acts 20:28 - Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

  2. You must start in your Home . (Titus 1:6)

    1 Timothy 3:5 - for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?

  3. You must be Blameless in your walk. (Titus 1:7-8)
  4. You must love God's Word . (Titus 1:9)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Titus 1:1-9

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

  2. How would you define “leadership”? What characteristics do you personally look for in church leaders?

  3. Are these principles for elders only for church leaders, or are they for every believer in Christ? Explain your position.

  4. How should you confront a church leader who isn’t living by the guidelines Paul laid out for church leadership?

Breakout
Pray for the leaders of HBC!

What Do I Need to Remember?

Introduction:

Solomon's Study Guide for Ecclesiastes:
(Ecclesiastes 12:9-14)

  1. My search for wisdom Will be Painful and Satisfying . (Eccl 12:9-12)
  1. My life is all about WWorshipping and Obeying the Lord. (Eccl 12:13)

    Ecclesiastes 12:13 - The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

  2. My thoughts, words, and actions are Eternally Significant . (Eccl 12:14)

    David Gibson - "Ecclesiastes says that a day is coming when some people will discover that they are not ready for the most important event in the world. And it won’t be a dream. Their life has been one long exercise in avoiding reality and ignoring what is coming toward them – death and judgment are coming."

    2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

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

  2. Why do we get off track so often on our spiritual journey? How does the Lord get our attention and goad us in the right direction (Eccl 12:11)? How is He calling you to change right now?

  3. How can you tell if you are living for the Lord or for yourself? What are the tell-tale signs of leading a self-centered life?

  4. Why does Solomon end Ecclesiastes with a word on judgement (Eccl 12:14)? How should this change the way we live from one day to the next?

Breakout
Pray for one another.