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

Mourn

Introduction:

How does the thought of God's judgment on sinners make you feel? (Micah 1:1-16)

  1. Are you Apathetic ?
  2. Are you Angry ?
  3. Are you Amused ?

How Do I Mourn If I Don't Feel Like Mourning?

  1. Confess your own sin.

    Isaiah 6:4-5 - And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

  2. Consider the condition of sinners.

    Luke 19:41-44 - And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

  3. Concentrate on the cross.

    Romans 5:8 - God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Micah 1:1-16

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

  2. When you see sin run rampant and celebrated, how do you typically react? Do you merely condemn sinners, are you indifferent towards their being judged, or do you just laugh them off? Why?

  3. The Biblical response to sinners facing God’s wrath is to mourn (see Micha 1:8-9, 16). If you don’t mourn, why not? How can you get to the place where your heart breaks for what breaks the heart of God?

Breakout
Pray for one another to have the heart of Jesus - to mourn over the sinfulness of our nation.

Living in the Wrath of God

Introduction:

Living in the Wrath of God (Romans 1:18-32):

  1. God Abandons thsoe that Abandon Him. (Rom 1:18-23)

    Judges 10:13-14 - Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.

    Hosea 4:17 - Ephraim (Israel) is joined to idols; leave him alone.

    They clearly know about God...

    But they clearly don't want God.

3 Evidences that God Has Abandoned People:

  1. First the Heart goes: Sexual Immorality. (Rom 1:24-25)
  2. Then what is Natural goes: Dishonorable Passions. (Rom 1:26-27)
  3. Finally, the Mind goes: Debased Minds. (Rom 1:28-32)
    • Mourn
    • Discern
    • Wake up
    • Hope
    • Worship
    • Repent
    • Believe

    John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Romans 1:18-32

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

  2. How is God’s abandoning people a manifestation of His judgment? What are the three things God “gives people up” to (Romans 1:24, 26, 28)?

  3. How exactly is thankfulness connected to faith (Romans 1:21)?

  4. What are some ways that you see debased (useless) minds in our culture today (see Romans 1:28)?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Gratitude

Introduction:

Three Reasons We Are Giving Thanks Today (Psalm 138):

  1. Adoration : We give thanks for what God is Doing . (Ps 138:2-3)
  2. Anticipation : We give thanks for what God is Going to Do . (Ps 138:4-6)
  3. Assurance : We give thanks that God Always finishes His work . (Ps 138:7-8)

Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Psalm 138

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

  2. Psalm 138:3 and Psalm 138:7 tell us that God doesn’t always change our circumstance when we pray, but He strengthens us. Tell of a specific time when you were strengthened by God, even though your circumstances didn’t change.

  3. In Psalm 138:8, we have both a declaration of certainty God will finish His work (v8a) and a plea for God to finish His work (Psalm 138:8c). What does this say about the nature of faith?

Breakout
Pray prayers of specific things you are thankful for.

How to Love Difficult People: How to Love Those Who Hurt You

Introduction:

How can I love someone after a hurt? (Genesis 45:1-15)

When I trust God is at work...

  1. I reject Revenge . (Gen 45:1-3)
  2. I recognize God redeems wrongs . (Gen 45:4-8)

    Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

  3. I release My resentment . (Gen 45:5,9-13)

    Genesis 41:51-52 - Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house." The name of the second he called Ephraim, "For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."

  4. I run After reconciliation . (Gen 45:14-15)

    Romans 12:18 - If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Genesis 45:1-15

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

  2. Why is our natural reaction to hurt that we should “get even”?

  3. Have you seen God redeem wrongs against you? How should seeing God at work free you from carrying resentment?

  4. As difficult as forgiveness can be in some situations, why are we called to continually forgive?

  5. Why do we “run after” reconciliation?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

How to Love Difficult People: How to Love Your Enemies

Introduction:

Who Are My Enemies?

  1. My enemies are people With bad intentions .
  2. My enemies are Who I say they are .

Jesus's Example (Romans 5:8-11)

Romans 5:8,10-11 - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us... For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Titus 3:3-5 - For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy...

To Love My Enemies:

  1. I must prepare To be humiliated . (Luke 6:27b-30)
  2. I must see that Reciprocity is not love . (Luke 6:32-34)
  3. I must Intentionally love them the way God does . (Luke 6:31,35-36)

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 6:27-36

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

  2. What are obstacles we face in loving our enemies?

  3. Think of a time you were humiliated by someone – how were you wounded (physically, mentally, emotionally, or in your concept of self)? How is it different if we are humiliated for Christ (i.e., is there a greater purpose for our suffering)?

  4. What are some ways you live reciprocally with others? What changes will you need to make to move beyond reciprocal living?

  5. What can we do to love our enemies?

  6. BONUS QUESTION: What is the reward for loving our enemies? Is that reward valuable to you?

Breakout
Pray for one another.