DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
How can we make the most of the ministries of pastors and other teachers and leaders?
What is the “summary identity” of the “hidden wisdom of God”? How can we acquire this “hidden wisdom”?
How can the Spirit of God help us to understand better?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
How does this text and the sermon on it show us the importance of studying the Bible and theology so as to develop sound Christian doctrine? What has been your plan to grow in sound doctrine? If you haven’t had one, what is one practical step you can take to grow in this area?
In what ways does the values of our culture in Sydney contradict sound Christian doctrine? What are some common “doctrines” of our culture that many Christians embrace without realizing that they contradict the Bible’s teaching?
From this text or the sermon on it, how does our doctrinal understanding (or lack thereof) impact how we live? How do we make sure that our growing doctrinal understanding is translated into how we live?
What was the helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Before this sermon, had you heard of the doctrineof election? If you had, what was your first reactionto it? Why do many struggle to embrace the Bible’s teaching about election?
In the text, how does Paul use election to humblethe Corinthian Christians and us? What do you findhumbling about election? Why is this a good thing?
In the text, how does Paul use election to exalt God? How has election, if you embrace it, deepened your worship of and love for God?
What was the helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
How did the man and his friends demonstrate their desperation for Jesus? When have you been desperate for Jesus? What did you learn from the sermon about how to cultivate desperation for Jesus?
What did it cost the man and his friends to go to Jesus? What will it cost you to be desperate for Jesus? Do you struggle to be willing to pay that cost? Why?
In what way did the paralyzed man and his friends get more than they expected from Jesus? In what ways have you seen Jesus’ love and care for your physical and spiritual exceed your expectations?
What was the helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Do you struggle with particular divisions affecting your life? ...it may be personal relationships, group functionality or even social issues. Would you care to share what they are, and how they affect your life and perhaps those around you?
How does God’s “common grace” bring perspective and platform for mutual understanding in this vastly divided world?
How does the “saving grace” in Jesus Christ ultimately unite the church? What about the existing and persisting differences among the brothers and sisters in Christ?
What was the helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
A number of biblical passages were read in the sermon. Which one about God’s commitment to justice or the call of God’s people to pursue justice most impacted you and why?
What do you find most concerning/sad/discouraging/ challenging about the situation of oppressed people in the world?
What opportunities have you taken in the past to help the oppressed? Going forward what is one very concrete way that you will consistently seek to pursue justice for the oppressed?
What was the helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What new things have you learned about the ancient Corinthian church? How is today’s society and church similar to the Corinthian church?
What is Paul’s view of the saints; and how does it comfort us as individuals and a corporate body?
What “gifts” has God given the church to make it through each day, until the final “day of our Lord Jesus Christ”?
What was the helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What are some of the passages from the Psalter that have greatly encouraged your faith? How did the artistic nature of those verses from the psalms grasp your heart?
2. What are implications for our church life together and your personal walk with Christ when we understand singing as a ministry of the Word?
3. How are you currently employing music to strengthen your understanding of and delight in God through his word? What are some ways you could further employ music to strengthen your faith in Christ?
4. What was the helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What is your favorite form of music? How does it relate (or not) to your appreciation of Christian/ worship music?
What are some guiding principles you learned about Christian worship music from the sermon? What should be avoided and what should be kept in place?
Do you sing God’s praise with all of your heart? How can you sing and worship in a way that shapes your heart according to the good news of Jesus Christ?
What was the helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How would you articulate what the “regulative principle of worship” is, and why is it so important? Can you think of examples of worship that you have seen that should not be employed because of the regulative principle?
2. In what ways does God’s saving covenant with us in Jesus Christ find expression in our public worship? How should it shape the way you worship privately?
3. Who is the threefold audience of worship? How should each audience shape the way we go about our worship?
4. What was the helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Does knowing God and his will fill you with joy? Why/ why not?
How has the Father ultimately revealed his love towards his chosen people?
How should we live if our salvation is “to the praise of God’s glory”?
What does it mean to be ‘sealed’ by the promised Holy Spirit?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Read Luke 7:36-50. Who do you identify most with in the sermon, and why? Who are we supposed to identify with? 2
Re-read the warning of verse 47 and the truth of verse 42. How much have you been forgiven?
Consider how the anonymous woman approaches Jesus (verse 38, 44-46). How does she challenge you to approach Jesus this week?
What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
In what ways do you see Israel’s temptation to trust in idols, their leaders and their religiosity reflected in your own life?
In this passage what form does God’s discipline take? Do you regularly consider how God may bring his discipline in your life, if you fail to repent? If not, why not? If so, how does it help you to walk with Jesus?
How is God’s promise of deliverance hinted at in this passage? How does God’s promise of deliverance encourage our repentance?
What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. In what ways do you see Israel’s temptation to trust in idols, their leaders and their religiosity reflected in your own life?
2. In this passage what form does God’s discipline take? Do you regularly consider how God may bring his discipline in your life, if you fail to repent? If not, why not? If so, how does it help you to walk with Jesus?
3. How is God’s promise of deliverance hinted at in this passage? How does God’s promise of deliverance encourage our repentance?
4. What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Can you recall what or how you were “drawn” to God and His word? Is your perspective of that time the same or different today in retrospect?
What is it like to discover that the Bible, the Scriptures, is the very Word of the Living God? Would you say that reality has truly sunken deep into your heart, and guides your faith and life?
How is God’s word guiding and challenging you to make heart-level transformations and life-renovations? Can you, will you, share some specifics from your life?
What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Have you ever grieved over the loss of a loved one? How did you pray, and how did you grieve?
How does the character of our God as the Lord of life comfort you in the face of death?
Do you fear death? Why should the resurrection of Jesus make all the difference in our fears and grief?
What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
How is the Spirit of God leading you to walk before Him in this generation? What are the challenges you are willing to face for the sake of the gospel?
What do you think are the most difficult issues facing Christians and churches in this generation?
We have seen the Lord use godly prayers time and time again to usher His revival. How will you devote yourself to such prayers? Let us pray for the greatest revival of our generation!
What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What were the reasons that the northern Israel was destroyed and ended with exile? (7-18) What are the sins that you are committing in your life similar to the Israelites? What can we learn from them?
What was the context of their exile situation? (29-33) What are the dangers of syncretism in our context?
What is the command that LORD has given to Israel when he made a covenant with them? (35-39) What does it mean to “fear the LORD”?
How is the new covenant in Christ different from the covenant made with OT Israel? (Jeremiah 31:31- 33; Rom 11:27; Heb 9:15; 2 Cor 3:6) Why is the understanding of the new covenant important in Christian journey?
What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/ or the sermon on the text?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What made Naaman such an unexpected recipient of God’s pursuing grace? What circumstances did God ordain to heal Naaman physically and spiritually? What circumstances did God ordain in your life to contribute to you coming to faith in Christ?
2. Where is human pride on display throughout this narrative? In what areas of your life are you most tempted to take pride in? What resources of God’s grace do you see in this passage to help you to battle pride?
3. How did God use lowly people to lead Naaman to himself in this text? How have you seen God use other common people to lead non-Christians towards faith in Christ? What are some small ways that you have in your sphere of influence to point people to Jesus and the gospel?
4. What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?