DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What would have happened to us if the first coming of Jesus was our final judgment for all mankind?
How did the grace of Jesus Christ abound all the more in the days since that first Christmas?
How does the grace of God restore things that were once lost?
4.What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What does the humble beginnings of Jesus’ birth tell us about him and his mission?
God became man because of our sin, what does that tell us about our sin and about our God?
How does this change the way that we approach Christmas?
How do the shepherds encourage us in our witness of Christ?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What difference does having an attitude of disbelief/ indifference make to reading the bible?
Why do people try and discard the virgin birth? What is important about the virgin birth?
How can we grow an attitude of belief in the promises of God in ourselves and others? How will this change the way that we live?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What does “saint” mean in a truly biblical sense? And in what sense will the saints “judge the world” and even “angels”?
What option does Paul recommend rather than suing one another among believers in the secular court? How do you respond to this recommendation?
What “loss” has God incurred in order to forgive and save undeserving sinners?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
According to the sermon, how does modern society compare to the ancient Greco-Roman culture and ancient Near-Eastern societies? How do views on sex and ethics change over time?
What is the meaning of “leaven” in the Bible? How can we “celebrate the Passover” as New Covenant followers of Jesus Christ?
Who is the church discipline for? What is the purpose of church discipline—both for the one being disciplined, as well as for the congregation?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
How much of your life is built on maintaining appearances as opposed to real substance?
What is the difference between a life of real substance versus a life of maintaining appearances?
Why is Paul’s warning of the kingdom of God consisting not of talk but of power still a warning for us today?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
According to the passage and sermon, what is the function of the “Apostles” in the church? Can there be modern-day apostles, or apostolic ministries?
How do most people typically go “above and beyond the truth” as revealed in the Scriptures? How do you “make up” religious ideas and practices as you go along?
Who is the final judge over all matters? Who are we (the people/individuals) then to judge the emissary (the “sent one”; the “apostle”) of God? How should we view and respond to the apostolic teachings of the Bible?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
In what ways does the text highlight the importance of Christians building the church? According to the text and the sermon on it, what is the right and the wrong way to go about building the church?
What does the text teach about the Christian’s reward for his service to the church? How does the teaching on rewards motivate you in how you participate in the life of our church?
How does the incredible promise for Christians in verse 21 that “all things are yours” help us to keep a Christ focused unity in our service together as we build the church?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Do you believe you are “spiritually mature”? If so, why?
What truly determines the actual outcome of spiritual growth?
What can we do as “God’s fellow workers” [v.9]?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
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?