DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Where does God dwell individually ( ), and corporately ( )?
Where do we see the continuity and discontinuity between earthly church and Heavenly Kingdom?
Unlike ancient temples and medieval cathedrals, how can a modern space accommodate Kingdom-ministry of local churches?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
According to the message, what does it mean to seek the good of our neighbours in Sydney?
How does our participation in the Great Commission glorify God?
What about the HCC Vision 20/30 excites you? Where or how do you see yourself being a part?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
How does God’s judgement in the Old Testament help you to reflect honestly upon your own life of faith?
How does God’s faithfulness in testing encourage and comfort you to overcome trials in life?
Why is it important that we heed God’s warning in remaining faithful to him?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
How did Paul model “being all things to all people”? And how can we adapt our approach towards others so that they may be won over to Christ?
How can the church both provide wages for the labouring gospel-ministers, while making the ministry of the gospel free of charge?
What can we learn about “Christian discipline” from Paul’s examples of runner, athlete and boxer?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What particular verse in 1 Cor. 8:1-13 outlines the “potent knowledge” we have as Christians? How can this great knowledge “puff up,” rather than “build up?” What is that attitude we must have regarding this knowledge?
What functions like “food offered to idols” in today’s culture? What do we offer and taint in modern idolatry?
Who are the brothers/sisters with “weak conscience”? In contrast, who are not? How can we look after those weaker brothers and sisters?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What decisions (big or small) do you obsess over? Share with your group, and discuss if these are matters of Christian liberty (or not).
Do you fall more in the category of “betrothed, married, or widow”? What do you need to change in your thinking about relationships?
Is your “desire under control”, or are your “passions strong”? Share about your hopes for the future and your struggles in the present. Pray earnestly now and in the future for one another.
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
When do you find yourself more concerned about keeping up appearances than actually obeying God’s commands?
Upon what basis does Paul say to bondservants to ’not be concerned’? What are you anxious about?
What does contentment in your calling look like? What does discontentment in your calling look like?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
According to the sermon, what is the most biblical and fundamental way of “being human”?
What were those reasons for overt & over-sexualization of everything in today’s society?
What of the applicational principles on singleness, marriage, divorce, remarriage and redemption helped you the most? How do they impact your life specifically?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
How do you use your freedom in Christ? Do your freedom activities benefit you and others, or bring harm?
How are your life associations in general? Do they edify, or lead towards ungodliness?
Do you practice sexual purity whether single or married (keeping your “marriage bed pure”) — abstaining from extra-marital activities, including pornography?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Can you identify with the Psalmist regarding darkness, mourning and sackcloth? Would you care about some of the most difficult periods of your life?
How did Jesus transform mourning into joy of the morning?
How can Christians experience transformation and victory in this life as well as the life to come?
What was the most helpful/challenging/encouraging part of the sermon for you?
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?