1. What do you find most perplexing for yourself, or troublesome, in the Book of Revelation? Have you completed any reading or studies in the past to help gain more understanding of the book?
2. To review, what type of literary genre is the Book of Revelation? Are the visions to be taken literally? What are the visions meant to depict? 3. What three key themes found in the book were outlined in the sermon to help us keep Revelation in context and to help us understand the visions that John received? 4. What does the vision in 7:1-8 mean? What is meant by “sealed”? 5. Who are the people in the vision of 7:9-14? What allusions to the Old Testament do you see in this section? 6. Do you ever feel alone in your struggles? How do verses 15-17 and the “multitude” comfort you and encourage you to faithfully endure trials and tribulations? 7. Pray for our sponsored refugee families and ask God that they would faithfully endure their trials and tribulations.
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1. When you have been insulted, or when you realize you have been taken advantage of, how do you typically react?
2. What types of oath was Jesus addressing in verses 33-37? Why were these oaths so wrong? Did the people have any control over what they were swearing by? 3. What is the principle behind “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”? (See also Ex 21:23-27) How can this principle curtail feuds and vendettas? 4. How do Jesus’s commands in vs 33-48 regarding integrity, justice and love reflect the character of God? Include the context of “friends” and “enemies” in your discussion. 5. What are key characteristics of the Gospel? What happens when we do not act in accordance with the Gospel? 6. Jesus said we must be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. What does He mean? How do we do this? 7. In the coming weeks, where can you extend grace and mercy to people who do not share the same values or beliefs?
1. Why do you think there is so much anxiety in our culture today? What surprising signs do you see of it?
2. The sermon illustrated 3 attitudes believers should have in suffering, persecution, trials and storms: Humility, Alertness and Hopefulness. Why is humility important? Who are we to humble ourselves before? 3. Why might pride be a source of anxiety and worry? What does Peter mean when he tells us to “cast all our anxieties” on God? Why must we do this? How do we do this? 4. From verses 8-9, why do we need to remain alert? How does the Adversary attack us? What is the target? (See Job 1:9-11; 2:4-6; 2 Cor 12:7 for help as required.) 5. From verses 10-11, what is our reason for hopefulness, no matter what happens to us? 6. In the coming weeks, how will you draw near to God and cast your anxiety on Him?
1. What do you think is the greatest song ever written? What is it that makes it great?
2. Read the following verses in this order: Psalm 139:13-16; Luke 1:76-79; and 1 Cor 4:6-7. How do you view John’s life meaning and purpose in light of these verses? How should you view your life meaning and purpose? Are there any grounds for arrogance and boasting? 3. When John asked his disciples to go ask Jesus if He was actually the Messiah, what expectations do you think John had of the Messiah? (Luke 7:18-20.) 4. Why do you think Jesus responded the way He did? (Luke 7:21-23). What scripture was He pointing to? Why did He encourage John and his disciples not to be offended, or in Greek: “scandalized,” by Him? 5. Jesus said John was the greatest prophet up to his time, yet, “…one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Luke 7:28) What did Jesus mean by saying this? 6. Do you live in a “Prison of Expectations”? If God does not act in a way we expect or desire, how can that affect our faith and love for God if we are not careful? Do you think that the expectations we place on God are often just about us? 7. The key take away verse from this sermon was John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” How will you pray and apply this verse to your life and ministry?
1. Are there any TV ads that you like or still remember? What tools and techniques do you see advertisers using on us? How can these tools and techniques influence our desires and expectations in this life?
2. James said that if we break one of God’s commandments, we have failed to keep the rest of them (James 2:10.) How can this be? What if you were to approach adultery from the fact that sin is sin in thought, word and deed. Are there any other commandments that are violated in thought, word and deed in adultery? 3. How does Jesus show us that even sin in our imaginations must be taken seriously and dealt with? Why? 4. How do you think lust and covetousness influence considerations for divorce rather than “irreconcilable differences”? 5. See Ephesians 5:20-33. Why is marriage a picture of Christ and the church? How does this compel us to fight and struggle to keep our marriages intact and healthy? 6. In what areas of our marriage can we look to find true beauty, and to find true beauty in our spouse? What part does sacrifice play? What part does fellowship play? 7. What can we stop consuming from pop media and start doing instead to help shape a more healthy perspective on our marriages and other relationships?
1. Have you ever had someone lose it on you? How did you feel afterwards?
2. Have you ever lost it on someone? How did you feel afterwards? What did you do afterwards? 3. Why does Jesus insist that anyone who is harbouring and fanning anger against anyone is subject to God‘s judgment, and not just the murderer? Why do we normally get angry as humans? 4. In Matt 21:12, Matt 23:16-17, and Mark 3:5-6, we see Jesus angry and even calling some people “blind fools.” Was he being hypocritical? What was different or unique about his anger? 5. If you have behaved atrociously towards someone, why does Jesus insist that it is far more important for you to be reconciled to that person, rather than going to court or even going to worship? (See Gal 5:21 and 1 Peter 3:7 also.) 6. Do you think our relationships with each other affect our relationship with God? How so? How do we get help for anger? 1. How often do you read your Bible? What do you focus on? Do you read the Old Testament?
2. What did Jesus mean by saying he had come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets? (See also Luke 24:25-27) 3. What was Jesus saying about God’s word in verse 18? 4. According to Jesus, who is great in the kingdom of heaven? Why? 5. How can our righteousness exceed the Pharisees? (Compare what you know of their reputation and character to the Beatitudes in Matt 5:3-10.) 6. When we read, study and apply God’s word, both OT and NT, what happens to us? Does it happen quick or over time?
1. Does biblical prophecy illuminate the future, the present, or the past? Or all three?
2. What disasters do the four Horsemen bring upon the Earth and why were they sent? Are Christians spared from suffering in these trials and tribulations? 3. How were the martyrs comforted? How would suffering Christians be encouraged by what they heard here? 4. Why does Christ permit testing and suffering for his followers? What does he want us to learn? What does he want the world to see when Christians suffer? 5. What is the fate and realization of those who reject God and trust in worldly power and institutions for their security and comfort? 6. Why can Christians seem to hope and trust in God for salvation, but seek comfort and security in worldly things? How can we resist this? 1. If our attitude and behaviour are characterized by the “blessed“ statements in Matthew 5:3-9, why can we expect to be persecuted? Is this normal or abnormal? 2. Why should you feel blessed if persecuted? What should you be asking yourself if you have never been mocked or persecuted? 3. Jesus often uses word pictures and elements of daily ancient life to illustrate his teachings. Why did he choose salt to characterize our daily interaction? 4. Read John 3:16-20. What does light often represent in the Bible? Jesus spoke of two sources of light: the city on the hill and a small household lamp. What do you think each one represents? 5. How can Christians respond negatively to persecution and criticism? How would it affect being salt and light? 6. What can you pray and do before interacting with anyone?
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