Choosing Chastity and Radical Holiness (Matthew 5:27-30)

  1. What do our cultures say about sex, adultery, and lust? Think of examples from TV, movies, articles you've read, or things your friends and family say.

  2. Read Matthew 5:17-20 and 27-30. What should Christians think about sex, adultery and lust?

  3. Focus especially on v29-30. What would radical holiness look like in your life? What practical things can we do to avoid temptation?

  4. In groups, share some of your struggles and pray earnestly with one another, trusting in Christ's salvation and the Spirit's sanctifying power.

  5. What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?

New Year, New CBR Schedule (Matthew 5:17-20)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. How would you summarize Jesus’s view of the Bible? How does your view of the Bible need to change in order to reflect how Jesus viewed the Bible?

  2. What have been the greatest challenges to you consistently reading the Bible in 2018? By God’s grace, how can you address those challenges in 2019?

  3. How have you downplayed the role of obedience to God’s commands in your discipleship of Jesus? What are two areas in which you specifically need to be more intentional in relying on God the Holy Spirit to help you obey?

  4. What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?

Consider the Incarnation an Agenda for Your Life (Matthew 20:17-28)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. We considered the purpose of Christ’s incarnation. What is so wonderful about the incarnation? How should that shape your celebration of Christ this Christmas?

  2. In the text, where do we see the disciples’ prideful battle for position? Where do you see this in your own life?

  3. What are two very specific areas in which God is convicting you to repent and grow in re-enacting the serving agenda of your Savior?

  4. What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?

The Mission of the Church: Salt, Light and Law (Matthew 5:13-20)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. What are the areas in our society and in your context that you see some corruption and darkness against God’s standard?

  2. What are the ways that Christian faith can bring some hope and resolution to those areas of your concern?

  3. What are some of things that you (or we as church) can do to be the salt and light to those corrupted and dark areas?

  4. What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?

Cain or Christ? (Matthew 5:21-26)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Where in your life do you find yourself getting angry? What do you think are the underlying causes of your anger?

  2. How does Jesus as the first fruits of the New Creation encourage you to be proactive in wrestling with your anger and showing grace?

  3. Why should you wrestle with your anger and put it to death [apart from the answer, ‘That’s what good Christians do’], and by what power?

  4. What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?

The Radical Life of Love in Christ's Already-But-Not-Yet Kingdom (Matthew 5:1-12)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What future aspects of the Kingdom do you see in 5:3-12? What present aspects of the kingdom do you see in these same verses? Why is each aspect crucial for us to live radical lives of love as Kingdom citizens?

2. How are each of the four beatitudes in 5:7-10 different than both secular and religious approaches to life? Which of the four do you see your greatest need to grow in?

3. Why do you think Jesus expands on the 8th beatitude of verse 10 in verses 11 and 12? Where do you experience any part of verse 11? How does the reward of verse 12 give you grace to follow Jesus in the midst of opposition?

4. What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?

Blessed are You! (Matthew 5:1-6)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. In the series introduction, can you recall how the Biblical-Reformed interpretation of Sermon on the Mount contrasts with some of the others? --such
    as moralism, “easy-believism”, antinomianism, the church growth movement, the prosperity gospel, the postmodernism, charismatic mysticism, liberal and cultural nominalism.

  2. What are the characteristics of heavenly blessings as described in the Beatitudes?

  3. Can we identify ourselves with the “poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”? How important is this identification according to the sermon?

  4. What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?

The Heart of the Father (2 Samuel 18)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What were the sins of Absalom which he had committed against God’s law? How would you define ’sin’ apart from breaking of the Law? What are the sins that you are struggling with?

  2. How did David respond when he heard about the death of his son Absalom? What was the complexity of the situation? How are you dealing with people who give you trouble?

  3. David could not die instead of his son, but Jesus died in our place. How does this truth transform the way we live?

  4. What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?

Split Decision (2 Samuel 24)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. If according to the sermon “evil/sinful plan” is “to override God’s holy plan with our own selfish agenda,” are we also guilty of the same? Can you recall specific manners in which you have been culpable in this manner?

  2. The way of sacrifice is very hard, and often painfully lonely (i.e. Jesus). But looking to Jesus, and considering the great eternal hope of the gospel, would you be willing to suffer for the sake of others? What choice would you have made if you were David? How would you expect faith-based self-sacrifice to play out in real life situation(s)?

  3. The “altar” is where sacrifices are made; and “threshing floor” is the proving ground, separating kernel from husk, wheat from weed, sheep from goat. a. How has Jesus “proven” Himself at the altar; and b. how do you cling on to Jesus while forsaking the world?

  4. What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?

The Family of God (2 Samuel 15)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. You: How would you describe the “sense of order” in your family as you were growing up? Were there discernable instruction of boundaries and ethics, or would you say it was more carefree than strict?

2. Bible: What major biblical duties has David neglected? What were the consequences?

3. World: How does the gospel of Jesus Christ restore order in the family of God?

4. What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?

Who Is My Neighbour? Pt.2 (Luke 10:27-35)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Who do you find it hard to be a neighbour to? Why?

  2. In what ways do we sometimes make church a “doctrine club” rather than the community in which we live out a real relationship with Jesus?

  3. Brainstorm: how could we be more intentional about loving out neighbours, as a natural progression from hearing and understanding God’s Word.

  4. How should the gospel move us to real, costly love for those around us?

  5. What did you find most helpful/challenging/encouraging from the text or the sermon on the text?

Convicted (2 Samuel 12:1-15)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Can you recall a time when God deeply convicted/ convinced you of your sins? Would (some of you) care to share how God operated in your heart and changed your life?

  2. Read [John 16:7-11]. How is the Holy Spirit moving in your heart these days? How would you articulate the “holy burden” in terms of life-application?

  3. WORLD: In what ways are you functioning as God’s agent, sent to the world, to convict those around you regarding their faith, their relationship with God?

  4. What did you find most helpful/challenging/encouraging from the text or the sermon on the text?

Learning from David How to Avoid Using Power (2 Samuel 11)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. In our text, how do we see David abusing his power? In what areas of your life are you tempted to abuse power?

  2. David forgot God’s amazing grace that brought him to where he was. What had God done for David at this point? As you look at your life now, how have you experienced God’s undeserved kindness? Why is it so easy for us to forget these things?

  3. Point out the many places in the narrative that David could have and should have repented before his abuse of power led to murder. What gospel truths in the larger context of Scripture help us to repent instead of continuing along a path of abusing power?

  4. What did you find most helpful/challenging/encouraging from the text or the sermon on the text?

How to Approach God (2 Samuel 6)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. What things can or have made it difficult for you to approach God?

  2. Consider David’s example in 2 Samuel 6. What about it surprises, challenges or encourages you about how to approach God?

  3. Jesus died so you can approach God freely. How does this affect your answer to question 1 above?

  4. What did you find most helpful/challenging/encouraging from the text or the sermon on the text?

Our Rightful King (2 Samuel 5)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. If you could change anything about how we, as a society, are led (by government and leaders), but for “better,” what would that look like?

  2. How is Jesus a good king of your heart and life? What are some examples from your own life?

  3. How would you help others to come into the good Kingdom of Christ?

  4. What did you find most helpful/challenging/encouraging from the text or the sermon on the text?

Sad Ending of the First King of Israel (1 Samuel 31)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. What was the main cause to the contrasting results between what happened to David and Saul in Chapters 30 and 31? (1 Sam 28:18-19; 1 Sam 30:7-8) What does it mean to be faithful to the New Covenant in Jesus Christ?

  2. What happened to Saul after his death? (1 Sam 31:8-13) Do you believe in life after death and the judgment of God? If you do, how does that belief affect your life now?

  3. What kind of the life legacy or message that you would like to leave behind your life? How are you doing with following Christ?

  4. What did you find most helpful/challenging/encouraging from the text or the sermon on the text?

Sanctity of Life (1 Samuel 24)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. ME: We seldom have to make life/death decisions; but what is the most difficult issue for you to consider (abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, etc.)? Why?

  2. BIBLE: How does God express the value of life in His creation? What scriptural passage(s) made the most impact, whether from the sermon or other part(s) of the Bible?

  3. OTHERS: How can we do better in valuing and affirming the lives of others? How would you apply it in practical ways for the real people around you?

  4. What did you find most helpful/challenging/encouraging from the text or the sermon on the text? 

Self-Rule or the Savior’s Rule? (1 Samuel 19)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. What stood out to you about the ways David escapes Saul’s attempts on his life? What ways do you see the people/institutions you are involved in resisting the reign of David’s greatest son, Jesus Christ?

  2. As you look at the text, which verses highlight the evil nature of Saul’s opposition to David? How did you oppose Jesus before becoming a Christian? In what areas do you sometimes find yourself still resisting his rule?

  3. What stands out to you from the text (both this one
    and the beginning of chapter 18) about Jonathan’s relationship with David? What do you learn from Jonathan’s life about how to resist the urge to follow self- rule rather than Jesus’s rule?

  4. What did you find most helpful/challenging/encouraging from the text or the sermon on the text? 

Wisdom and Innocence (1 Samuel 18)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. ME: Have you ever been in a difficult situation where you were forced to choose a side? What were the guiding principles in that decision?

  2. BIBLE: What is the expected response from the world when we are united to God in Christ according to [1Sam.18 & Matt.10:22; James 4:4]? But who gives us favor and strength to endure to the end? Have you experienced such divine help?

  3. OTHERS: Can you recall the meaning of “innocence” according to the sermon? How is that status established “covenantally”?

  4. What did you find most helpful/challenging/encouraging from the text or the sermon on the text?