Sermon Bible Study Guides

Philemon - February 23rd 2018

God’s Reconciling Power

Read Philemon 1-7

1. Who does Paul address this letter to?
2. How does Paul greet them?
3. What does he do in his prayers?
1. What does he rejoice in?
4. Who are ‘all the saints’?
1. What does he prayer for?
5. Who in particular is he speaking to when he describes his prayer?

Application

1. What is modeled for us in Paul’s prayer in terms of our attitude towards other Christians?
2. What does this teach us about the effects of our care towards fellow Christians?

Read Philemon 8-23

1. Why does Paul appeal to Philemon, rather than command him (v8,9, 14)?
2. What is the appeal he makes? What does he want Philemon to do?
3. Why does there seem to be conflict between Philemon and Onesimus?
4. How does Paul use his relationship with Philemon in this situation? What does he hope for from Philemon?
5. Why do you think he mentions preparing a guest room?
6. What does the grace of Christ (v3, 25) have to do with the message of the book itself?

Application:

1. What can we learn about the sort of obedience the Lord wants from us from this passage?
2. How does our relationship with Christ affect our relationships with other Christians?
1. What did this look like in Philemon’s life?
2. How could this look in your life?

Mark 8:1-21 - February 16th 2018

Watch out!

Read Mark 8:1-21

1. Where have they been? What has just happened? (Review 7:31-37)
2. Who is with Jesus? What has been happening in Jesus’ ministry?
3. Why does Jesus say? How do his disciples respond?
1. What does this interaction tell us about them?
4. What happens? How?
1. How does this compare/contrast with the feeding of the five thousand (6:30-44)? Does it reveal anything new to us?

1. What do the Pharisees do and why?
2. How does Jesus respond? Why?

1. What does warn his disciples? What does his warning mean? What is leaven and what kind of ‘leaven’ do the Pharisees and Herod have? (Think about the interactions between these groups with Jesus so far in Mark)
2. How do the disciples respond and why?
3. Consider each of Jesus’ questions to his disciples. What does each mean? What does Jesus want them to understand? Will they ever understand?
1. What is the significance of the feedings?

Application:

1. What spiritual truths are being revealed by Jesus that his disciples are failing to see?
2. What do we learn about Jesus’ identity and character?
3. How can we know and understand Jesus? What keeps us from knowing and understanding Jesus? What is the remedy?