Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North

Introduction:

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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Malachi 1:1-14

1. Malachi 1:2-3 talks about God's love: What exactly is God saying? How does this prove His love?

2. Why is love the motivator for worship (see also Romans 2:4)?

3. Have you ever doubted God's love because things weren't happening the way you expected? Share the experience with the group.

4. Define reverence: Why do you think this is a lost concept in our culture today?

5. How would you reply to this statement: "This stuff in Malachi doesn't apply to us today. We don't offer sacrifices anymore!"

6. What are ways, today, that you can "breathe out" reverence for God?

Breakout Questions:
Complete transparency: How are you doing with sincerely worshiping God? What changes do you need to make to be able to "breathe" (in God's love / out reverence for God)?

HBCPN Elder - Mark Ort

Click illustration to enlarge

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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read 2 Chronicles 14-16

1. Christians live under the New Covenant. So why is it important to study the Old Testament?

2. Describe what 'seeking God' really means?

3. What obstacles are in your way that prevent you from a serious pursuit of God? What kind of plan will you put into place to change that?

4. How can other believers help you in your quest to seek the Lord? In what ways will you help them in their quest?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another to act on their plan to intentionally seek God this week. Hold each other accountable in this plan. 

Brandon Stephenson - onechurchPGH.com

Brandon Stephenson was born and raised in Butler, PA. He was a part of North Street Christian Church where Pastor Jeff used to serve. Brandon is married to his amazing wife, Danielle, and they have 3 boys: Noah, Drew and Coby. They are currently planting a new church in the South Hills area of Pittsburgh called One Church.

Intro:

We are just like David.

Romans 3:23* (NIV) - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read 2 Samuel 11:1-3 and 2 Samuel 12:1-13

1. Ice Breaker: What was something you always got in trouble for when you were a kid?

2. What stood out from the message and why?

3. For some people we remember their failures first, for others we remember their achievements while often times overlooking their failures. From your perspective, why do we do that?

4. David is one person we tend to view in a positive light despite doing some really bad things. In 2 Samuel 11 what were key elements that caused David to fail so bad?

5. In 2 Samuel 12:1-13, what were the causes of David moving towards redemption?

6. We're not so different from David. What causes David to see redemption is his reaction to his failure. Brandon said, "Our failure doesn't define us, our reaction to it does."
   What did he mean by that in reference to David’s situation? How does that relate to your life?

7. David's repentance led him to worship God by writing Psalm 51. What does (or should) your repentance lead you to do?

8. We serve and believe in a God that loves redemption. How do you see God using you to bring redemption to you and those around you?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.

Note: The time signatures [00:00] below indicate the start of a question if you'd like to skip to a particular one of interest in the audio file.

1. [06:36] - Q: What has been Harvest's response (both here and Chicago) to the growing ecumenical movement (unity movement, Manhattan declaration, etc) and evangelical Christian pastors who've signed onto it? Should we stop listening to pastors and Christian bands who've been taking part of this (People that have spread the gospel but have made weird declarations that go against Sola Scriptura). The more oddities I hear, the more I fear having my ear tickled and thinking I am being fed, when in actuality, they're wolf in sheep's clothing.
    
2. [10:43] - Q: What does the Bible say about worshipping God as a congregation on Sunday versus Saturday? Why has there been a shift in churches offering both Sunday and Saturday services? Is this Biblical?
   A: See Acts 20:7 - On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together...
    
3. [20:18] - Q: What is up with the thousand years? What is the purpose and why or when is Satan released?
   A: See Revelation 20:1-10 - 
    
4. [21:55] - Q: Why does God allow Satan to exist? Why can't Satan be destroyed and killed? Then there would be forever peace on earth.
   A: See 2 Corinthians 12:1  |  Job 1-2 |  Revelation 20:10
    
5. [25:21] - Q: In Numbers 13:33, the scouts that Moses sent into the Promised Land reported, "We saw Nephilim there…" How did the Nephilim survive the flood of Noah's time?
   A: See: Joshua 15:14 - And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the descendants of Anak.
    
6. [30:00] - Q: In Matthew 27:52-53, when Jesus was crucified and died, it says, "The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people." Besides the fact that this represented a miraculous sign (like the tearing of the temple curtain) drawing attention to Jesus' resurrection, is there some significance to this event? It seems odd to me that we frequently hear about the temple curtain, the daytime darkness, and the earthquake that accompanied Christ's death, but this raising of the dead is rarely mentioned.
    
7. [37:46] - Q: 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 seems to indicate that women are not permitted to speak in church. What is the correct interpretation and application of this passage?
   A: See 1 Timothy 2:12-1

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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):

Review and discuss any of the questions and answers given on Sunday's Q&A day together. Have you found any additional biblical support for the answers given?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.

Intro / Review:

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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 20:17-35

1. What are the two sides of the Gospel, according to Acts 20:21? Why are both parts important? What happens if you leave a part out?
    
2. Who do you know that follows Jesus no matter how hard his/her life gets (Acts 20:22-23)? How does this person inspire you?
    
3. What are the characteristics of someone who loves God’s Word (Acts 20:25-32)?
   are ways the church can keep youth from disengaging? How can you help?

Breakout Questions:

In which of these areas are you weakest?: Sincere faith, following Jesus during hard times, loving God’s Word, being a giver. 
 
Have your breakout group pray for you to grow in that area.

Intro / Review:

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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 20:1-16

1. Why did Paul spend so much time encouraging churches? What would have happened to these churches if he hadn't? What does this say about the way WE should encourage others in the church?
    
2. In Acts 20:3, we see that Paul changed his plans so he could avoid the enemies who were after him. How do YOU know who you need to avoid and when? Can we know? If the Bible says to love our enemies, why would we ever avoid them?
    
3. Who do YOU think takes the blame for Eutychus falling asleep (Acts 20:7-12)? Eutychus or Paul? Another option?
    
4. What are ways the church can keep youth from disengaging? How can you help?

Breakout Questions:

Who do you know from our church that needs encouraged right now? Name that person to your breakout group, pray for them, and then you have 24 hours to encourage that person in some way (text, email, call, letter, card, your choice!).

Intro / Review:

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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 19:21-41

1. How can you tell if YOU YOURSELF have made money an idol in your life? What are the signs? What should you do if you have the signs?
    
2. What are ways the church today gets involved with idols? How can we be done with them?
    
3. The town clerk, or "mayor" (Acts 19:35-41) stopped the riot. Should Christians use the government for protection / advancing the kingdom? To what extent?
    
4. "I don't care what other people think about me!" Is this a Christian attitude? Why or why not?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for your witness and testimony to reflect Christ.
Pray for favor from even your non-believing friends who see Christ in you.
Pray that any persecution that comes is because of the Gospel, not your personality.
 

Introduction

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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read 1 Kings 8:22-30

1. How do you know God is active in a church? What are the signs?
    
2. What is the significance of Solomon’s repeated use of the name "God of Israel"?
    
3. What's the difference between "saying your prayers" and "praying"? How do you know which you are doing? How can you become a better "pray-er"?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for our church to be Christ-glorifying in our new place. Like Solomon prayed for the Temple: a place where the Word of God is believed and embraced (1 Kings 8:26) and where the people of God pray passionately (1 Kings 8:28).