IBC Richmond

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1. Why did Jesus pick only Peter, James, and John to join him on the mountain? Why did anyone need to see Jesus’ transfiguration if they couldn’t share it?
2. What does “transfigure” mean? What did it display about Jesus? What does inform a Christians relationship to Jesus?
3. What are the similarities between Jesus’ baptism and Jesus’ transfiguration? Why does God the Father reaffirm “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”? (Mt 17:5 is verbatim Mt 3:17)
4. What does the Transfiguration teach us about the Second Coming of Jesus?

Application Questions:
1. What does it mean in realtime reality to deny yourself and follow Jesus? How are you practicing this as a Christian?
2. What is the soul? How does Jesus determine the value of your soul? And how does the soul’s value influence how you live?
3. When Jesus speaks of returning and repaying in Mt 16:27, what is he talking about? Please answer when, where, why, how, and who.
4. Who saw Jesus in his glory before tasting death? When did this happen?

Application Questions:
1. Why does Jesus call Peter a rock (vs. 18)? Why does Jesus call Peter, satan (vs. 23)? What do these events teach you about honor and humility in the Christian life?
2. What are the keys of the Kingdom? Why did Jesus give them to Peter and the Apostles? How are you submitting yourself to spiritual authority?
3. How much of Matthew 16:13-23 is future tense? When do these things occur?
4. Why did Jesus rebuke Peter? How do you set your mind on the things of God? Do you identify suffering as part of God’s will for you as Jesus did?

Application Questions:
1. Jesus rebuked Pharisees and scribes, “So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God” (Mt. 15:6)? When does tradition become a danger to Scripture? Are you innocent of this? How can such a sin be avoided?
2. Isn’t it offensive to call someone a dog? Why did Jesus call a Canaanite woman a dog before healing her daughter (Mt 15:21-28)?
3. Was Jesus’ miracle of feeding the 5,000 (Mt 14:13-21) and feeding the 4,000 (Mt 15:32-39) a single event or two events? What clue is given in Matthew 16? Why both stories?
4. Since words come out of the heart (Mt 15:18), how are you cleansing your heart and filtering your words? What practical steps help you overcome negativity, gossip, and hate speech?

Application Questions:
1. What is a parable? Why does Jesus use parables? How do parables communicate truth?

2. To whom did Jesus give the “secrets of the kingdom of heaven”? Why did he give them? Why keep the kingdom a secret after announcing broadly, “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 3:2; 4:7)?

3. How does knowing that God plans your future help you live in the present even if it requires patience?

4. What judgement did people make about Jesus’ background in Mt 13:53-58? Have you ever been discriminated against because of race, age, gender, education, or social standing? How should a Christian wrestle with discrimination?

Application Questions:

1. What is blasphemy? Why does Jesus say, “the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven” (Mt 12:31b)? What is the difference between blasphemy against the Son and the Spirit (vs. 32)?

2. If trees are know by their fruit, what are you known for? How would a friend or family member describe you in one word? Do you like how you’re described? If not, how can you change according to Mt 12:33-35?

3. Since Jesus says, “people will give an account for every careless word they speak” in Mt 12:36, how does that influence your speech? What tactics will help you avoid careless words?

4. How does Jesus describe his generation in Matthew 12? What would Jesus say about your generation?

Application Questions:

Did Jesus disobey the OT Law? Are Christian required to observe the Sabbath? Why or why not?

What does Jesus mean “For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath”? (vs. 8)

Clearly, religious people opposed Jesus (Mt 12:14). How should Christians handle hostility or opposition to Jesus’ work now? Be specific to the local church.

Isaiah 42:3 say of Jesus, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench.” What does it mean? How have you experienced this tender work of Jesus in our Christian life?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

Jesus comments about God the Father, “for such is your gracious will” (vs. 26b). How responsible are believers to do God’s will verses accepting God’s will? Are there any clues from Jesus’ obedience to the Father’s will?

Who are the “little children” (vs. 25) whom Jesus invites to come to him? Why does Jesus invite the children and hide from the “wise and understanding”?

What needs, burdens, and weariness do you bring to Jesus? What would it mean for you to find rest for your soul?

How do understand Jesus’ statement, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”? How do you reconcile this truth in a broken world?

Application Questions:
1. Is it okay for a Christian to struggle with doubts about the God, the Bible, and salvation? How do you handle doubt? Where does a person find answers and assurance?
2. Who is great in Jesus’ estimation? What can be learned from the example of John the Baptist?
3. How does Jesus critique his generation? Are you a Baby Boomer, Gen X, or Millennial? How do you evaluate your own generation?
4. What is the sign of Israel rejection of the Kingdom in Mt 11:20?