Sunday sermons from Berean Community Church. Based in Irvine, California, we are a medium-sized, multi-ethnic church devoted to God-centered worship, equipping members with God’s Word, loving community and accountability, and reaching the world with the gospel of Christ.

1. Who is Jesus addressing in this passage?2. What is the running theme in all 10 verses?3. What does it mean to stumble someone?4. Why is it inevitable that stumbling would come?5. Who are the "little ones" that Jesus is warning not to stumble?6. Why is the judgment for stumbling someone so severe?

1. What is the main point of this parable?2. How does this parable fit into the context of other teachings Jesus gave in the previous verses?3. What was the sin of the rich man that lead him to eternal torment?4. Does the concept of eternal judgment seem fair to you? Why or why not?5. What did Jesus say that God has ordained to warn people about the judgement in hell?

1. Why were the Pharisees scoffing at what Jesus said in the previous parable?2. What is the purpose of the law and how does it fit into Jesus' rebuke and warning against the Pharisees?3. Why does Jesus end this section with the teaching about marriage and divorce? How does the warning against divorce fit into the law and gospel narrative?

1. What is the main point of the parable? Is Jesus saying that it is ok to use unrighteous means to gain wealth?2. Who is this parable taught to? Consider the larger narrative of what Jesus was trying to accomplish as He was headed to the cross.3. Why does Jesus call wealth, welath of unrighteousness? Does He mean wealth gained unrighteously?4. What does it mean in verse 9 when Jesus says that "they will receive you into the eternal dwelling" if you make friends with unrighteous wealth?

1. Why would we need pray that God not lead us into temptation when in James 1:13 says that God does not tempt anyone?2. What are different ways the word temptation is translated in other parts of the New Testament.3. Aren't we already delivered from evil once we become children of God? Why then do we need to continue to pray for deliverance from evil?

1. What event does the request for "daily bread" refer to in the Old Testament?2. What is the reason for asking for the daily bread instead of just bread or food?3. Why is our forgiveness contingent upon us forgiving others? What is it about God's forgiveness that requires our reconciliation with others?

1. How are we not to pray according to last week's sermon?2. What is the significance of addressing God as Father in comparison to how the non-believers may pray?3. What does the word "hallow" mean? What does it mean to hallow His name? Is this something God does or is this something people must do?4. What tangible things are we asking God to do when we petition Him to have His kingdom come?5. Why is there a distinction between His will being done on earth as it is in heaven? Isn't God ruler of everything already?

1. What are some negative patterns of prayer that we are not to follow when we pray?2. What is the significance of addressing God as Father? How does our relationship with God affect the way we pray?3. What are some preliminary things that we are to acknowledge before we make any petitions.4. What specific petitions are we are bring to God and why?

1. What was the older brother doing when he heard the party for the younger brother?2. What was his main complaint toward the father?3. How does he address his younger brother to the father?4. What was the primary sin of the older brother?

1. What prompted Jesus to tell the story of the prodigal son?2. According to Deuteronomy 21:17, how much of the father's inheritance would the second son have gotten when it was time to receive it?3. Considering how wealthy the father seems to be, why did the father grant the selfish wish of the second son?4. This story is divided into four parts. Try to identify the four different scenes mentioned in this parable.

1. What were the three observations made in last week's sermon about the three parables?2. In what way does God seek and save the lost?3. How does each of the parable end?4. How is the lost being found described at the end of the first two parables?

1. From previous week's sermon... What was it about Jesus' teaching that drew all the tax collectors and the sinners to Him?2. What was it about Jesus receiving and eating with the tax collectors and sinners caused the Pharisees and the Scribes to grumble at Jesus?3. Name at least 4 commonalities that the all three parables teach.4. What is the main point of all three parables?

1. Why do you think tax collectors and sinners are identified separately?2. What drew the tax collectors and sinners to Jesus?3. Why did it bother the Pharisees and the Scribes that Jesus allowed the Tax collectors and the sinners to come to Him?4. In what way did the Pharisees and the Scribes resemble their ancestors?

1. Who was Jesus speaking to? Why do you think Jesus was giving them this difficult warning?2. How do you reconcile all the passages of honoring your father and mother with Jesus saying we must hate them to be his disciples?3. What two illustrations are given to illustrate why we must count the cost of following Christ? What do the illustrations reveal about what we're called to do?

1. What does the "big dinner" represent in Jesus' parable?2. What excuses were given by the characters in the parable? What do these excuses reveal about them?3. Who were the initial invitation given to? What group of people do they represent?4. Who do the poor, crippled, blind and lame represent? Who are the ones on the highways and along the hedges?

1. What is the context of this parable? Who was he referring to?2. What is the purpose of making a statement through a parable?3. What is the universal issue being addressed to the guests and to the host?4. What is the ultimate motivation for why a guest or the host would follow Jesus' teaching according to verse 15?

1. Where did this event take place and what is it's significance?2. What is dropsy? What is the modern day equivalent?3. What two questions did Jesus ask the Pharisees? Why could they not answer either question?4. What do these questions reveal about the way the Pharisees approached the law?

1. What was the motivation of the Pharisees for warning Jesus about Herod's intent to kill Him?2. Why did Jesus answer the Pharisees warning by telling them his ministry and plans to die in Jerusalem?3. Why does Jesus call Herod a fox? What is a fox known for?

1. What is the reason given in this text why we need to live intentionally?2. What is the difference between being wise and unwise? Is there a difference of what wisdom looks like for believers verses rest of the world?3. Is this passage calling the church to have better time management or something else? What different words are translated as time in the New Testament? What is the word used here for time? How do the other translations translate verse 16?

1. What does it mean for Jesus to not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped?2. What did Jesus have to empty himself of to put on humanity? Try to name as many things you can think of that he had to empty Himself of for his incarnation to happen?3. What is the application that Paul desired the church to practice in light of Jesus' incarnation?

1. Why do you think some asked Jesus who would be saved? What prompted them to ask this question?2. Who are the people who will not enter into the coming Kingdom? Why will they not enter?3. How is the final judgment described? What does gnashing teeth describe?4. How is the final restoration described? What does the restoration point to that was lost becasue of sin?

1. What is your understanding of the Kingdom of God? How did the Jews of Jesus' time understand what the Kingdom of God was?2. Is the parable of the leaven in the dough meant to be a positive parable mirroring the teaching of the first parable of the mustard seed, or is the parable of the leaven meant to be a negative illustration given as a warning? Try to back up your answer from scripture.3. What is the message of the parable if it is positive? What is the message and warning if it is negative?

Questions1. What three points were covered last week about what a legalist is or is not?2. What is the primary sin of a legalist? How does Jesus rebuke the synagogue leader?3. How did the ruler and others who opposed Him react to Jesus' rebuke compared to the rest of the crowd?

Questions1. What was Jesus doing when Jesus decided to heal the woman? What do you think He was teaching?2. Who initiated this healing? What does that reveal about the possible intent of this healing?3. Why do you think the synagogue ruler was more concerned about the healing on Sabbath than the miracle of the healing itself?4. What hypocrisy does Jesus reveal about the synagogue rulers attitude toward the woman healed and Jesus?

1. In the previous passage Jesus warned the crowd about being spiritually alert. How does what he says here connect to that?2. In what way are the two events Jesus refers to similar and in what way are they different?3. How is the parable of the fig tree not bearing fruit relate to his call to repentance?

1. What is the spiritual discernment that Jesus was rebuking the crowd of not having?2. What do you think is the reason that they were so good at predicting weather and so bad at understanding the signs of the time?3. Who is the Judge in the parable and what needs to be reconciled before going to court? How does this relate to the spiritual discernment that the crowd should have had?

1. What does fire often represent in the bible?2. Why does Jesus say He wishes that the fire was already kindled?3. What needs to take place for this fire to be kindled?4. Jesus is referred to as the Prince of Peace in Isaiah. Why does Jesus say that He didn't come to bring peace?5. Is the division Jesus refers to here descriptive or prescriptive?

1. What is the source of anxiousness, or worry, according to this passage?2. How are we to combat anxiousness?3. What does anxiousness say about our faith? v.284. What is the reason why we ought not to be anxious? What does anxiousness cause God's people to do or not do?

1. How does this passage connect to the previous passage? Is this the same crowd that is mentioned in the previous passage?2. What does the man's question reveal about the man himself?3. How did Jesus respond to him? Is it ever wrong to save for retirement or to save money for the future? What is the guiding principle Jesus is giving about how we ought to handle finances?

1. Who are the three groups that Jesus said would do the persecution? What is the significance in the distinction between these groups?2. What did Jesus say not to worry about?3. Who will be the one that will equip them in what they ought to say and when will that happen?

1. Who is Jesus referring to when he says not to fear those who can only kill the body?2. What reasons are we given to fear God?3. What does God's care over the sparrows and counting every strand of hair have to do with fearing God?

1. What circumstance prompted Jesus to say what He says in this passage?2. Who was Jesus speaking to in this passage? How does who Jesus speaks to help understand what He is saying and why he is saying it in this passage?3. What does hypocrisy have to do with uncovering hidden speech?

1. In what ways are the three woes given to Pharisees similar and different to the woes given to the Lawyers?2. What were the major differences between the Pharisees and the Lawyers?3. What were the end results of both the Pharisees and the Lawyers according to the third woes for both groups?

1. Why was Jesus so harsh with the leaders of Israel?2. What is the main rebuke that Jesus gave to the Pharisees and the Lawyers?3. Name the three woes that Jesus gave to the Pharisees.