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. To whom is Jesus speaking to in this text? How does knowing who Jesus is speaking to change the meaning and application of what Jesus is saying?2. What is the light and darkness that Jesus is referffing to?3. What is the eye that lets in light in reference to?
1. In what way was this generation wicked?2. What is the sign of Jonah that Jesus is referring to here? Was the sign about Jesus or about the large crowd?3. Why did Jesus say that He would only give the sign of Jonah when through His whole ministry He was showing signs to prove who he was?4. In what way will the people of Nineveh and the queen of Sheeba stand against this generation?
1. What is the context of this passage? Why did Paul feel the need to address woman's role in this way?2. What three reasons are given why women are not to teach or lead over men? Is this a restriction for all women to all men or in particular in the church and family?3. What does it mean that a woman will be saved through childbearing? Is this a condition for a woman's salvation?
1. Who is Jesus describing in this text, the previously demon possessed man who was delivered or the Pharisees who accused Jesus of be Satanic?2. Why did the unclean spirits return back to the original person they possessed?3. How do verses 27 and 28 fit into rest of the previous text?
1. Why did some people say that Jesus was casting out demons by Beelzebul?2. Why were the skeptics asking for more signs even though Jesus had performed many signs prior to this event?3. Who is the strong man Jesus is referring to in this text?4. What does it mean for God to cast out demons by His finger?
1. What causes us to be bold and persistent in our prayers?2. Why does God want us to be persistent in asking, seeking and knocking? Are we able to bend His will to give us what we want even if He doesn't want to give it to us?3. What did He promise to give us if we persistently ask according to verse 13?
1. Why do you think the disciples asked Jesus how to pray?2. What is the significance of addressing God as Father? Was this a common address or uncommon. Was it different in the Old Testament compared to the address in the New Testament?3. What does it mean to hallow His name?4. What does praying for His kingdom to come mean for our kingdom?
1. What caused Martha to be upset with Mary?2. What was Mary doing that Jesus said she chose what was good. Was what Martha was doing not good?3. What was Martha doing that caused Jesus to correct her instead of Mary?4. Does this story teach us that we shouldn't be serving so much and just learn? What is the main lesson of this story?
1. What is the main point of the parable of the good Samaritan?2. Why did Jesus choose the priest and the Levite as examples of people who neglected to help the man in trouble?3. Was there a specific reason why Jesus chose the person who helped the desperate man as a Samaritan?
1. Was the lawyer's question to Jesus genuine? Explain your answer according to this text.2. Why did the lawyer stand up to address Jesus?3. Why does Jesus answer the lawyer's question with another question?4. Why does Jesus tell the lawyer to do what the lawyer answered so he can live? Can someone really be saved by being obedient?
1. What role does the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit play in our salvation?2. What is the reason why the Father hid the message of salvation to the wise and gave it to children?3. What is it about our salvation that the prophets and kings would long to see what they saw?
1. What report did the 70 disciples give when they returned back from their mission trip? What did they emphasize over other things they were able to do?2. What does Jesus mean when He says, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven"? How does this relate to the disciples' mission?3. Why does Jesus emphasize rejoicing that their names are written in the book of life rather than their authority over demons?
1. What are the six cities that Jesus mentions in this text? What is the significance of these cities?2. Why did Jesus say that Tyre and Sidon would have repented if the same miracles were performed there rather than at Bethsaida and Chorazin?3. What caused Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum to be so spiritually dense?4. What warning is Jesus giving to these cities?5. What encouragement is Jesus giving to the evangelist?
1. In what way can you improve in becoming more devoted to prayer in your own life?2. In what way can you participate in being devoted to prayer corporately.3. What is the danger in the life of a Christian if he is not praying regularly?4. How does prayer affect the way we view God, ourselves and others?
1. What exactly did Jesus empty Himself of to take on human form?2. Did Jesus forfeit any of His deity when He appeared as a man?3. Was Jesus' humanity only in effect while He was on earth? Did Jesus take off His humanity when he ascended back into heaven?4. What was the most humbling thing you had to do? How did it make you feel after you did that?
1. What does it mean to have your peace remain on that house and what does it mean to have it return to you?2. How will we know who the man of peace is?3. Why were they told not to move around and stay in one place and eat what they give you? What was happening during that culture that prompted Jesus to tell them do this?4. What does it mean to dust off the dirt when leaving a city who would not recieve them?5. How does the coming of the kingdom bring peace and warn of judgment?
1. Who were the ones appointed for this mission trip? How were they different than the calling to the twelve in Luke 9:1-9?2. Name at least three things that this passage teaches us about the harvest.3. Why does Jesus tell them not to carry any money belt or bags or shoes considering the wolves that will be waiting for them on this trip?4. What is the most important work that needs to be done considering the lack of workers for the harvest?
1. What is the title "Son of Man" referring to? Why did Jesus use this term for himself rather than "Son of God"?2. Why was it wrong for the man to return home to bury his father? What issue of the heart was Jesus addressing when Jesus told them to let the dead bury the dead?3. Why would going back home to say bye to his family disqualify him from following Jesus? What issue was Jesus addressing to this man?
1. What were the disciples arguing about? Why do you think the disciples thought this was so important for them to establish?2. Why did Jesus use the children as a example for the disciples to follow? What quality of a child was Jesus referring to?3. Why were the disciples concerned about others casting out the demons in Jesus' name without their permission?
1. List all the problems that the demon caused for the boy and the father. What does it tell us about the nature of this demons intent for the boy and others?2. What reason was given from Jesus why the disciples couldn't cast out the demons?3. What relationship is there between unbelief and being a part of a perverted generation?4. Why does Jesus prophesy about His suffering in Jerusalem at the end of this encounter? In what way are these things related to each other?
1. Which of the three disciples were taken to show them the transfiguration? Why were these three chosen to see Jesus' glory?2. Of all the great Old Testament figure why did only Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus and the disciples?3. What is the significance of the clouds moving in before God spoke of His Son Jesus?4. What did God say to the three disciples to do?
1. What does it mean to be ashamed of Jesus and His words?2. What does it mean for Jesus to be ashamed of those who are ashamed of Him when He returns?3. What is the mean for Jesus to return in glory and of the glory of the Father and the angels?
1. What does denying yourself in your life look like practically?2. Can you be a follower of Christ if you are not denying yourself and picking up your cross daily? Can you have one without the other?3. In what way does losing your life causes you to find it and in what way does finding your life causes you to lose it?4. Why would anyone want to follow Jesus if this is the standard that he requires of His follower?
1. Why was it important for the disciples to have the correct view of Jesus?2. Why did the people think that Jesus was John the Baptist or Elijah or one of the prophets?3. Why did Jesus tell the disciples not to tell anyone about His true identity?4. What is it that Jesus had to do by going to Jerusalem?
1. Where was Jesus when the feeding of the 5000 took place? What does it tell us about how popular Jesus became at this time?2. This is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels. What do you think is the significance of that?3. Why did Jesus choose to use the five loaves and two fish to feed the 5000? Why couldn't he just feed them from nothing?4. What is the significance of having 12 baskets left over? Why not make just enough to feed the 5000?
1. Name the similarities between Jesus and John the Baptist that made people think that Jesus may have been John the Baptist resurrected?2. Why was Herod so concerned that Jesus may have been John the Baptist come back to life?3. Why did some think Jesus was Elijah or one of the prophets?4. How would you answer Herod if he asked you, "Who is this man" concerning Jesus?
1. We understand why the disciples needed power to heal but why did they need power and authority to preach about the kingdom of God?2. What did the preaching of the kingdom of God consist of?3. According to verse 6 how did Luke describe what the disciples were sent to do?
1. What did Jesus give them power and authority to do?2. Who were the twelve disciple that Jesus sent and why were they chosen?3. What do you think was the primary goal of the mission Jesus sent the disciples to?
1. Why did the people who came from Jairus' house not believe that Jesus could raise the daughter from the dead?2. Why did Jesus not allow anyone else to see the miracle except the parents and the three disciples?3. Why did Jesus tell the man who was healed of demons to go tell his hometown what had happened but told the Jairus not to tell anyone of the miracle that took place?
1. Why is Jairus' name mentioned but the hemorrhaging woman's name is not? What is the significance of this socially?2. What restrictions were placed on a hemorrhaging woman according to Levitical law in Leviticus 15:19-23?3. Read Mark 5:25,26 to gain further insight into the woman's suffering.4. What does the healing of this woman reveal to us about Jesus and the work He came to do?
1. What did Jesus do that caused the demons to be so afraid of Jesus?2. Why did they need Jesus' permission to enter the pigs?3. If the demons are under Satan's command, why did they obey Jesus so readily instead of trying to challenge Him?4. How did the villagers who heard and saw Jesus casting out the demons respond to Jesus? What did they ask Him to do?
1. What image comes to your mind when you think of demons? Do you think that image was formed by biblical knowledge or by things that you've heard and seen in the media?2. From your recollection from bible reading, how often do you see demonic activity in the bible? Where is the heaviest concentration of demonic activity recorded in the bible?3. What are some titles or names given to the devil in the bible? What do the names reveal about the way he works?4. Name at least three things that this encounter with the demon posessed man reveal about demonic faith mentioned in James 2:19.
1. What four miracles are mentioned in Luke 8:22-55? What does it teach us about who Jesus is?2. Why did Jesus rebuke the disciples when they came to Jesus for help? What did Jesus accuse them of?3. How did the disciples react when they saw Jesus' power of the storm?