Berean Sunday Sermons

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.

1. What is the connection between eldership and fatherhood?2. Why did Paul choose these specific qualities for an elder? What task is he being called to that would require these characters?3. If a leader needs to be above reproach in all things how will anyone really qualify for this task?

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?