IBC Richmond

Application Questions: 1. What does Jesus call the scribes and Pharisees? Should Christians use critical names to describe others? Is it okay for a pastor to rebuke this sharply? 2. Which of the seven “woes” are you most vulnerable to being a hypocrite? How can a Christian friend help in this area? 3. Jesus said to his generation, “You will not see me again, until you say, “Blessed is he who comes...

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: 1. Will you be married in heaven? How does this affect your marriage (potential of marriage) on earth? Should this change how you talk about relationships after death and in eternal life? 2. Describe a Christian who loves the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind. Name replicable life habits. 3. How does a Christian love their neighbor as themselves? Who qualifies as a n...

Application Questions: Who can enter God’s kingdom? How does a person enter God’s kingdom? What does it mean to be part of God’s kingdom? What point was Jesus making when he said to the chief priests and elders, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you” (Mt 21:31)? Who are the “people producing its fruits” in Matthew 21:43? What evidence is...

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: What do you make of Jesus riding a donkey? Does this fulfill prophecy? What does it teach us about the Savior? Why did the chief priest and scribes react with indignation when Jesus did wonderful things according to Matthew 21:15? Matthew 21:22 says, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Has this been your experience with prayer? Why does Jes...

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: What does the mother of James and John ask from Jesus? What did she get right? What did she get wrong? Why are the 10 disciples indignant with James and John? What does “indignant” mean (vs. 24)? Is it sinful to be indignant? How have you addressed this attitude in your own heart? In what way should a Christian pattern the way they live after the way Jesus died? How can you...

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: Why does the master pay all workers equally? Is equal pay unfair or a sign of generosity? Since the master promises justice (vs. 4), is he just in his actions? How does this apply to God’s work of salvation? What does the word, “begrudge” mean (vs. 15)? Have you felt like the "all day workers," overlooked by an employer? How will you rescue your heart from “begrudging” them...

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: Is wealth a sign of God’s blessing? Why does Jesus say it is impossible for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven? Sacrifice is necessary to following Jesus. The disciples “left everything and followed” (vs. 27). How have you sacrificed as a Christian? What is the next sacrificial step for you? What can be learned about the Kingdom of God from Matthew 19:23-30? What does J...

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: 1. What is the difference between “getting” eternal life (vs. 16) and “entering” eternal life (vs. 17). Please explain. 2. Why does Jesus only quote five of the 10 Commandments? 3. Did Jesus tell the rich young ruler enough to enter eternal life? 4. The rich young man asked, “What good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Why did Jesus give him something to do, saying, “Go,...

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: 1. How does Jesus handle the Pharisee’s “gotcha question”? What do you learn from Jesus about addressing controversial subjects from a Christian worldview? 2. Is there a danger in proof-texting? Why did Jesus ask, “Have you not read...?” after the Pharisees referenced Deuteronomy 24:1? Discuss ways Christians should be cautious using Bible software, concordances, etc. to cit...

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: 1. What does it mean to forgive a person “seventy-seven times” (Mt 18:22)? How would you apply this to a family member struggling with drug addition or a gambling habit? 2. What is the king’s pity toward the debtor based on? Where does your pity come from? How do you determine when to give and when to withhold? 3. How is the Gospel demonstrated in the parable of the unforgiv...

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: 1. What are the three levels of church discipline? Who are involved at each level? 2. What does it mean to treat an unrepentant brother “as a Gentile and tax collector" (Mt 18:17)? 3. Is church discipline loving? Please explain. Is church discipline practiced in your local church? 4. Who possesses authority to discipline in the church? Where does the authority come from?

Application Questions: 1. Jesus refers to "little children" in Matthew 18:6, 10, 14. Who do they represent? What does God think about disciples? 2. Do Christians have guardian angels? How do you understand the ministry of angels in Matthew 18:10? 3. How radical is your deference towards other Christians in pursuit of discipling? What is an example of “causing someone to sin”? 4. Who are you discip...

Application Questions: 1. Write, in your own words, a complete sentence an answer to the disciples’ question, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2. Who is great? How is greatness defined by culture? How is greatness redefined by Jesus? 3. Why does Jesus use a child to illustrate the principle of humility? 4. What daily habits will assist you in growing in humility? By what steps are y...

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: What was the Temple Tax in the Old Testament (Ex 30:11-16; Neh 10:32-33)? Who disagreed with it and why? What do you learn about Jesus’ deity when Jesus pays his taxes? Does the Bible require Christians to pay their taxes? How does an answer influence filing taxes, using tax loopholes, or reporting charitable contributions? Jesus paid his taxes in order “not to give offense”...

Application Questions: Do you ask God for mercy? What need, relationship, dilemma requires God’s intervention in your behalf? Pause and pray earnestly to God out of your helplessness. What is small faith (Mt 17:20)? Why does Jesus disparage small faith then commend faith the size of a small mustard seed? What staggering promise does Jesus make to his disciples? What does it mean for a Christian wh...

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 Fathe...

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...

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 th...

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’ mi...

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...

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...

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 no...

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”? Wha...

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...

Application Questions: 1. What is an Apostle? Why are Jesus’ 12 disciples called apostles in Mt 10:2? Is the Apostolic office active day? why or why not? 2. Why did Jesus send the Apostles only to Israel with the Kingdom message (Mt 10:5-7) and not to the Gentiles? 3. Have you suffered in the ways Jesus describes in Mt 10? How, why, or why not? 4. What are three reasons Jesus appeals to disciples...