IBC Richmond

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. 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 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. 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. 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: 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: 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: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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...