QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• Zechariah’s prophecy is a window into the Old Testament through which we may look to see Christ there. Discuss. 
• What Old Testament event are the words “visited” and “redeemed” (in verse 68) to remind us of? How does this Old Testament event help us understand what God would accomplish through Jesus Christ?
• Why does it matter that Jesus was the son of David?
• Why does it matter that Jesus was the son of Abraham?
• Do you marvel at the redemption accomplished by Christ in the way that Zechariah did? Do you give glory to God for it? Discuss.
• Do you know the Old Testament well? What are your plans for Bible reading in 2021?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• Why is it important for the whole church to know what pastors are called to do?
• Why is it so very important that pastors 1) read the scriptures, 2) exhort from the scriptures, 3) teach from the scriptures?
• Why is it so very important that pastors be godly and grow in godliness?
• “For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). Discuss.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• Why might religious leaders be tempted to impose rules and regulations that go beyond the scriptures upon those they lead?
• Why are people drawn to religions that are heavy on rules and regulations?
• What is the doctrine of Christian liberty? Why was it important at the time of the protestant reformation? Why is it still important today?
• Does the doctrine of Christian liberty teach that we are free to sin? 
• Besides the obvious problem of distorting the gospel, what else does the heaping up of rules and regulations rob the Christian of?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• How does knowing what the church is help us to understand how we are to behave (what we are to do) as members in a way that a list of do’s and don’t cannot?
• If the church is God’s household how does this affect our behavior as members?
• If the church is the church of the living God (God’s temple)  how does this affect our behavior as members?
• If the church is a pillar and buttress of the truth how does this affect our behavior as members?
• How does the confession of verse 16 summarize the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ? 
• Do we at Emmaus behave in a way that fits the nature of the church?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• Deacons are not simply servants. They have authority in God’s house. Discuss.
• How does the authority of overseers and deacons differ?
• Where do we go in scripture to  find the establishment of the office of deacon? What does that passage teach us about the job of the deacon?
• Discuss the various ways in which a healthy diaconate blesses the church. 

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• What does it mean to lift “holy hands” up to the Lord in prayer? 
• Why does Paul specify that men need to put away anger and quarreling and that women need to be modest? Why did he specify these sins?
• Should a woman ever braid her hair,  wear gold, pearls, or nice clothing? What then is Paul’s point? Discuss.
• Why does Paul forbid women from teaching or having authority over men in the church? What is his basis? May the church today dismiss these teachings as archaic? Why or why not?
• What does 1 Timothy 2:15 mean? 
• Should Christians be embarrassed about their “traditional” views concerning male/female relations within the church and family? What should they do instead?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• Why is prayer the first thing that Paul urges the church to do?
• What does Paul mean when he says pray “for all people”? What does he not mean?
• What difference does the doctrine of the image of God make when it comes to our view of humanity and the diversity that exists within it?
• Why does Paul emphasize “kings and all who are in high positions”? In other words, why might the Ephesians have neglected to pray for this class of men?
• What does Paul mean when he says that God “desires all people to be saved”? What does he not mean? (Consider the doctrine of election/predestination)
• How does the teaching that there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, complete Paul’s tightly knit argument here in this text?