Community Group Sermon Questions

Persecuted for Righteousness Sake –Matthew 5:10-12– Blue Bible Page # 958

Connecting with each other QUESTIONS (Belonging):

  1. How clued in are you to the reality of Christian persecution in the world?
  1. Now that you know a bit more about it, how do you react to the news?
  1. Have you ever been persecuted for being a Christian? Describe that time.

Connecting with the Bible QUESTIONS (Discipleship):

  • Read 2 Timothy 3:12
  1. What does this verse promise us?
  1. How does this contribute to our understanding of persecution?
  • Read Matthew 5:10-12
  1. What does it mean to be persecuted for righteousness or because of Jesus?
  1. How can you tell the difference between someone being persecuted and someone being persecuted for righteousness or because of Jesus?
  1. If you are being persecuted, what would a heavenly reward look like?
  1. What was significant about Jesus linking His persecuted followers with God’s prophets throughout history?

Connecting with our world QUESTIONS (Care)

  • Application

1.How important is hope in the midst of suffering and persecution?

2.Pastor Jim said, “How we live TODAY is completely shaped by the HOPE we have for TOMORROW.” Do you agree or disagree? How does this relate to how we face suffering and persecution?

3.Why is it important to know we are not alone in the midst of suffering and persecution? How does this contribute to our hope?

4.How does knowing that we are becoming more like Jesus in the midst of suffering and persecution give us hope?

5.Tim Keller said, “Jesus Christ suffered, not so that we would never suffer but so that when we suffer we would be like him.” How do you react to this idea?

6.Brother Yun, a persecuted pastor from China, wrote, “Don’t pray for persecution to stop! We shouldn’t pray for a lighter load to carry, but a stronger back to endure! Then the world will see that God is with us, empowering us to live in a way that reflects his love and power.” Does that statement surprise you? What do you learn from it?

7.Instead of knowing how it will all work out and why you are having to go through it in the first place, is it enough for you to have grace enough to just get through the moment or the day? How does God want to work in you in this area?

8.How does God want you to live with a hope-filled focus TODAY knowing that the best is yet to come TOMORROW?

  • Impacting our world

1.In what ways are you experiencing persecution in any form because of righteousness/Jesus? How can your group advise and support you?

2.If no one in your group is experiencing any kind of persecution, should this be a cause for concern? How can your group challenge each other to be more boldly, publicly and unashamedlystanding for Jesus?

Closing Prayer:
Key Prayer Concerns Facing Our Church

  1. That the Holy Spirit’s power would be unleashed in our worship services, in our Community Groups and in every facet of our ministry together. I believe we will see people convicted of sin and called to repentance. I believe we will see a spiritual hunger and thirst to know God and for His righteousness to be demonstrated in our lives.
  1. That God would give us as a church a love for people far from God in ways we have never possessed before along with a “whatever it takes” attitude to serve them. People will then step out of comfort zones to serve and they will sacrifice their agendas and preferences for the needs of others. They will also practice hospitality to the stranger in all-encompassing ways until those strangers become friends.
  1. That God would give us opportunities to invest in the lives of family, friends and even total strangers for the sake of the Gospel. We will have a deep desire to be used by God to demonstrate and proclaim Jesus. We will engage in conversations that honor God and point people to Him. We will see God use us to invite people into spiritual conversations and even church events that might lead them to Christ.
  1. That God would stretch our faith and provide for us in spiritual power to protect and bless current and future leaders so they can lead us to take radical risks to stretch ourselves for the mission our Church has to make disciples of Jesus Christ. We need God’s power to protect all of us, but especially our leaders, from spiritual attack and to give us the wisdom and discernment to lead well with absolute obedience to God.
  1. That we will receive God’s favor to provide needed resources to carry out the mission He has called us to. That means praying specifically for the sale of the Burke building, but also for needed resources to carry on and expand the future ministry God has for us.