Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

• Tell the Group of a significant accomplishment in your life?
• What is one thing that gives you satisfaction?
• What is one thing you are good at? How did you get that skill?

Study

Read the following verses and share your responses to the questions below:

Psalm 19.1-6

• In what ways has creation reminded you of the presence of the Creator?

Colossians 1.16-17

• With these verses in mind, what image of Jesus do you have?
• Knowing that the universe is so immense, what does that say about our God (Jesus)?

1 Kings 8.22-26

• In what ways do you see God as being “unique”?

2 Samuel 22.1-3

• How is God your: rock; fortress; deliverer; shield; horn of falvation; stronghold?

John 20.27-29

• Why do you think Thomas wanted to touch Jesus’ nail prints and side?
• When he encountered Jesus, why do you think he used the word, “MY” in his expression?

Deuteronomy 6.4

• Why is it important to remember that God is OUR God, not just A God; The God; or My God?

Apply

• How has your view of God changed over the years?
• Which attribute(s) of God are most appealing to you now?
• Why do you think understanding the history of a culture (such as Israel) is helpful to the present? To the future?
• What does it take to grasp an understanding of who God is and what he wants us to do?

Open

Please discuss with your Group your response to one of the following:

• What are you like when awakened from a deep sleep?
• What project do you most want to complete (home or work)? What will it take to finish it?

Study

Please read Zechariah 4.1-10 and share your responses to the following:

• What do the symbols of the vision represent? (vv. 3, 14; Revelation 11.3-4)

• Golden Lampstand
• Bowl of Oil
• Olive Trees
• Capstone
• Plumb Line

Apply

• Why do you think our strength cannot be in our numbers or our money?
• How hard is it for you to trust in the intangible (God) over the tangible (our church’s size; our finances)?
• What is the correlation between our trials and our dependence on God?
• What are some ways you can definitely say God has directed your steps? What did you accomplish when He did?
• In what ways was the rebuilding of the temple a beginning, not an end?

Open

Please discuss your responses to one of the following:

• What is the most powerful storm you have witnessed? How did you feel?
• As a teenager, what did you not like about yourself that you changed?

Study

Read Romans 1.16-17 and discuss the following

• Why do you think the FACTS of the gospel are important as in 1 Corinthians 15.3-4?
• How do: Facts-Understanding-Action interrelate?
• How does Paul express his personal transformation by saying, “I am not ashamed of the gospel?”
• In what ways does the gospel “Re-Form” us – even after we are believers in Jesus?
• In what ways is the gospel good news? In what ways could it be bad news?
• How would you explain verse 17 to someone who does not speak “Christian-ese”?

Apply

• How have you seen the gospel change people?
• How has the gospel changed you? How is this change a process? How is it instantaneous?
• What failure in your life can you look back on and NOW see good from?

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

1. What is the hardest “good-bye” you have had to make? What made it hard?
2. If you could give one piece of advice, what would it be?

Study

Please read 1 Corinthians 15.3-11 and discuss the following with your group:

1. How would you describe the facts of the gospel?
2. Why do you think the scriptures were at the center of Jesus’ proofs of his resurrection?
3. What is so important about so many eyewitnesses to Jesus’ resurrection?
4. Which people in Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances are most significant to you?
5. What makes you think this was not a hoax?
6. Why does Paul emphasize “grace” in verses 9-11?

Apply

1. If you had been an advisor to Jesus during the 40 days he spent with his disciples after the resurrection, what things would you have encouraged him to teach? Why?
2. If you had been one of the people who had literally seen Jesus after the resurrection, how do you think you would have reacted?
3. Knowing Jesus is alive, how do you react?
4. When hearing the accounts and evidences of Jesus’ resurrection, how do you respond?
5. If you were to explain the gospel to an interested friend, what would you say?

Open

Share your response to one of the following:

1. What is your idea of a great party?
2. Tell of a tradition in your family and what it means to you.

Study

Please Read 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 and discuss the following

1. In what ways do you see the ancient feasts of God (Leviticus 23) as pointing to Jesus?
2. What is significant in the Passover about Jesus? What parallels do you see in the original purpose of Passover and its symbolism in Jesus?
3. What is significant in the Feast of Unleavened Bread? How does this speak to the body of Jesus?
4. What is significant in the Feast of First Fruits?
5. Why do you think the resurrection of Jesus is so important?

Apply

Read Romans 6.1-4 – what is the result of following Jesus?

1. In what ways are you like a chameleon? In what ways are you different?
2. How can you encourage your fellow believers to “stand out” in the crowd as disciples of Jesus?

Matthew 21.1-9; Mark 11.1-10; Luke 19.28-44; John 12.12-16

Open

Please share your answer to ONE of the following:

1. What do you like best about parades? Least?
2. When purchasing an important item, what is your criterion for selection?
3. What makes you cry?

Study

Please read John 12.12-16 (or another selection from above) and discuss the following with your Group:

1. In what ways do you see this as Jesus’ “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem?
2. How does this scene depict God’s selection for HIS Passover sacrifice?
3. How do you think this Passover impacted the Father? The Son?
4. What do you think is the significance of the “Hosannas” that the crowd was shouting?
5. Jesus expressed great emotions (as weeping over Jerusalem; anger in clearing the temple), which one(s) surprise(s) you?
6. What is significant about the Donkey on which he rode? (see also Zechariah 9.9)

Apply

1. What kind of reception would Jesus get if he came to our town?
2. How has Jesus ridden into your life?
3. In addition to sin, what areas of your life do you need him to step in and save?
4. How do you envision the NEXT coming of Jesus? What is significant about Philippians 2.9-11?

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

• Share a way in which you dealt with a stressful situation this week.
• What is the best (or worst) trip you have ever taken?
• How have you been recruited for volunteer ministries?

Study

Please read Isaiah 6.1-13 and discuss:

• What could be the significance of Isaiah mentioning the year that King Uzziah died in relationship to his vision?
• Why do you think God chooses to reveal himself to Isaiah?
• What things in this revelation are the most striking to you? How would you have felt in seeing it?
• What does this encounter tell you about the nature and purpose of God?
• What significance do you see in Isaiah’s response in verse 5 compared to verse 8?
• What would be the impact of Isaiah’s work?
• What is key about the last half of verse 13?

Apply

• How does your experience with God compare to Isaiah’s? To the people to whom he was to preach?
• If you were Isaiah, which of your senses would be most impacted by the vision? (i.e., sight; sound; etc.)
• If the members of your HOME Group “responded to the invitation” Sunday morning and said, “Here we are, send us!” What reaction do you think there would be?
• What is something you are learning about God (either from this lesson or in other ways)? How are you responding to it?

Open

Please share your response to one of the following with your group:

1. What key experience have you had in answered prayer that you can share with the Group?
2. For fun, recite any prayers you memorized as a child?

Study

Please read Luke 11:1-4 and discuss:

1. Why do you think the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray?
2. Why do you think they did not ask about teaching or preaching or healing, etc.?
3. What significance do you see in calling God, “Father” and in “hallowing” his name?
4. What is key to you about DAILY bread?
5. How do you see prayer and forgiveness relating?
6. How do you feel about the brevity of this prayer (see also Matthew 6:9-13)?

Apply

1. How does this prayer relate to your prayers?
2. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your prayer life?
3. What are areas you wish to improve? What can you do improve these?
4. How has your concept of prayer changed over the years?
5. When do you feel that God is NOT listening?
6. What issue are you facing that the Group can pray for right now?

Open

Discuss one of the following with your Group:

• How do you feel when someone asks you to keep a secret? Can you tell of a time that keeping the secret was especially difficult?
• Who is your favorite fictional detective? What is special about him/her?

Study

Read Romans 16.25-27 and discuss the following with your Group:

• How would you summarize the “Gospel” to someone? Would you emphasize the facts, commands, or promises? Why?
• In what ways do you think the gospel is more than just about heaven?
• In what ways can you say the gospel is, “My Gospel”?
• In Luke 24.13-35, Jesus meets two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus. Why do you think they do not recognize him at first? What caused them to finally know it was the Lord? What was significant about their actions once they realized they had been with Jesus?
• Why do you think it was a surprise to bring Gentiles into the church?
• How do you think obeying God brings him glory?
• How would you define “glory”?

Apply

• What are the best ways for you to show the gospel in your life? What are positive things you do and negative things you avoid?
• Aside from heaven, what is your favorite promise of the gospel? How does your life reflect this promise?
• How do you stay focused on the big picture of the gospel?

Open

Please share your response to ONE of the following with your Group:

1. If we surveyed your friends from High School, what two adjectives would they use to describe you?
2. Tell us something you have learned about yourself this year.
3. What is the greatest peer pressure you felt as a teen? As an adult? How did/are you handling it?

Study

Please read Matthew 16.13-20 and discuss the following with your Group:

1. If you were to describe Jesus in one or two words, what would you say?
2. Why do you think Jesus asked what others were saying about him?
3. What is the significance of the list of individuals that people thought Jesus might be?
4. What is significant about Peter’s confession?
5. How do you think the Father revealed this to Peter?
6. What is/are the rock(s) on which Jesus would build his church?
7. How is the church a spiritual temple? How are we living stones in that temple?
8. Please respond to this quote: “We should attempt things so great that they are doomed to failure unless God intervenes.” (Henry Blackaby)

Apply

1. What is good or bad about hearing what others say about Jesus?
2. In what ways is this inconsequential?
3. Who is Jesus to you?
4. Having answered the above question, what does this imply for your life? (Stewardship; Scripture-based Judgments)