SERMON QUESTIONS

It is our deep conviction that the Bible is not just to be listened to (Deut. 6:4), but studied (2 Tim. 2:15), meditated upon (Ps 1:2), memorized (Ps. 119:11), and, ultimately, applied to our lives (James 1:22). Because of this, our Bible studies revolve around the study, meditation, memorization, and application of God’s inspired Word to our lives. Below are sermon questions that correspond to our Sunday morning teaching, so that we slow down and really take in what God is trying to tell us as a church Ohana. These questions will be discussed at our weekly Bible Studies.

For all answers, use Scripture to support your answer as best as possible.

  1. Read Matthew 11:1–19

  2. What convicts or encourages you in this passage?

  3. Why do you think John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are You the one who is to come?” (Matt. 11:3)? What does this teach us about faith during seasons of doubt or suffering?

  4. Instead of simply answering John's question directly, Jesus points to His works (Matt. 11:4-6). How do these works fulfill Old Testament prophecy, and what do they reveal about Jesus' identity?

  5. Jesus says, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (Matt. 11:6). Why might people be tempted to stumble over Jesus, and how does this warning apply to Christians today?

  6. In Matthew 11:7-15, Jesus gives remarkable praise to John the Baptist. What made John great, and how does his ministry fulfill God's promises concerning the coming Messiah?

  7. Jesus says that “among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist” and yet “the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matt. 11:11). What does this teach us about the privileges of living under the New Covenant?

  8. According to Matthew 11:16-19, how does Jesus describe the generation that rejected both John and Himself? What can we learn about the human heart's tendency to resist God's truth?

  9. The people criticized John for being too strict and Jesus for being too welcoming (Matt. 11:18-19). What does this reveal about the nature of unbelief and the excuses people make to avoid repentance?

  10. Jesus concludes by saying, “Wisdom is justified by her deeds” (Matt. 11:19). What does this mean, and how do the lives and ministries of John and Jesus demonstrate God's wisdom?

Practice

Reflect on areas where God's plans or timing have differed from your expectations. Consider how Jesus' response to John encourages you to trust His character, His Word, and His works even when circumstances are difficult to understand.

Meditation/Memory Verse(s)

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

—Proverbs 3:5–6