Category: Campobello Community Church

THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING FEAST – Matthew 22:1-4 (the Invitation)

1. Where is the most unusual place that you have attended a wedding?
2. What is your favorite thing about a wedding?
3. In this parable, Jesus told a story about a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
   1. Who do you think the king represents?
   2. Who does the king’s son represent?
   3. Who do the king’s servants represent?
   4. Who are the invited guests?
4. What were the king’s servants commissioned to do (Matthew 22:3)?
5. Why were the first invitees unwilling to attend (Matthew 22:3)?
6. Why do you think they declined such an offer?
7. What were the next servants instructed to say to those invited to the wedding (Matthew 22:4)?
8. Why did they “up sell” the invitation (Matthew 22:4)?
9. How sad is the response given in Matthew 22:5?
10. How is our Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) like the commission of these servants?
11. How is the obedience of the kings’ servants an example for us to follow?
12. Throughout this entire story, the king’s servants were faithful to their mission. As followers of Christ, what is our mission today?
13. How faithful are we to that mission?
14. Have you ever responded to the mission in a similar way?
    1. Unwilling to answer the call?
    2. Paying no attention by ignoring the call?
15. What keeps people from accepting Jesus’ invitation of everlasting life?
16. What events led to your acceptance of Jesus’ offer of forgiveness and heaven?
17. What prevents you from being “all-in” to God’s call on your life?
18. How can our community of faith help us to be more faithful to our mission?
19. In what ways do you believe that God’s mission is optional? (Like it is for God’s chosen few, but not for me).
20. In what area(s) of your life have you been putting off a response to what God has asked you to do?
21. What response should you give to God this week?
22. Are you hearing the invitation?
23. To what individuals this week can you extend Jesus’ offer of forgiveness and everlasting life?

THE PARABLE OF THE TENANTS – MATTHEW 21:33-46

1. If you could travel anywhere in the world (and money was no issue), where would you go? Why?
2. If you were an absentee landlord and had to find a trustworthy tenants, what would you seek?
3. In what way does each of these hurt: being told an uncomfortable truth, and being told a lie?
4. What attitudes in others make you want to be mean instead of nice?
5. Who is the landowner in this parable?
6. What does the vineyard in this parable represent?
7. Who do the tenants of the parable symbolize?
8. Who re the servants in this parable?
9. Who is the son in this parable?
10. What corresponds to the son’s death?
11. What does it mean for the horrible tenants to be removed?
12. What is ironic about Matthew 21:42-44?
13. How would you feel if you were extremely kind and giving to someone for a long time and that person repeatedly scorned your kindness?
14. At whom does Jesus address this parable?
15. Why don’t they arrest Jesus?
16. Why don’t they repent and follow Jesus?
17. Who is going to receive the kingdom in Matthew 21:43?
18. Why does Christ’s kindness often fail to impress people?
19. Does God’s Word soften your heart like wax or harden your heart like clay?
20. What are some ways we react when God’s Word convicts us or tells us to take demanding, difficult, or risky steps?
21. In what area of your life do you tend to resist God’s authority?
22. At different times in your life, how have you responded to Jesus?
23. Have you ever felt like you deserved God’s kingdom?
24. In you life, is Jesus like a capstone (the highest point of the building) or a millstone (a weight that drags you down)? In what ways?
25. With whom do you most identify in this story?
26. What is one practical step you can take to submit to God and obey His Word this week?
27. Today or tomorrow, how can you show God your appreciation for His goodness toward you?

JESUS’ AUTHORITY QUESTIONED (Matthew 21:23-27)

1. What comes to mind when you hear the word “authority”?
2. Why are people so resistant to authority?
3. What were the only two possible answers the religious leaders could give? (21:25–26)
4. What was the drawback to claiming that John’s ministry was divinely inspired? (21:25)
5. What was the risk of claiming that John had no divine authority? (21:26)
6. What do you think is behind many people’s “confrontations” with Jesus?
7. Why do we feel threatened when someone challenges our beliefs or actions as Christians?
8. How do we typically feel when our motives are exposed as selfish?
9. How can religious traditions, rules, and habits sometimes blind us to the truth?
10. What are some ways we outright defy what Jesus has said?
11. In what ways do we try to rationalize our way out of submitting to Christ’s authority?
12. How does pride keep us from acknowledging our mistakes?
13. In what area of your life do you need to submit to Jesus’ authority today?
14. How can you humble yourself before God today?

THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS (Matthew 21:28-32)

1. What is the best illustration you’ve ever seen of the old saying, “Actions speak louder than words”?
2. In what ways can knowledge be dangerous?
3. What question did Jesus ask His audience at the end of the parable? (21:31)
4. Who did Jesus claim would be in heaven before the religious leaders in His audience? (21:31)
5. How did the religious leaders respond to John’s message? (21:32)
6. If the Jewish religious leaders were trained in the Law and familiar with the Old Testament, why did they oppose Jesus?
7. Why doesn’t religious knowledge or information guarantee that we’ll be godly?
8. If Jesus really is the King of kings and Lord of lords, why do we often drag our feet doing what He has told us to do?
9. What does it mean to repent?
10. If, as Jesus claimed, many “unrighteous” people will enter the kingdom of God, and many “righteous” people won’t, what does that say to you about God’s system of justice?
11. When is it too late to do the right thing?
12. What step can you take this week toward correcting a mistake?
13. What command of Christ that you have been neglecting do you need to obey today?

THE PARABLE OF THE WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD

Discuss It – Matthew 20:1-16

1. What do you think of deathbed or death-row conversions?
2. What is the most generous thing anyone has ever done for you?
3. Who is the best employer you ever had? Why?
4. Who was the central character in this parable? (Matthew 20:1)
5. What wages were agreed upon by the landowner and his hired hands? (Matthew 20:2)
6. In the parable, what happened at about 9:00 a.m.? (Matthew 20:3)
7. What wage was agreed upon between the landowner and his workers? (Matthew 20:4)
8. How many additional times did the landowner go out and hire workers? (Matthew 20:5–6)
9. What explanation did the last group of workers give when asked why they were standing around doing nothing? (Matthew 20:7)
10. What happened to the last group of workers? (Matthew 20:7)
11. What did the landowner tell his foreman at the end of the day? (Matthew 20:8)
12. What wages did the workers hired at the eleventh hour receive? (Matthew 20:9)
13. What did the landowner pay to the men who worked all day? (Matthew 20:10)
14. How did the workers respond to the landowner’s system of payment? (Matthew 20:11–12)
15. What rationale did the landowner give for his actions? (Matthew 20:13–15)

Apply It

1. In what ways does God’s grace seem unfair?
2. How do our cultural values resist the idea of grace?
3. Why is it dangerous to compare your own situation with someone else’s?
4. How would you answer the argument that God isn’t fair in the way He forgives?
5. How does it make you feel to know that heaven will include ex-murderers, former child molesters, and people who put their trust in Christ only minutes before death?
6. What would happen if God gave each of us what we deserve?
7. How can focusing on God’s grace in our lives keep us from becoming jealous of others?
8. What can you do today to help someone who needs God’s grace begin to understand the love of God?
9. In what way can you say thank you to God every day this week for his amazing grace in your life?
10. In what way could you help a new Christian get oriented to life in the Master’s kingdom sometime in the next month?

THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS – Revelation 2:1-9

1. If Jesus were to write a letter to our church, what do you think He’d say?
2. If Jesus were to write you a personal letter, for what would He commend you, and in what ways would He correct you?
3. What do your actions say about who or what is most important in your life?
4. What do you think Christ meant when He said, “You have forsaken your first love”?
5. What does it mean to repent?
6. What about our faith are we prone to “outgrow”?
7. At what time in your life did you feel closest to God or the most dedicated to God?
8. How would you assess the health of your relationship with Christ right now?
9. What can cause us to lose our love for God?
10. How can we keep our commitment to Christ from waning over time?
11. Besides knowing all the right answers and doing all the right activities, what do we need for spiritual vitality?

THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA – Revelation 2:8-11

1. What is significant about the title Christ gave Himself (“the First and the Last, who died and came to life again”)?
2. How can a person in poverty be considered rich?
3. In your view, which is worse—physical or verbal persecution? Why?
4. If you had been in Smyrna about to suffer for your faith, how comforted would you feel with this revelation from Christ?
5. What kinds of persecution do Christians face today?
6. What kinds of persecution do you think would most tempt you to deny Christ?
7. What kinds of persecution have you faced for your faith?
8. How can the eternal promises of God give us courage and strength in the face of attacks on our stand for Christ?

THE CHURCH AT PERGAMUM – Revelation 2:12-17

1. What does it mean that Christ has a “sharp, double-edged sword”?
2. How does it make you feel to realize that Jesus wields a sword?
3. What should it mean to us that Jesus doesn’t overlook sin, even if we are doing lots of good deeds?
4. In what ways could it be said that Satan lives in your city?
5. How does sin in others affect us?
6. What “little” sins do we tend to allow into our life-style and habits?
7. What is the best way to deal with Christians (whether real or false) who circulate unbiblical ideas?
8. What are some potential problems for churches that discipline members publicly?
9. What does repentance have to do with following Christ?
10. How can we resist the influence of the world around us?
11. What do you think it means that we will get new names for persevering with Christ?

THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA – Revelation 2:18-29

1. What are some things people make idols (gods) of today?
2. What does it mean that Christ’s eyes were “like blazing fire”?
3. What sins do we tend to tolerate in our own lives or in the lives of our Christian friends when we should not?
4. What dangers do we face when we refuse to respond to God or repent of our sins?
5. What value is there in choosing to remain ignorant of certain evil ideas and practices?
6. When we are misled by others, what can we do to correct our mistakes? How?
7. When should we take responsibility for the errors of others in the church? How?
8. What have you been tolerating in your life that you need to reject and change?

THE CHURCH AT SARDIS – Revelation 3:1-6

1. How can a person know if his or her name is in the Book of Life?
2. What do you think is your reputation among your coworkers? Neighbors? People at church?
3. When in your life has your reputation been misleading? How?
4. How can a church appear to be alive and thriving and yet be dead?
5. In what way do we “soil our clothes”?
6. What does it mean to be “dressed in white”?
7. What advice would you give to a young Christian who asked, “How can I keep from sinning?”
8. Why isn’t it enough just to know what God wants from us?
9. What does it mean to “overcome” as a Christian?
10. In what specific areas of Christian devotion (Bible reading, evangelism, prayer, etc.) have you been lazy or sleepy over the last month?

THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA – Revelation 3:7-13

1. What do you think about the idea that the world is getting better and better?
2. What difference does it make to you that Christ is “holy and true”?
3. How can we obey Christ and keep standing up for Him even when we are physically exhausted?
4. How might you persuade a friend that Christ is the ultimate power in the universe?
5. What can we do to prepare for Christ’s return?
6. Why can we rejoice even when we are persecuted by hostile anti-God forces?
7. Who are some of the “pillars” of your church (faithful, godly members who give their full support)?
8. Why are some Christians seemingly more able or better equipped to “endure patiently”?
9. What advice would you give to a Christian friend who expressed physical exhaustion and a lack of spiritual strength?

THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA – Revelation 3:14-22

1. What do we know about the Laodicean Christians from the fact that Jesus described Himself as being outside the door?
2. What are some ways people in our society are deceived?
3. What does it mean that Jesus “stands at the door and knocks”?
4. How can a person “invite Jesus in” and eat with Him?
5. What is a hot Christian, a cold Christian, or a lukewarm Christian?
6. What does a lukewarm Christian act like?
7. In what ways can a person be religious yet indifferent to what God wants?
8. What should we do to be hot in our devotion to God?
9. How much stock do we tend to put in our own resources (especially money and things)?
10. What is the significance of the phrase, “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear …” at the end of each of the letters to the churches?
11. What can we learn about the Lord’s character based on His strong words to the Laodicean church?
12. Which of the seven churches described in Revelation 2:1–3:22 are you most like? Why?
13. What can we do to listen more closely to Christ?
14. How can we pray to invite Christ into all areas of our lives?

THE PARABLE OF THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT

Discuss It – Matthew 18:21-35

1. What makes forgiveness difficult?
2. What acts of mercy have you seen or heard about recently?
3. What are some situations others have faced that you would find difficult to forgive?
4. In the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, what did the king want to do? (Matthew 18:23)
5. How was the king prepared to get the large amount of money owed him by a particular servant? (Matthew 18:24–25)
6. How did the king graciously respond to the indebted servant’s desperate plea? (Matthew 18:27)
7. What did the servant go do after his debt was cancelled? (Matthew 18:28)
8. How did the king react to the news he heard? (Matthew 18:32–34)
9. How did Jesus apply this parable to His followers? (Matthew 18:35)

Apply It

1. How likely are we to forgive someone once, twice, or even three times?
2. How likely are people to forgive someone beyond three times?
3. How are we to interpret Jesus’ answer, “seventy-seven times”?
4. Why is an unforgiving spirit so deadly?
5. In what ways has God shown mercy in forgiving our sins?
6. If God is so willing to forgive us, why are we sometimes unwilling to forgive others?
7. How do we sometimes forgive with strings attached?
8. What should we do if we don’t feel like forgiving others?
9. How is it possible for us to forgive the wrongs others have done to us?
10. What individual(s) do you need to “release from their debts” today?
11. What are some practical ways you can show mercy today to someone who has wronged you?

A BROTHER SINS AGAINST YOU

Discuss It – Matthew 18:15-20

1. What are some typical approaches people adopt in conflicts or disagreements?
2. What societal forces work to divide families, friendships, and churches?
3. What is it like to be in the middle of a church split?
4. What situation was Jesus addressing in this context? (Matthew 18:15)
5. What did Jesus set forth as the first step in resolving conflict? (Matthew 18:15)
6. What positive consequences can result from resolving conflict? (Matthew 18:15)
7. What should we do if a person will not listen to correction and does not want to work things out? (Matthew 18:16)
8. What Old Testament principle is in view here? (Matthew 18:16)
9. What did Jesus say to do if a person doing wrong won’t listen to correction? (Matthew 18:17)
10. What extreme measures should be used if a wrongdoer turns a deaf ear to all pleas to reconcile? (Matthew 18:17)
11. How can Christians and/or churches be certain they have authority to exercise discipline? (Matthew 18:18)
12. What assurance did Jesus give His disciples about answered prayer? (Matthew 18:19)
13. What special promise did Jesus make to groups that gather in His name? (Matthew 18:20)

Apply It

1. Why is it best to resolve conflicts in private?
2. What attitudes can eliminate or help reduce friction in disagreements?
3. How can a third party help resolve a conflict?
4. When should we air our grievances in public?
5. How can gossip cause our conflicts to escalate?
6. How can our church play a role in difficult or very serious quarrels?
7. What biblical principles can you practice today so as to avoid conflicts with others?
8. To what relationships or in what specific ways do you need to apply today’s passage?
9. What seemingly hopeless situation will you begin praying for today?

Discuss It – Revelation 5:9-14

1. Why are we so hesitant to learn new songs?
2. What was the biggest and most electric crowd of which you were ever a part?
3. What foreign language were you first exposed to? When and how?
4. How did the creatures around the throne respond to the actions of the Lamb? (Revelation 5:8–9)
5. For what was the Lamb praised and worshiped? (Revelation 5:9–10)
6. How many angels did John see? (Revelation 5:11)
7. What were the angels doing? (Revelation 5:12)
8. What were all the other living creatures doing and singing? (Revelation 5:13)
9. How is this chapter meaningful or inspirational for the Christians reading this in Asia minor in the first century?

Apply It

1. What did Christ do for us?
2. How is Jesus both the Lion and the Lamb?
3. What evidence do we have from this passage that God makes no distinction between races or ethnic groups?
4. Why should we value people of all races equally and treat everyone with equal respect?
5. Who in your sphere of influence needs to know about Christ?
6. What is the benefit of bowing down to worship God?
7. What expressions of worship have been especially meaningful to you?
8. How can we serve God as His priests?
9. What does this vision say to us as we view our out-of-control world?
10. How can you worship God in your private times of prayer this week?
11. How can you develop an attitude of praise and thanksgiving to God as you go throughout your day?

JESUS PREDICTS HIS DEATH

Discuss It – Matthew 16:21-28

1. What are some ways people try to “find themselves”?
2. What is the most surprised you have ever been?
3. What is the best reward you’ve ever received?
4. What did Christ begin telling His disciples would eventually happen to Him? (Matthew 16:21)
5. How did Christ say He would suffer? (Matthew 16:21)
6. who did Christ say would oppose Him and make Him suffer? (Matthew 16:21)
7. What did Christ say would happen after He was killed? (Matthew 16:21)
8. How did Peter react to the news that Jesus would suffer and die? (Matthew 16:22)
9. How did Jesus characterize Peter’s objections? (Matthew 16:23)
10. What is required of the one who would follow Jesus? (Matthew 16:24)
11. What two ways can a person lose his or her life? (Matthew 16:25)
12. A person’s soul is more valuable than what? How? (Matthew 16:26)
13. What did Jesus say would happen after His death and resurrection? (Matthew 16:27)
14. What will happen after Christ returns? (Matthew 16:27)
15. What did Jesus promise His disciples? (Matthew 16:28)

Apply It

1. How would you live differently if you knew exactly when and how you were going to die?
2. How does it make you feel to realize that Jesus willingly died for your sins?
3. If a person’s soul is worth more than the whole world, how ought that affect the way we spend our time?
4. What would change in your life if you denied yourself for Christ’s sake?
5. What does it mean to you to “take up your cross” and follow Jesus?
6. In what situations do you find it difficult to follow Christ?
7. How should eternal rewards motivate us to live for Christ?
8. What do you need to do this week to center your thoughts on the things of God?
9. What is one way you can deny yourself today for Christ’s sake?
10. What change in your weekly schedule could you make to better reflect what God considers important?

PETER’S CONFESSION OF CHRIST

Discuss it – Matthew 16:13-20

1. If you could ask any person any question, whom would you ask, and what would you want to know?
2. In what ways do you consider yourself blessed?
3. How would you describe an ideal church?
4. What pointed personal question did Christ ask His followers? (Matthew 16:15)
5. Why was Peter blessed? (Matthew 16:17)
6. In what way is coming to faith and understanding the gospel a supernatural event? (Matthew 16:17)
7. What did Jesus promise about the Church? (Matthew 16:18)
8. What are some common views of Jesus among our generation?
9. Who do you say Jesus is?
10. What happened the first time you spoke publicly about your faith in Christ?
11. What difference does it make what we believe about Jesus?
12. What forces try to hinder God’s work today?
13. Why should churches not be discouraged in their efforts to carry out God’s work?

Apply It

1. Recall the first time you confessed Jesus as your Savior and Lord. How did you feel? Who did you tell? What difference does it make in your life?
2. How do you answer that question that Jesus asked Peter?
3. What part in the building of Christ’s church do you have now?
4. What can you do or say to help a friend overcome an erroneous idea about Jesus this week?
5. What are three ways you could make a public statement of your faith in Christ?