Discuss
Discover More
Message Discussion Questions
From May 28, 2023
Getting Started
What is one lesson you had to learn the hard way?
Questions from the message
• What are the 3 ways God gives us courage in life as shown in Mark 6? (He leads us, He sees us, and He’s with us)
• Why do you think Jesus chose to walk on the water to get to the disciples’ boat?
• What are some ways God has led you through difficult times in your life?
• Steve mentioned that we often fail to see God working in our lives while in the moment, yet notice how He’s provided in hindsight. Can you think of a time this has happened in your life?
Questions from the Text (Mark 6:45-52)
• When and why did Jesus make His disciples go on ahead of Him? (vs. 45-46)
• How did Jesus respond to the disciples’ needs? (vs. 48)
• How does Jesus ‘passing by’ the disciples reveal His divinity? (see Exodus 33:19-23; 1 Kings 19:11-13)
• How did the disciples react when they saw Jesus walk on the water? (vs. 49)
• Why and when did Peter begin to sink when he walked on the water out to Jesus? (Mt. 14:28-31)
• What didn’t the discipiles understand about the loaves and how does that impact their response here? (vs. 52)
Apply the passage
• How do Jesus’ words, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” help give you strength and encouragement with the things you are facing this week?
• Where was Jesus when He saw the disciples’ struggling on the lake, and why is this important for the story? For you personally?
• Take time to pray for one another.
Message Discussion Questions
From May 21, 2023
Getting Started
Share about a time you encountered someone or something odd and uncomfortable, so you made a point to ignore them and walk past.
Questions from the message
• What’s significant about ‘the other side of the sea’ that Jesus and his disciples have now arrived at? (vs. 1-2)
• In your own words, describe what this demon-possessed man’s life was like? (vs. 2-5)
• How does the man possessed by demons respond to Jesus, and why is this important? (vs. 6-8)
• What’s significant about the name ‘Legion’? (vs. 9)
• What do you make of this incident of the pigs dying? Within the context of the events that day, why do you think Jesus allowed for this to happen? (vs. 10-13)
• Does the resonse from the townspeople surprise you at all? Why? (vs. 14-16)
Questions from the Text (Mark 5:1-20)
• Have you ever had an encounter with with the demonic or something that clearly felt and looked evil? Explain.
• The power of the gospel to interrupt us and restore can be startling and sometimes scary. How have you found this true in your life?
• One of he most amazing parts of this story is that God takes this demon-possessed man’s mess and makes it a message. He becomes an ambassador to tell people of the goodness of God! How have you experienced this in your life?
Apply the passage
• Like the townspeople in Mark 5, what are some areas of comfort that you have been holding onto that God might be asking you to release control of?
• Like the man in Mark 5, how does the fact that you have received mercy create a mission for you to tell others of that mercy? Are there specific people you are praying for and looking for opportunities to share Christ with?
• Take time to pray for one another.
Message Discussion Questions
From May 14, 2023
Getting Started
What is one thing you are thankful for this week and what is one thing we can pray for you this week?
Has there ever been a time in your life where you spiritual growth/faith has been “short circuited”? Explain.
In what way do the worries of this life, the lure or deceitfulness of wealth, and desire for other things crowd out the soil of your heart?
Questions from the message (Mark 4:1-20)
How would you summarize/paraphrase the message in your own words?
What point/idea resonated most with you? Why?
In what way do parables encourage us towards a serious, persistent and perceptive faith? How do parables encourage us to do “the hard work” of examining ourselves without “easy answers or formulas”?
Do you think the soils; rocky, weedy or good are static in our life, or do you think they can become true of us at different stages of our spiritual life with Christ? How?
Why do you think Jesus gives us so little detail on what creates “good soil” in us?
Dave said, Faith and spiritual growth is not about having more information, even the right information, but it happens through illumination. Agree/Disagree?
Read 2 Corinthians 3:14-16; how would Paul and Jesus agree about the issue of coming to understand the truth about Jesus and growing in Him? How does this inform us in how we grow in Christ?
Explore the Passage (Mark 4:1-20)
Where does this story take place? (4:1)
How did Jesus start to teach the crowds? (4:2)
What are the four scenes described in this parable? (4:3-10)
How did those closest to Jesus respond to the parable He told? (4:10)
In what way did Jesus limit His explanation of the parable? (4:11-12)
What problem did this exchange bring up? (4:13)
To what was Jesus referring when He said, “The farmer plants or sows the seed”? (4:14)
What did Jesus want us to understand about God from this parable? (4:14-20)
What are some obstacles that prevent people from accepting the gospel or hanging on to their faith? (4:15-19)
What happens to those who hear the truth about Christ and accept it? (4:20)
Questions from the Text
Knowing that most of the people in the crowd were farmers and Jesus used an illustration from farming, why did many in the audience not understand His message?
When and where do we need to listen carefully?
To what area of your life does this parable speak?
What kind of soil do you think represents you?
What can you do—and not do—to make the message “take root” in yourself or others?
How does Satan “take away the word” before it has a chance to take root?
What troubles or persecutions cause believers to fall away?
How can the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the other desires of the world choke out the life of Jesus in us?
What can you do to increase fruitfulness as a follower of Jesus?
Apply the passage
What do we learn about God and about ourselves in this passage?
How can we pray for each other?
Message Discussion Questions
From May 7, 2023
Getting Started
What is one thing you are thankful for this week and what is one thing we can pray for you this week?
Remind each other of our simple expectations for meeting together.
In what way has someone’s good intentions actually been a barrier to you walking in the footsteps of Jesus?
Questions from the message (Mark 3:20-35)
How would you summarize/paraphrase the message in your own words?
What point/idea resonated most with you? Why?
What idea, context, Scripture do you think could have been expanded on, or included in the message?
Dave made an important implication from this passage… When you look at the life and ministry of Jesus, and how others responded to Him, it often reveals the brokenness, sinfulness, inner conflict and disintegration of our lives.
In what ways can we live a fragmented life that needs the healing and restoration of our Savior?
How can we project onto others, what is really deeply divided within ourselves? What does Jesus want to restore in us?
What does it mean to you when Jesus says, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? How can we experience that on a deeper level within our church family?
Explore the Passage (Mark 3:20-35)
When Jesus enters a house, what did he experience (v. 20)?
Who heard about this and what did they decide to do (v. 21)?
While His family members were on their way, what did the lawyers (Pharisees) declare (v. 22)?
In vv. 23-26, how does Jesus show that their charge is illogical?
In v. 27, who is stronger than the “strong man?”
What does Jesus declare can be forgiven (v. 28)?
What does Jesus declare will not be forgiven (v. 29)?
Why did Jesus say this (v. 30)?
Review v. 21. Who arrives (v. 31)?
What happened next (v. 32)?
What did Jesus say that probably shocked the people (vv. 33-34)?
What is the dividing line (v. 35)?
Questions from the Text
Think About It: Jesus experienced family pressure for Him to rest and stop the craziness. Their intentions were good in that they cared about Him. But, they misread the work He was doing. Has this ever happened to you?
Have you ever looked back at your actions and could say, “I’ve done that”? How? (vv 20-21)
Think About It: They (Pharisees) know the truth and are still choosing against God and are slandering God in the process! He’s doing the miracles. Demons don’t heal people; God does. Who has been getting all the praise for the healings as they happened so far? (vv 22-27)
Think About It: The family of Jesus, now the Pharisees accuse Jesus of being “crazy”. But, the reality is that Jesus, as fully God and fully Human is the only “sane” one in the room. In what way can we live a divided life and then blame others for it?
Let’s define blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Read John 16:8-9 and discuss what it is and is not. In what way have you heard people badly misinterpret this passage? (vv 28-30)
Think About It: This reference to “family” is a foretaste of the Church. Every believer is adopted into God’s family by faith in Jesus. Doing God’s will by responding to Jesus makes you “family.” Your personal response to Jesus is not dependent on your birth and rearing. (v 31-35)
The underlying question Jesus is asking the crowd is this, “Will you follow Me more than the influence of your immediate family?” How will you answer that question?
Apply the passage
What do we learn about God and about ourselves in this passage?
How can we pray for each other?
Message Discussion Questions
From April 30, 2023
Getting Started
What is one thing you are thankful for this week and what is one thing we can pray for you this week?
Remind each other of our simple expectations for meeting together.
In what way have you experienced someone (perhaps yourself included) where someone has failed to separate the “letter of the law” from the “spirit of the law”?
Questions from the message (Mark 2:23-3:6)
How would you summarize/paraphrase the message in your own words?
What point/idea resonated most with you? Why?
What idea, context, Scripture do you think could have been expanded on, or included in the message?
Dave made two important implications from this passage…
- Jesus exposes how we can become more devoted to our love of the law than the needs of others, which reveals how little we understand the heart of the law.
- If you want to know what it means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, watch what He does as much as what He says. If you want to know what it means to follow in the footsteps of a Pharisee, watch what they do as much as what they say. (Jesus says so much in Matt. 23:3).
In what way could we be accused of following in the footsteps of a Pharisee, rather than Jesus in how we live out and apply Scripture in our relationships toward others? How can our devotion to keeping in step with Scripture become an obstacle to God’s greater purposes?
Why is it so important that the application of Scripture/God’s commandments be centered in the heart of the Scripture/commands?
In what way, today, do we need to exercise caution in “getting in bed with Herodians” in order to advance our moral objectives that has nothing to do with advancing the gospel of Jesus?
Quick That Help us Understand the text
- What is the setting of the story, and why is it significant? (2:23)
- What did the disciples do that outraged the Pharisees? (2:24)
- Why did the Pharisees confront Jesus about the actions of His disciples? (2:24)
- What was Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ accusations? (2:25-27)
- According to Jesus, why were the disciples of both David and Jesus justified in breaking the Sabbath? 2:25-27
- Why did Jesus say He was “Lord even of the Sabbath”? (2:28)
- What happened after the confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees? (3:1)
- Why were some of the Pharisees watching Jesus so closely? What was Jesus watching closely? (3:2)
- What was notable about the way Jesus performed this miracle? (3:3)
- Why the use of the word critics, instead of Pharisee? (3:4)
- What was it about the Pharisees that so distressed Jesus? (3:5)
- What significance do you see in the fact that the Pharisees were willing to plot with their enemies, the Herodians, to kill Jesus? (3:6)
Questions from the Text
Where have you seen rules-only spirituality in the church today?
In what areas do you think your church, or ourselves might be following the “letter of the law” rather than the “spirit of the law”?
How should we respond to suggestions that it only matters how closely we keep the letter of the law?
When have you ever experienced a time when the requirements of your Christian faith seemed to conflict with a human need?
What should we do when a requirement of the faith seems to conflict with a human need?
In what areas of your faith do you tend to be to become too rigid with rules or traditions?
What is Jesus’ attitude toward the Sabbath?
In what ways can we can we follow in the footsteps of Jesus and not the Pharisees? (see Matt. 23:3)
What difference does it make that “the Sabbath was made for man”? In what way ought this be a guiding principle in our life?
What is significant about the Pharisees now pursuing a relationship with the Herodians to our day and age?
Apply the passage
What do we learn about God and about ourselves in this passage?
How can we pray for each other?
Message Discussion Questions
From April 23, 2023
Getting Started
• What is one thing you are thankful for this week and what is one thing we can pray for you this week?
• How has your failure to prepare for something been a disaster? Why?
• Looking back at your life, do you see evidence of God using challenges, difficult times, “the wilderness” to prepare you for something else? If so, share.
Questions from the passage (Mark 1:35-45)
• How is Jesus priority of prayer different than that of the disciples based on their reaction? (vs. 35-37)
• Why did Jesus go to an isolated place to pray? (vs. 38-39)
• What motivated Jesus to heal the man with leprosy? (vs. 41)
• What did the leper believe about Jesus based on his response? (vs. 40)
• Why is it surprising and significant that Jesus touches the leprous man? (vs. 41)
• What happened as a result of the leper telling everyone about being healed by Jesus? (vs. 45)
Quick Reactions to the message
• If times of solitary reflection and prayer were necessary for Jesus, how much more so are they for us?
• How would you define compassion?
• Steve mentioned that we are typically more competitive as people rather than compassionate. Do you agree with this? Are you driven by competiton or compassion?
• Is it easy or difficult for you to have compassion for other people?
• How does the pace and busyness of life impact your ability to show compassion to others?
Apply the passage
• Jesus took time to recharge and realign His mission with God. What needs realigning in your life right now?
• In this current season of life, who is God calling you to have compassion for?
• Take time to pray for one another.
Message Discussion Questions
From April 16, 2023
Getting Started
What is one thing you are thankful for this week and what is one thing we can pray for you this week?
How has your failure to prepare for something been a disaster? Why?
Looking back at your life, do you see evidence of God using challenges, difficult times, “the wilderness” to prepare you for something else? If so, share.
Quick Reactions to the message
How would you summarize/paraphrase the message in your own words?
What point/idea resonated most with you? Why?
What idea, context, Scripture do you think could have been expanded on, or included in the message?
Questions from the passage (Mark 1:1-14)
What do Mark’s first words tell us about his Gospel? (1:1)
Who was John the Baptist? (1:2-3)
How was Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled? (1:4)
What were the two aspects of John’s ministry? (1:4)
What had to happen before John could baptize a person? (1:5)
What was John’s attitude toward Jesus? (1:7)
What was the theme of John’s message? (1:7-8)
How did Jesus’ baptism differ from John’s? (1:8)
Who baptized Jesus? Why? (1:9)
What happened after Jesus was baptized? (1:10)
How were the three persons of the Trinity present in this event? (1:10-11)
What did the voice from heaven say about Jesus? (1:11)
Who sent Jesus into the desert for forty days? Why? (1:12-13)
What happened to Jesus in the desert? (1:13)
Under what conditions was Jesus tempted? (1:13)
Questions to help us understand the text
What does the message of Jesus offer to people? How is the gospel, good news?
Imagine what it must have felt like for John the Baptist to stand in front of his Creator. Think about your own Christian life. In what ways has Jesus become too familiar? Do you find yourself taking him for granted? How?
Why do you think John felt unworthy to tie the sandals of Jesus?
What blind-spots, beliefs, or practices can get in the way to knowing Jesus as Mark describes Jesus?
What usually prevents us from being Christ’s witnesses?
In what ways can you prepare others for Christ?
Apply the passage
What do we learn about God and about ourselves in this passage?
How can we pray for each other?
