​Community Group Discussion Guide
Gospel of Mark Project – The Lamp
Icebreakers:

1. Were you afraid of the dark as a child?  (Why do you think that many children are afraid of the dark?)
2. How do you feel about darkness as an adult? 
3. Do you prefer an environment with lots of light, or do you prefer the lights low?  (Why?)

Mark 4:21-25 NASB95
And He was saying to them, “ A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? [22] For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. [23] If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” [24] And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. [25] For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”
The Big Idea: It is rather challenging to work effectively in total darkness.  Light gives us the ability to see what we need to see in order to proceed with whatever we are wanting to accomplish.  When it comes to the spiritual aspects of our lives, the light of Jesus acts as a mighty contrast to the spiritual darkness of this earth.  Without a doubt, Jesus is the light of the world.  John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 
 
Digging Deeper:
Section 1: Jesus tells the parable of the lamp.
[21] “ A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? [22] For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.

• What is the obvious purpose of bringing a lamp into a room?  (Do you take the availability of electric lighting for granted?)
• What do you think the lamp represented in the parable?
• What was it about the “lamp” that would be revealed in the future?

Three ideas concerning the identity of the Lamp:

• The Lamp represents Jesus: John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 

• The Lamp represents the Church: Matthew 5:14-16 as a proof text: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; [15] nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  [16] Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
• The Lamp is the Revelation that Jesus is the Christ: Mark 8:27-29 Jesus asked them, “Who do people say that I am?” [28] They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.” [29] And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

Opinion: All three of these concepts are “tied” together.  Jesus is the light.  The Church is an extension of Jesus’ light.  The Revelation of Jesus as the Christ is a message of light.
Section 2: Jesus gives a warning.
[23] If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” [24] And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. [25] For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

• Why should we be careful to what we are listening to?  (What are some of the subjects and contemporary issues that could take our focus off the mission of the church?)
• If we stray away from lifting up the lamp, what are some of the possible consequences?

Wrap-up: What can we take away from the Parable of the Lamp.

• What really stands out to me is the need for the Church to stay on point when it comes to our mission.  There are many “good” causes that we could commit our effort and resources to, but only the message of the gospel has “the power to salvation.”  Romans 1:16.

Community Group Discussion Guide
Gospel of Mark Project – The Sower
Icebreakers:

1. Are you a person who likes to garden?  (Why or why not?)
2. What is the most difficult “thing” you ever tried and succeeded to grow in your garden?  (What has been nearly impossible for you to grow?)
3. Which plant has proved to be the fastest growing and also fruitful?

Scripture Passage: Mark 4:1-20 NASB95
He began to teach again by the sea.  And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.  [2] And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching, [3] “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; [4] as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. [5] Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. [6] And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. [7] Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. [8] Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” [9] And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” [10] As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. [11] And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, [12] so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.” [13] And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? [14] The sower sows the word. [15] These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. [16] In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; [17] and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. [18] And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, [19] but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. [20] And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”
The Big Idea: The obvious takeaway from Jesus’ parable of the sower is that in order to reap any kind of harvest, a farmer must plant seeds.  What happens to the seeds after they are sown is up to God; however, if the gospel goes unproclaimed (unplanted) then any kind of harvest will be impossible.  (Refer to  Romans 10:13-14 “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” [14] How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?) 
 
Digging Deeper:
Section 1: Jesus tells the parable of the sower
[1] He began to teach again by the sea.  And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.  [2] And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching, [3] “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; [4] as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. [5] Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. [6] And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. [7] Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. [8] Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” [9] And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

• Jesus understood the basic principle behind farming.  You plant, you reap.  What is your spiritual understanding of the principle of sowing and reaping?  (Notice that Gal 6:7 expands our understanding of this concept)
• What truth or truths can we gain from understanding this parable, and what makes this parable important for the church today?

Section 2: Jesus explains His use of parables
[10] As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. [11] And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, [12] so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.” [13] And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?

• Why do you think that spiritual understanding was so difficult for the religious leaders of Jesus’ time?
• What do you think was the source of the Pharisees spiritual blindness?  (The Enemy, their personal egos, God)

Section 3: Jesus gives the interpretation of the parable of the sower
[14] The sower sows the word. [15] These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. [16] In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; [17] and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. [18] And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, [19] but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. [20] And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”

• What is the process by which an idea (whether an evil idea, or life-giving truth) is able to transform our basic understanding?
• Have you observed the Word of God landing in the different soils or hearts as described in this parable?
• How can the worries of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things stunt the spiritual growth of an individual?

Wrap-up: I see two obvious takeaways from this parable.

• Firstly, the proclamation of the Gospel Message has a direct tie to the harvest.  Romans 1:16a For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…
• Secondly, not everyone is going to respond to the Gospel Message with faith.  We proclaim with the knowledge that the “word” will fall on all kinds of different soil.

Discussion Guide for Community Groups
Jesus: “The way, the truth and the life”
Icebreakers:

1. Have you ever been lost?  (How did you react when you realized that you were lost?)
2. When you are trying to go to a place for the first time ever, do you rely on a navigator, such as google maps?  (Do you have a good sense of direction, or are you hopelessly direction blind?)
3. Do you trust your “software” navigator?  Has it ever been wrong?

Background: When it comes to (almost) any subject or topic, there are different opinions concerning the facts and truth.  Opinions are only as valid as the facts that support them.  A narrative, regardless of how often or loudly spoken, is not the truth unless it lines up with the facts.  In our culture today, many are playing fast and loose with the truth.  Social engineering is being based on unproven ideas rather than the known facts.  Obviously, in the long run, this will lead to a dysfunctional society.  What is the cure?  Truth!
John 14:1-6 NASB95  “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. [3] If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. [4] And you know the way where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” [6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

1. Why were the disciples troubled?  (Even after the resurrection, the disciples did not understand why Jesus was leaving them)
2. Why would Jesus suggest that we could believe in Him, just as we believe in God?
3. If you had been one of the disciples in this moment, what question would you have asked Jesus?

Jesus declared: I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
Jesus is the way: Matt 7:13,14 “Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

1. What makes you believe that Jesus is the “exclusive” way to eternal life?
2. Why do you think God did not open up other possibilities for making it into heaven?

 
Jesus is the truth: John 8:31-33 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

1. How important is the truth to you personally?
2. In what way does the truth make you free?

Jesus is the life:  John 1:2-5  He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend  

1. Can you imagine a universe without a creator?  (What do you think of Rene Descartes’ statement: “Nothing can come from nothing.”)
2. Jesus is referred to as being “The Light,” what is it about Jesus that makes Him the light?

Wrap-up: The Apostle John makes a good case for believing in Jesus.  Without Jesus showing us the way, we are just stumbling in the darkness of our own intellect.  Without Jesus revealing the truth, every man does what is right in his own eyes.  Without Jesus breathing spiritual life into our dying existence there is no future or eternal life.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life!
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