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Discussion Guide for Community Groups
Gospel of Mark Project – Jesus is the Christ Icebreakers:
[27] Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to 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.” [30] And He warned them to tell no one about Him. [31] And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. [32] And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. [33] But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Digging Deeper:
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Community Group Discussion Guide
Mark 8:22-26 Icebreakers: 1. Do you (or anyone you know) ever really enjoy waiting on God to move? Why or why not? 2. Since our story slightly contains the subject of trees, what is the best place you have ever been that had the best trees to observe? Scripture: And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. 23Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” 25Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. 26 And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.” Mark 8:22-26 NASB Read Verse 22: And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. 1. Bethsaida is mentioned in the New Testament more than any other city aside from Jerusalem and Capernaum. The miracles and teachings that Jesus did in the city of Bethsaida provided them with no excuse to not follow Jesus as the Messiah. Read Luke 10:13-15: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades! Luke 10:13-15 What does this teach us about the saying " to whom much is given much will be required"? Read Verses 22,23: And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. 23Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” 1. The people ask for Jesus to touch the blind man to bring about healing. Yet Jesus is going to use a completely different means to bring about healing. Have you ever wanted God to move in your life but you put parameters in place as to what His "touch" should look like? 2. Jesus takes the blind man by the hand. Jesus did not expect the blind man to overcome his own weakness but instead met him right where he was. How can we do the same in our lives with those that God brings into our lives? How has Christ grabbed us by the hand to lead us? 3. Jesus removes the man from the village. Jesus removed the man from what he found to be a common place in his life. Why do you think Jesus removed this man from what he found normal before administering healing? Read Isaiah 6:1-7 where Isaiah's contemporary, King Uzziah, died before Isaiah saw the vision of heaven. 4. Jesus is going to spit on this man's eyes. How have the words of Christ that flowed from His mouth brought healing to our lives? 5. Why did Jesus ask the man, "Do you see anything?"? Should we expect answers to prayers in our lives? Read verse 24: 24And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” 2. Why do you think that Jesus brought about partial healing before the full healing? 1. This man had an encounter with Christ that was truly remarkable. He said "I see" for the first time in years. Seeing partially was still a massive improvement! But he was still not brought to the point of complete freedom. How easy is it in our lives to settle with "seeing dimly" instead of "seeing clearly"? Read Verses 25-26: 25Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. 26 And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.” 1. Read 2 Corinthians 3:18: But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 This verse tells us that in Christ we have had the blinding veil removed from our eyes so that we see clearly. What can we learn from this verse about "what we are beholding is what we are becoming"? How can we "behold" Christ in our lives to be transformed into HIs likeness? 2. Read 1 Corinthians 13:12: For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. We will never fully see perfectly clear in this life. That is reserved for the day when we see Christ face to face. What are some of the things that you will ask Christ when you see Him face to face for the first time? 3. Why didn't Jesus want this man to go back into the village? Community Group Discussion Guide
Mark - Signs Icebreakers:
Digging Deeper: At this point in Mark’s narrative Jesus has cast out demons, healed lepers, healed a paralytic (something that modern medicine cannot do), restored a withered arm (another thing that modern medicine cannot do), calmed a storm with a word, raised a small girl from the dead, healed a woman who simply touched his garment, fed five thousand people with 5 loaves and 2 fish, and fed another four thousand people with 7 loaves and a few fish. Jesus was a worker of miracles. How many miracles did Jesus perform? The Gospel of John describes it this way: John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written. Read Verse 11: The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him.
Read Verse 12: Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
Read Verse 13: Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side.
Wrap-up: Having a gulf between us and God is not a “good thing.” The Book of James offers this helpful solution: James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” |
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