The Demoniac

Community Group Discussion Guide 
The Demoniac, Mark 5:1-20

Ice Breakers:

1. Have you ever witnessed someone that seemed to be demon-possessed? What was that experience like? 

2. Do you think that every believer can cast our demons? Do you think every believer should be casting out demons? 

Read: 1 They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. 2 When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, 3 and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones. Mark 5:1-5

1. The country of the Gerasenes was in the Decapolis which was a group of 10 Greek cities on the east side of the Sea of Galilee. Most Jewish people stayed out of this region because of the idol worship and false teaching that was happening amongst the Greek culture. What is the significance of Jesus entering this region early on in His ministry? 
2. It seems like the people in this region had tried to help this man by chaining him up to prevent him from hurting himself and others. What are some areas where the world tries to control us instead of offering freedom? 
3. What do you think and feel when you hear about this man? Fear, compassion, worry etc. 

Read: 6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; 7 and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” 8 For He had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” Mark 5:6-8

1. How did the human side of this man know who Jesus was? Has anyone told him about Jesus or presented Jesus to him? Read: John 6:44 for reference
2. The demons and the man both bow before Jesus. The demons are the ones speaking to Jesus through the lips of the man. They acknowledge who Jesus is by calling Him "Son of the Most High God". How significant is it that demons confess who Jesus is, even before the disciples? 
3. What are the demons referencing when they ask Jesus to not torment them? Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:10 for reference 

Read: 9 And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. 12 The demons implored Him, saying, “Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.” 13 Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea. Mark 5:9-13

1. The demon answers Jesus' question of "what is your name" by saying "Legion; for we are many". How do you think demons gain entry into people's lives? 
2. Why are they earnestly asking Jesus to not be sent out of the country? What was so important in that country? 
3. The Sea of Galilee in Mark 4 was the place of an intense storm that Jesus rose up to calm with His very words. Jesus sends the demons into the pigs and they are drowned in the same sea. What is the significance here that the same sea that almost killed the disciples has been used to set free a man in bondage to demons? Has the Lord ever used a trial to bring freedom to an area of your life? 

Read: 14 Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the “legion”; and they became frightened. 16 Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine. 17 And they began to implore Him to leave their region. Mark 5:14-17

1. Has the transformation of Christ in your life caused people to become "frightened" or at least take notice because of the change that has taken place? 
2. Can you relate to the change that took place in this man's life? Share how you can relate with your group. 
3. The townspeople ask Jesus to leave their region. What would have happened if they would have allowed Jesus to stay in their region? What does this show us about how some people of this world react to Jesus's work? 

Read: 18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. 19 And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. Mark 5:18-20

1. The demons begged Jesus to not torment them, the townspeople begged Jesus to leave, the newly freed man begged Jesus that he might go with Him. Does Jesus's deliverance in your life cause you to want to be with Him even more? What does that look like in your life? 
2. Jesus tells this man to stay in that region and go proclaim what the Lord had done for him. A man who just a few short minutes ago was controlled by demons, has been freed and given a whole new purpose in life. Can you relate to this? How are you fulfilling the mission that God has given to you? 
3. What happens because of this man's transformed life? Read Mark 7:31-36, Matthew 15:29-31- both of these scripture take place in the Decapolis where this man was sent to preach. Did this man's proclamation of Jesus cause the name of Jesus to become famous in that region to where when Jesus came back to that region crowds were excited?