Community Group Discussion Guide
Mark – The Feeding of the 5,000 Icebreakers:
The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. [31] And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) [32] They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves. [33] The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them. [34] When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. [35] When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and it is already quite late; [36] send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” [37] But He answered them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?” [38] And He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” [39] And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass. [40] They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. [41] And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all. [42] They all ate and were satisfied, [43] and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish. [44] There were five thousand men who ate the loaves. Digging Deeper: The feeding of the 5,000 is an epic miracle. Think about it: 5 small barley loaves and two fish to feed 5,000 men. What does this tell us about God’s ability to provide? When Jesus commanded the disciples to feed the crowd they reacted with doubt; but Jesus, once again, demonstrated that He was indeed, “God in the flesh!” Read verses 30-32: [30] The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. [31] And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) [32] They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves. authority to cover the ministry of the disciples?
Read verses 33 and 34: [33] The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them. [34] When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
Read verses 38-44: [38] And He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” [39] And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass. [40] They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. [41] And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all. [42] They all ate and were satisfied, [43] and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish. [44] There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.
Wrap-up: Often we look at the resources we have and find ourselves somewhat “short” of what we feel we need in order to fulfill God’s mission. What Jesus proved in this miracle is that He can take a little and make it into much.
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Community Group Discussion Guide
Mark – Sending Out the Twelve Icebreakers:
And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; [8] and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt— [9] but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.” [10] And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town. [11] Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.” [12] They went out and preached that men should repent. [13] And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them. Digging Deeper: In this passage of scripture we see a foreshadowing of the Great Commission. In Mark’s narrative, this is the first time Jesus sends his disciples out into the harvest to do the work of the ministry. Jesus was already preparing them for the time when the spreading of the Gospel would rest on their shoulders. Read verse 7: [7] And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
Read verses 8,9: [8] and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt— [9] but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.”
Community Group Discussion Guide
Mark – The Healing of Jairus’ Daughter Icebreakers:
[21] When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. [22] One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet [23] and implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.” [24] And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. [35] While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?” [36] But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” [37] And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. [38] They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. [39] And entering in, He said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.” [40] They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. [41] Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). [42] Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. [43] And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat. Digging Deeper: Obviously, Jairus was desperate when he reached out to Jesus. At this point in Jesus’ ministry, there were those within the ranks of the religious leaders that were already plotting against Jesus, so Jairus was taking a risk by asking Jesus to heal his daughter. Read verses 21-23 [21] When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. [22] One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet [23] and implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.”
Read verses 24, 35 [24] And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. [35] While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?”
Community Group Discussion Guide
Gospel of Mark Project – The Lamp Icebreakers:
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.
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.”
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