Sending Out the Twelve

Community Group Discussion Guide
Mark – Sending Out the Twelve
Icebreakers:

1. How would you describe the mission of the church in three or less sentences?
2. How is the declaration of the Gospel crucial to the over-all mission of the church?
3. What would be some of the characteristics of a “ministry” that was totally dedicated to the mission?

Scripture: Mark 6:7-13 NASB95
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.

• Why was it important for Jesus to extend His authority to cover the ministry of the disciples?
• Read Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
• Jesus has been given all authority.  How does that authority extend to the ministry efforts of the church?

 
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.”

• Why do you think that Jesus instructed His disciples to travel so lightly?

• How can a focus on logistics actually slow down the work of the ministry?

Read verses 10-13:  [[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.

• Those who proclaim the gospel will face rejection.  Why do we hate to be rejected?
• Read: Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
• How could persecution be considered a blessing?

Wrap-up: The disciples went forth in teams of 2, and they preached repentance, cast out demons and healed the sick.  This same pattern would once again surface after the Day of Pentecost, when the Church was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.