Community Group Discussion Guide
Mark 6:45-52 Icebreakers: 1. Have you ever witnessed an actual miracle that defied the laws of nature or science? 2. Out of all of the miracles of Jesus, what is your favorite? 3. Do you believe that signs and wonders should be "normal" in the church of today? Why or why not? Scripture: Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. 46After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray. 47When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. 49But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” 51Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened. Mark 6:45-52 NASB Read Verses 45-56: Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. 46After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray. 1. Jesus demonstrated the extreme importance of living a lifestyle of prayer. Before big events and small events we can see Jesus slipping away to pray. What does this teach us as followers of Christ? 2. Do you believe Jesus knew that there was a fierce wind that would rise up against the disciples when He sent them away in the boat? For reference to the omniscience of Jesus, read John 16:30. Read Verses 47-48: 47When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. 1. Have you ever felt that Jesus has left you alone to struggle in the vast ocean of life? 2. Jesus was watching the disciples struggle against the wind in the boat. This shows us that Jesus sees the things we are going through and He will come after His sheep that need rescuing. How has Jesus rescued you from a struggle in your life? 3. Jesus comes to His disciples without using any human means at all. He is walking on the sea! How is this possible? Do you ever feel like you read stories like these in scripture and they become "common" because we have heard them so much? How can we fight against these feelings? 4. Why did you think Mark points out that Jesus "intended to pass them by"? Read Verses 49-50: 49But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” 1. The disciples are afraid because of the wind coming against them. Then they are afraid when they see Jesus walking on the water. Have you ever dealt with fear that seems to compound like this? How have you or how are you finding freedom from those feelings? 2. Jesus tells His disciples to "Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid. We are living in a time where the people of God need Spirit induced boldness. How can you and I take these words and walk them out in our every day lives? Read Verses 51-52: 51Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened. 1. Why do you think the wind stopped when Jesus got into the boat and not before? What is the significance of that? 2. The disciples were afraid of the wind, they were afraid of Jesus walking on the water, and then they are astonished when the wind stopped once Jesus got into the boat. That's a lot of feelings all at once! How would you describe the fear of the Lord to someone? 3. Jesus ends this story with a rebuke of His disciples. He tells them that they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, and that their hearts were hardened. These are the same disciples who had been "doing ministry" with Jesus already, and who had just got down seeing an amazing miracle. What does this show us about doing instead of understating? 4. What do you think of the quote: "There are many things in the mind of man that will never reach the heart. But there is nothing in the heart of man that did not begin with the mind."?
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