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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Community Group Discussion Guide
Gospel of Mark Project – The Sower Icebreakers:
He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land. [2] And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching, [3] “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; [4] as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. [5] Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. [6] And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. [7] Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. [8] Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” [9] And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” [10] As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. [11] And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, [12] so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.” [13] And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? [14] The sower sows the word. [15] These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. [16] In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; [17] and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. [18] And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, [19] but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. [20] And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” The Big Idea: The obvious takeaway from Jesus’ parable of the sower is that in order to reap any kind of harvest, a farmer must plant seeds. What happens to the seeds after they are sown is up to God; however, if the gospel goes unproclaimed (unplanted) then any kind of harvest will be impossible. (Refer to Romans 10:13-14 “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” [14] How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?) Digging Deeper: Section 1: Jesus tells the parable of the sower [1] He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land. [2] And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching, [3] “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; [4] as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. [5] Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. [6] And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. [7] Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. [8] Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” [9] And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
[10] As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. [11] And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, [12] so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.” [13] And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?
[14] The sower sows the word. [15] These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. [16] In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; [17] and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. [18] And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, [19] but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. [20] And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”
Discussion Guide for Community Groups
Jesus: “The way, the truth and the life” Icebreakers:
John 14:1-6 NASB95 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. [3] If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. [4] And you know the way where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” [6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Jesus is the way: Matt 7:13,14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Jesus is the truth: John 8:31-33 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Community Group Discussion Guide: Gift of Tongues Please Note: Our Group Discussion Guides are not meant to be study guides or Bible studies. They are specifically designed for a leader to facilitate Bible-based discussions. Icebreakers:
Digging Deeper: Speaking in Tongues first appears on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. [2] And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Acts 2:5-8 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. [6] And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. [7] They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? [8] And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?
1 Corinthians 14:4-5 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. [5] Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
Wrap-up: Paul talks about the "proper use" of tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:14-19 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. [15] What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. [16] Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? [17] For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. [18] I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; [19] however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Community Group Discussion Guide: Proclamation of the Gospel
Note: Please let your group know that if they use this discussion guide, the guide itself is not meant to be a Bible lesson. A Bible lesson would be more oriented towards teaching rather than discussion. This guide simply lays out the primary verses used in a sermon and asks questions for the group to consider. Icebreakers:
Read: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, [4] for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. [5] We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
Paul asks four rhetorical questions: (Let's take the time to answer them)
Two suggestions on sharing the Gospel Message and becoming a worker who is bringing in the harvest:
Community Group Discussion Guide: Introduction to Spiritual Gifts
Icebreakers:
Digging Deeper: The average modern automobile has some 30,000 parts. Most of the parts are essential to the whole. Everything from the engine parts to the lug nuts are important. All the auto parts come together to form a vehicle that carries a person or persons from place to place. The Body of Christ is also composed of many different parts which come together to form the whole. Every member is unique and important. We are going to explore 1 Corinthians Chapter 12. This is an important chapter where the Apostle Paul teaches the Corinthian Church about spiritual gifts. Read verses 1-3: [1] Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. [2] You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. [3] Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
Read verses 4-11: [4] Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. [5] And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. [6] There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. [7] But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. [8] For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [10] and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. [11] But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
Read verses 12-31: [12] For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. [13] For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. [14] For the body is not one member, but many. [15] If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. [16] And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? [18] But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. [19] If they were all one member, where would the body be? [20] But now there are many members, but one body. [21] And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” [22] On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; [23] and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, [24] whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, [25] so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. [26] And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. [27] Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. [28] And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. [29] All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? [30] All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? [31] But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.
Wrap-up: One of the challenges that spiritual gifts "can" pose to the Body of Christ, is that they can lead to expressions of spiritual pride or posturing. This is one of the reasons that Paul wrote the Book of 1 Corinthians. Paul started the letter to the Corinthian Church by pointing out that "not many" of us are noble, wise or mighty. That is our weakness, God is made strong. Finally, if we are to boast, may we boast in the Lord! Community Group Discussion Guide: Be Filled with the Spirit
Icebreakers:
Digging Deeper: Jesus talked about spiritual hunger in the Be-Attitudes. Matthew 5:6 KJV "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." It is healthy for Believers in Christ to "hunger and thirst" for a deeper relationship with Him. How do you cultivate your personal relationship with other people? What are some "things" that we can do to cultivate our relationship with God? Ephesians 5:18 “And do not get drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? [12] Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? [13] If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
Community Group Discussion Guide: Baptism of Power Icebreakers:
Digging Deeper: Let's look at three instances where the followers of Jesus were "filled" with the Holy Spirit.
John 20:21,22. Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. [2] And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Community Group Discussion Guide: Jesus and the Holy Spirit Icebreakers:
Digging Deeper: Let's look at the relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The connection between Jesus and the Holy Spirit is significant.
Read: 1 Peter 1:10-12a As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, [11] seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. [12] It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.
Read: Matthew 1:20 Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."
Some miscellaneous questions concerning Jesus and the Holy Spirit:
Peter spoke the following words to Cornelius and his household: Acts 10:37-39 "You yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. [38] You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. [39] We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem."
Wrap-up: The Holy Spirit was working in and through the life of Jesus in three highly significant accomplishments.
Community Group Discussion Guide: Walking in the Spirit - The Fullness of Christ Icebreakers:
Read: Ephesians 4:1-15 NASB95 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, [3] being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. [7] But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. [8] Therefore it says, “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.” [9] (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? [10] He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) [11] And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, [12] for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. [14] As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; [15] but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ. Digging Deeper: Although Ephesians, Chapter 4, is not generally associated with 1 Corinthians, Chapter 12, there are some interesting parallels. In Ephesians 4, Apostle Paul starts out by calling the Church to walk in a way that is "worthy" of our calling. In context, Paul is calling on the Ephesians to walk in unity.
Read verse 7: But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Read verse 13: ...until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Wrap-up: Read verse 15. ...but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.
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