Community Group Discussion Guide: The Light
Read: John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. [4] In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. [5] The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Icebreakers:
Scripture Exploration: (We are going to read some passages of scripture from the Gospel of John as he talks about the light) John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. [4] In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. [5] The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
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Community Group Discussion Guide: No Fear
Read Text: Isaiah 41:10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Icebreakers:
Big Idea: Fear has its origins in the fall of man. When sin entered the world and brought a curse upon the earth and the inhabitants thereof, all living things became vulnerable. Just the threat of harm, of injury, of pain, of illness, of death, or trouble of all sorts; is cause for fear. Mankind tends to fear both the known and the unknown. Some of our phobias are unjustified, simply figments of our imagination. Other fears are based in reality, where the source of our fear is a threat to our well-being. That said, the most common command in the Bible tells us “not to fear.” For the Believer it comes down to this: Our faith in God must be greater than our fear. Text Exploration: Isaiah 41:10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Our text contains two commands and 3 promises from God. (Let’s break it down) Two Commands:
Three Promises:
Wrap-up: Courage is a Christian virtue that we express in times of stress. Why are we courageous? We are courageous for God is with us and for us. This does not make us passive; it causes us to pray with confidence. Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. Community Group Discussion Guide: A Divided Kingdom
Read Text: Mark 3:20-30 (NASV) And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. 21 When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.” 22 The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” 23 And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 “If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! 27 “But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house. 28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”-- 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” Icebreakers:
Big Idea: Jesus has declared war on an established kingdom. He is healing the sick, bringing new authority and teachings, forgiving sins, breaking the oral tradition, "working" on the sabbath, overcoming temptation, and opposing the Jewish/religious leaders of his time. However, it is not the kingdom of Israel or the Jewish religion that is under attack but the Kingdom of Darkness. Jesus says in Matthew 5:17 that "He has not come to abolish the law and prophets but to fulfill them," but He says no such thing about the realm of Satan. In fact, He is in open opposition and has begun to attack this kingdom. It started in the desert when Jesus resisted the devil's temptations and continues as we see Jesus exert his power and authority over the demon possessed. In this passage we see Jesus’ power and authority come into question by two different groups in two different ways. It reminds me of a C.S. Lewis quote from Mere Christianity, “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” This is exactly what we see play out in the passage and Jesus leaves the Pharisees with a very stern warning about the road they are headed down. Text Exploration: (Verses 20,21) And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”
(Verse 22) The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”
(Verses 23-27) And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. “If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! “But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
(Verses 28-30) “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Conclusion: In accusing Jesus of doing works of power by the power of Satan, the scribes were indeed siding with Satan in the work of deception. It is a very dangerous act for a group of people who claim to be God’s ambassadors to enlist in the work of the Enemy. Jesus warned His critics about the danger of engaging in such subterfuge. Big idea: Jesus had many people who followed Him throughout His earthly ministry. In fact, in Acts 1 when the first disciples had gathered in the upper room before the day of Pentecost had fully come, it mentions 11 disciples by name, but there were about 120 actually gathered together. But Jesus primarily had 12 disciples that walked closely with Him and that are consistently referenced throughout His ministry. Jesus gives these twelve disciples three appointments or assignments in verses 14-15. These three assignments are:
1.) That they would be with Him 2.) That they would go out and preach 3.) That they would have authority to cast out demons Text: Mark 3:13-19 13 And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. 14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to cast out the demons. 16 And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), 17 and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, "Sons of Thunder"); 18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. Ice Breakers:
Read verse 13: And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him.
Read verses 14-15: 14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to cast out the demons.
Read Verse 19: and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.
Big Idea: God is the giver of the Law and yet God, as demonstrated through the life of Jesus, is not legalistic. Legalism is excessive adherence to the law or a formula. It is possible to keep the law and in doing so, violate a greater law or principle. What this means is that God wants us to be people who put the spirit of the law before the letter of the law. If we do not, we will become critical and controlling of others like we see with the Pharisees, and completely devoid of compassion.
Mark 2:14-17
14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. 15 And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. 16 When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Big Idea: This passage culminates in Jesus telling us why He came, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but the sinner.” (Mark 2:17) So what does this mean in the context of the passage? First, let’s breakdown the different characters we see in this story: we see three distinct groups. We have the righteous (Jesus), the self-righteous (Scribes and Pharisees) and the un-righteous (Sinners and tax collectors.) However, if we contrast this with what Jesus said, we should only have two different groups: the healthy (righteous) and the sick (sinner.) So where is the disconnect? Why do we see the story differ from Jesus’ teaching? The answer is worldview, and how they are different among the groups. The scribes and Pharisee’s were righteous…to the letter of the law and to the “traditions of the elders” (Man-made religious ordinances observed as The Law). They were only righteous by their own standards, standards that they had put in place. A self-fulfilling prophesy if you will. A ruse… a con… as 1 John 1:8 says “if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” Or take Paul’s words in Romans 3:10 “as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one.”” This paints a bleak picture. Enter Jesus onto the scene, "The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them," (Isaiah 9:2); "if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2); “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Let us not deceive ourselves….we ALL are in need of a savior whether we believe so or not. 1. How does the Mark passage teach us about a biblical worldview? Can you find contrasting worldview's in the passage? 2. Do your behaviors and values align with your beliefs? What are ways that your life might not align with a Christian worldview? Pray for each other and hold each other accountable for these areas. (What does your social media look like? Are you chasing the "American Dream?") 3. Discuss the establishments (culture, Progressive christianity, "mainstream" churches) that the church is battling against today? What are the issues that we need to stand firm against? (Hint: whatever is antithetical to the Bible) 4. Do you feel infected by the lifestyle influencer culture? What compromises do we make (or the church) trying to influence the culture without the power of Jesus and His message to the world? Text: Mark 2:1-12 When Jesus came back to Capernaum a few days later, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer space, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And some people came, bringing to Him a man who was paralyzed, carried by four men. 4 And when they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and after digging an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralyzed man was lying. 5 And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking it over in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were thinking that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you thinking about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet, and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Big Idea: When Jesus was through healing and forgiving the sins of the paralyzed man, the people who had witnessed the "event" proclaimed, "We have never seen anything like this!" What Jesus did was a significant break from the mundane. It was supernatural. It was non-traditional. It even challenged the theology of the Jews. What does the present church need to experience? We need to experience God (both His person and acts) in such a way that it causes the people of our time to proclaim: "We have never seen anything like this!" Read verse 1-3: When Jesus came back to Capernaum a few days later, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer space, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And some people came, bringing to Him a man who was paralyzed, carried by four men. 1. The door was blocked by the crowds of people which made it hard for these men and others to enter. How can we make it easier for people to access Christ and remove the hurdles? Read verse 4: 4 And when they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and after digging an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralyzed man was lying. 1. These men ripped a hole in the roof of a house that was not theirs in order to get to Christ. What are some other extraordinary examples in scripture that people went to in order to receive a touch from Christ? 2. Have you ever met someone (maybe even yourself) that went to extraordinary lengths to receive a touch from Christ? How did that strengthen your faith? Read verse 5: 5 And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 1. Why do you think Jesus brought up forgiveness at this particular point? 2. Was this man there for forgiveness, healing or both? Read verses 6-7: 6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking it over in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone?” 1. These Pharisees began "reasoning" in their hearts when they heard Jesus declare this man being forgiven. Have you ever read something in scripture or heard something preached that led you to start reasoning or arguing in your mind? 2. What is the difference between reasoning in our hearts and questioning/pondering in our hearts? Read Verses 8 & 9: 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were thinking that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you thinking about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'? 1. Healing the man wouldn't have been a huge issue for the Pharisees; but Jesus speaking of forgiving the man's sin was problematic. Why does Jesus equate the two together; healing and forgiveness? Read Verses 10 & 11: 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet, and go home.” 1. What are the things that Jesus demonstrated He had authority over while He was on earth? 2. What authority do believers have today? Read Verse 12: 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” 1. Have you ever experienced something supernatural in your life? 2. What are some of the signs that Jesus is working or moving in our midst? 3. What are some events in your life that led you to the place of saying "I've never seen anything like that!"? Text: Mark 1:35-39 35 And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time. 36 Simon and his companions eagerly searched for Him; 37 and they found Him and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 He said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may also preach there; for this is why I came.” 39 And He went into their synagogues preaching throughout Galilee, and casting out the demons.
Big Idea: Jesus, the Son of Man, was a man of prayer. If Jesus, who was God in the flesh, needed to pray, how much more is prayer a necessity for the saints? Prayer is an expression of our dependence on God, and so we pray, on all occasions, about all our concerns, without ceasing. Read verse 35: And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time. 1. Why do you think Jesus got up early to pray? What is it about getting up early and be secluded that benefits our prayer life? 2. When you do you like to spend time with God in prayer? Read verses 36 & 37: Simon and his companions eagerly searched for Him; 37 and they found Him and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 1. Why didn't Jesus stop praying and address these crowds? 2. Why were these people searching for Jesus? Was it because they loved Him, wanted something from Him or both? 3. What is the difference between "looking unto Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2) and looking for Jesus? Read verse 38: He said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may also preach there; for this is why I came.” 1. Why do you think Jesus left the crowds of people that flocked to Him? 2. Jesus says: "..so that I may preach there; for this is why I came." In your opinion, how important is the preaching of the gospel? Read verse 39: And He went into their synagogues preaching throughout Galilee, and casting out the demons. 1. Does casting out of demons and the preaching of the gospel go hand in hand? Why or why not? 2. How do you think the devil and demons work today in and through people? Big Idea: Recent events have made everyone (worldwide) aware of how vulnerable we are to disease. Please note that before sin entered the world, there was no disease. Part of the future hope for Believers is that there will be no sickness in heaven. Jesus demonstrated His authority over sickness by healing people. The ultimate completion of Christ's atoning work is that Believers will pass from this life into eternal life with a glorified body that is never tired, never sick and will never die.
Big Idea: Jesus had come to Capernaum and entered the synagogue to teach on the Sabbath. This wasn't like any other Saturday though, Jesus was teaching in a way that was unrecognizable to the crowds in attendance. They were accustomed to listening to the scribes way of teaching which was a very rote and rehearsed teaching where reading from the scriptures and providing some commentary was normal. But when Jesus taught, the people said that He did so with 'authority.' Just then, an unclean spirit cries out in the middle of Jesus' teaching and interrupts the whole thing. The demon speaking through the man knows who Jesus is and even calls Him the 'Holy One of God.' Jesus casts out this unclean spirit and everyone is amazed. The teaching of Jesus was with authority, and His handling of the unclean spirit was with authority. Everyone knew, this Man was no ordinary man.
Text: Mark 1:21-28 NASB 21They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22 And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, “What business do you have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are: the Holy One of God!” 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 After throwing him into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, the unclean spirit came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding region of Galilee. Read: Mark 1:21- They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach. 1. Jesus was not the scheduled teacher that day at the synagogue, yet He walks in and begins teaching. Why did Jesus think it was okay to do this? 2. What would a typical Sabbath day look like in a Jewish synagogue? Read: Mark 1:22- And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 1. What does it look like when someone teaches with authority? 2. How do you know someone has authority on a given subject? Read Mark 1:23 & 24- Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, “What business do you have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are: the Holy One of God!” 1. What caused this demon to manifest and speak through this man? 2. If this demon knew who Jesus was, why did he not try and hide away from him? 3. How did this demon know who Jesus is and none of the people did? Read Mark 1:25 - And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 1. Why didn't Jesus answer the question from the demon? 2. What does it mean when it says Jesus 'rebuked' him? Read Mark 1:26 - After throwing him into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, the unclean spirit came out of him. 1. Where did the evil spirit go once he left the man? (Matthew 12:43-45) Read Mark 1:27 & 28 - And they were all amazed, so they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding region of Galilee. 1. Does casting out of demons still take place today? Why or why not? 2. Evil spirits obey Jesus, do evil spirits obey us as believers of Christ? 3. What authority do we as believers have today? |
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