Our church is currently studying the book of Mark. For twenty-eight weeks we're walking through the book and talking about the action-packed story of Jesus. Mark was more concerned with what Jesus did than what Jesus said. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.
Small Group Questions ||| The Day Jesus Was Upset ||| Mark 8:1-21
As we reach the half way point in the Gospel of Mark we are going to see a miracle of provision. The feeding of the 4000 takes place in the region of the Decapolis. The area is a collection of ten cities that are just over the Golan Heights (to the east of the Sea of Galilee). The location is important for this feeding because it continues to show Jesus’ love for Gentile people and His desire for them to know God. In Mark 8 we see Jesus and disciples move from location to location. The feeding leads into a healthy lesson on understanding the truth of God and rejecting the false teaching of the Pharisees.
1) Read Mark 6:30-44 and 8:1-10. Discuss what are the main differences in the miraculous provision of Jesus in these accounts. Pastor Neal said that the first feeding was primarily to the Jews and the second primality to the Gentiles what is the significance in knowing that?
2) Read Mark 8:6. Why did Jesus look up to heaven when He gave thanks for the loaves of bread? Read John 6:35 and talk about Jesus’ bold statement about Him being the bread of life.
3) Pastor Neal asked us to choose one thing to focus on growing in this week. Did you choose: Compassion, removing harsh language, or having a thankful heart? How is it going working on growing in this area of your life?
4) The relationship between Jesus and Pharisees has been heating up. What made it so hard for them to understand that Jesus is the Messiah? Do you think the Pharisees neglected God’s heart for the Gentiles to be saved (read Isaiah 49:6)?
5) The Bible uses leaven as a picture of false doctrine (Galatians 5:1-9), unjudged sin in the church (1 Corinthians 5), and hypocrisy (Luke 12:1). Jesus warned the disciples about the teaching of the Pharisees. How can we avoid these things?
6) The Psalmist spoke about hiding God’s word in his heart (read Psalm 119:11). Where are you currently reading in your Bible and what is God teaching you?
7) Jesus made it a point to redeem down time for teaching time. He instructed the disciples while they traveled. Is there an area in your life where you can redeem some time and use it to build into the Kingdom of God?
Close your time in prayer
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