Mark 14:27-72 Small Group Questions

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. If you missed the sermon you can find it at the end of this post.

Small Group Questions ::: A Midnight Courtroom ::: Mark 14:27-72

What do you do when the strongest person in your life suddenly becomes weak? This happens when children find their parents sick, when teammates find players hurt, and when the disciples sat in the presence of Jesus before the crucifixion. After sharing the Passover meal, Jesus takes the disciples for a walk. They travel to the Garden of Gethsemane (Oil Press) where Jesus was pressed to pray. At this point Jesus is betrayed by a disciple and abandoned by the rest. He is unfairly arrested, and taken to an unjust courtroom. Jesus is beaten and mocked for crimes He never committed. Grab a Bible and study these questions to gain a deeper understanding of what Jesus did. 

1) Share a story about a time when you felt abandoned by your closest friends. Read Mark 14:27-31. Jesus knew the disciples would soon scatter from His presence. How do you think Jesus felt about knowing He would be abandoned? 

2) Jesus brought all the disciples to the garden by took His three closest companions with Him for prayer support (read Mark 14:32-42). Talk about how this experience for Jesus made it so He can relate to us (Psalm 42:11, Hebrews 5:8, and 1 Peter 4:16). 

3) While in the Garden, the disciples could not keep their eyes open. It was late at night and they were tired. Jesus encouraged them not to fall into temptation. What are some sins that have plagued you in the past? (Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 4:25-32 and1 Peter 2:1-3 help us see the depth of our sinful nature). 

4) Judas came to arrest Jesus with a small army. Neal said that Judas betrayed Him, the disciples abandoned Him, and the soldiers didn’t know what they were doing. Who do you resonate most with in your faith walk? 

5) Jesus was unfairly arrested and charged with crimes He never committed (read Mark 14:53-65). Why is it so important that there is more than one witness in a court of law? (read Deuteronomy 17:6, Psalm 18:2, & Titus 1:15)

6) The high priest called Jesus the Messiah. Jesus responded with an Old Testament inclination (read Exodus 3:14). Who do you say Jesus? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God like He said? (Mark 1:1, John 1:1-4, Acts 9:1-19)

7) Our passage ends with Peter weeping for denying Jesus (read Mark 14:66-72). Have you repented of your sin & found freedom in Jesus? (Romans 3:23, 10:9-10).

Close your time in prayer. Pray specifically for your Plus One at Easter 

Ruth 4- Small Group Questions

Our church is currently studying the book of Ruth. For four weeks we're walking through the book and talking about the redemptive story of God. 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…HEART FULL, HANDS FULL…RUTH 4

Ruth 4 opens with the connecting word, “meanwhile…” While Ruth and Naomi are eating breakfast Boaz gets to work on what he promised to do. What one thing do you need to get done this week that God is asking you to do?

Joel taught us about the public conversation Boaz had about redeeming Ruth and Naomi. Read Ruth 4:10 and talk about the celebration that would have taken place. What do you need to celebrate that God is doing in your life.

The entire crowd blessed/prayed for Boaz after he redeemed Ruth. They speak words of encouragement, hope, and blessing on him. Do you speak more blessing or curses in your daily life? Who do you need speak words of affirmation to this week?

Throughout the book of Ruth we’ve read about the purity, character, and integrity of Ruth and Boaz. In Ruth 4:13 we read that after their marriage they made love and had a child. Why do you think more people don’t wait to have sex till marriage?

The story of Ruth teaches us about God’s heart to reach all people. The Kingdom of heaven was always meant to be multiethnic. Read Acts Acts 15:10-11, Acts 17:1-4, and Ephesians 2:19-22. Talk about why some people are still racist and how we can help people see that the Gospel is for everyone.

Read Ruth 4:18-22 and Matthew 1:1-17. What sticks out to you in the lineage? What do you see that enhances the deep love of God for all people?

As we close the page on the Old Testament book of Ruth share what has been the most meaningful part of the sermon series, Bible study, or what God has taught you through these last four weeks about His wild love.

Close your time in prayer

Suffering is part of following Christ

For eight years I served at a great church in Las Vegas. One Sunday night we had planned an outdoor baptism at a local pool. It was a beautiful May evening; perfect for a baptism service. We had set up a small sound system and our worship leader just led our church in a few songs. After that another pastor, Rob, took the microphone to explain baptism and the decision that a number of people standing behind him were about to make. As he was sharing about baptism, commitment to Christ and the good news of Jesus a disgruntled neighbor walked into the pool, came over to Rob, grabbed the mic and pushed him out of the way. It was crazy!

The man started yelling into the mic that we weren’t supposed to be there. The lifeguards froze in shock. The people getting baptized had no clue what was going on. Thankfully we had a few police officers, who attended our church, and they stepped in. The man was arrested that night for pushing Rob and disrupting our service. Rob was given the choice to press charges against the man. Do you know what he did? All he asked was to share the love of Christ with him.

I don’t know if this man surrendered his life to Christ or stood for his actions. This encounter reminded me that people will oppose the gospel. Rob modeled what Jesus told the Disciples about turning the other cheek. Rob’s heart was to share the love of Christ in word and action. How do you respond when times get difficult in your walk with Christ? What is your natural reaction to a story like this. Most of the times we think suffering for Christ is done, but it happens daily.

For a year our church has been studying the book of Acts (with a few breaks). At the last third of the book, Paul and his companions are making their way to Jerusalem but the trip will require a few stops (read Acts 21:1-6). At the end of Acts 20 Paul was on the shore weeping and praying with friends when he and his travel companions got back into a boat heading for Jerusalem. They made the 400 mile trek across the sea from Miletus to Tyre and later in the text we will see how they finally made it to Jerusalem. Instead of taking a ship that stayed near shore and landed at several ports they believers took an off-shore boat capable of long sea voyage.

The group stayed in Tyre for a week but unlike their time in Troas, Luke provides no very few details about their week ashore. It appears there was no Jewish Synagogue in Tyre because the men had to seek out the disciples. I’m not completely sure if Paul has been to Tyre before or not. Some scholars think he visited it on his second missionary journey while others think this is his first visit. I lean more towards this being his second visit but I don’t think his first visit was a substantial visit, possibly just a port landing.

While in Tyre Paul seeks out the believers and spends seven days with them while the ship they are traveling on unloaded its cargo. Imagine sitting around the table with old friends belly laughing, telling amazing stories of God working and listening to how the gospel spread. This is how I imagine the story beginning. The disciples in Tyre might have expressed to Paul what a blessing he has been to them. They might have told him how the gospel changed their life. If this was Paul’s fist visit they might have shared their faith story and how they trusted in Christ.

Maybe you’ve experienced a time like this in your life, a time when someone shared how you impacted their life. Think about the last time you sat around the table or in the living room with friends you’ve known for years or decades. The stories are easy to share, the laughter is constant and the love is overflowing. This is the picture that I’ve painted in my mind about Paul’s seven’s days in Tyre. There is joy in their shared belief in Christ and comfort in the call God has given the believers. The stories of life change and where God has worked in these people’s lives are not on short supply. This is what the life of a Christ follower is about!

But it wasn’t only a great reunion of believers, there was a warning for Paul. These dear friends warned him by the Spirit of God not to go to Jerusalem. They had an inkling of what awaited Paul there. Paul had an inkling that suffering awaited him (read Acts 20:22-23). Even though Paul was being warned not to go he felt that he needed to go to Jerusalem.

Paul was compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem while the believers in Tyre tried to compel Paul to avoid Jerusalem at all cost. Paul was unwavering in his dedication to get to Jerusalem. After a week in Tyre the ship was ready to put out to sea. The believers gathering and we almost have a repeat of the end of Acts 20. They are kneeling by the shore, praying and weeping. What I like most about this part is the family unit involved in the prayer for Paul and his companions. Being a parent with young children I often seek advice from parents with kids older than mine on how to involve them in the life of being a Christ follower. Charity and I are constantly looking for ways for our kids to minister at their age level.

Too often the church says, “come and watch us” but Jesus said, “Come and follow me!” Jesus modeled to His disciples by letting them live out the gospel not by watching others live out the Gospel. Those of us who are parents needs to bring our kids into serving, prayer and worship. But parenting is tough and draining. Sometimes we just need a break and I feel the same way. Listen to what Reggie Joiner said: “No one has more potential to influence your child than you.” If you’re a parent with children under the age of eighteen, get your child involved in what God is doing. The parents at Tyre modeled prayer and support to Paul and his companions.

As we follow Paul to Jerusalem we see that belief in Christ and suffering are inseparable. If you are a Christ follower, suffering will come. If you are not, suffering will come. The question is who will suffering with you and comfort you in your pain?

Suffering and God’s Judgment

The New Testament is filled with many different subjects. For the last couple months our church has been going through the book of 1 Peter. It seems that each time I preach I get the opportunity to preach on suffering. Peter hits on this subject a few times in the letter.

Peter continues writing about suffering and switches to talking about God’s final judgment (read 1 Peter 4:17-18). The “For” in verse 17 reaches back to the idea of Christians suffering in verse 16. Peter wants to keep the same train of thought but share more on the subject. Some Christians have a problem  with the idea that judgment will begin with God’s household. Peter could have written about those who have rejected the message of Christ, but he chose to begin with those who have accepted the truth of Jesus.

This line of writing is similar to what the prophets wrote in the Old Testament. Ezekiel, Zechariah, Amos and Malachi all have similar statements in their prophetic books. And Jeremiah, Zechariah and Malachi each write about the fiery ordeal and God’s judgment beginning with His people. Peter seems to have this perspective in mind as he attempts to encourage the believers in Asia Minor.

When we look at what the Old Testament prophets wrote and what Peter has written, we see that the grammar is the same but the theology is different. Let me explain. In the Old Testament, the judgment talked about was an annihilation of God’s unfaithful people. The people in the Old Testament were living lives of sin and God’s judgment was to come because of that. But what Peter is writing about is a purification of God’s people, a purification that will prepare them for the final judgment. The difficulties that God’s people encounter are designed to purify and refine believers so they will be ready to receive their final reward.

Then Peter quotes directly from Proverbs 3:34. He uses this to restate what he has just written. What does it mean when Peter writes: “It is hard for the righteous to be saved?” It is not hard for God to save people; that is not what he is writing. You can also translate hard to mean difficult. This is a continuation on the thought of suffering. The believer will endure suffering in this life. That suffering will be difficult. The suffering may be difficult now, but it will be worthwhile when Christ returns. I love what C.S. Lewis writes on the topic of suffering: “Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free-wills involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself.” There will be suffering but suffering, for a believer refines you.

These verses can also prompt a person to think more about personal evangelism. Have you thought about that question before? What will happen to the ungodly? Let that question bother you this week. Allow this question to take up space in your life as you encounter others this week. When you see people at work, the store, the coffee shop, your lunch spot or in your neighborhood think about what will happen to them in the end. Instead of only being concerned with yourself, think about those around you and their final outcome.

Peter never gives an answer to his question in verses 17 and 18. But the Bible tells us elsewhere what the outcome of the ungodly and the sinner will be. Their outcome will be eternal separation from Christ (Matthew 25:41). The Bible tells us that those who reject Christ as their Savior will experience weeping and gnashing of their teeth (Matthew 25:30). Allow these words from Peter to prompt you to share the love of Christ with others. If you’ve placed your trust in Christ, don’t keep that to yourself. Others need to hear the truth. You have people in your life who need the joy of Jesus. We can conclude from these verses that it’s better to suffer a little now for Christ than to be separated from Him for the rest of our lives.

Suffering for following Christ

For the last several months our church has been preaching through the New Testament book of 1 Peter. We've called this series Exiles because Peter refers to his original audience as Exiles in a foreign world.

You can listen to the latest message in this series right here!

4/30/2017 - Neal Benson | Suffering for following Christ from Central Peninsula Church on Vimeo.

Christians are the most persecuted group in 2016

Earlier this year I read an article in my newsfeed on my phone. The heading of the article stated that in 2016 a Christian was killed for their faith every six minutes. This means nearly 90,000 Christians were killed for their faith in 2016, equivalent to one every six minutes. The research was completed by the Italy based Center for Studies on New Religions. The annual study is set to release next month with full details.

You might find it interesting to know that the number of Christ followers who were martyred in 2016 is less than those who lost their lives in 2015. In 2015 105,000 Christ followers were martyred. The group commented that “It still makes Christians the most persecuted religious group in the world.” Most of the persecution took place in Africa in tribal conflicts. Many people who give their lives to Christ refuse to take up a weapon and fight with their tribe and therefore lose their lives.

The annual study also indicated that between 500 and 600 million Christians were prevented from freely practicing their faith. Right now Christians are being harassed in 110 countries around the world. While we freely gather here, there are other Christ followers who are forced to worship in private locations. But these followers of Jesus are worshipping Him, they aren’t allowing the persecution to stop them. They are worshipping God right now for His goodness in their lives.

Although you may not share a similar experience to other Christ followers around the world, have you noticed how suffering is a tool that God uses to shape your faith?

Have you found that some of the most difficult times are when your faith flourished the most?

Even if you’re not yet a Christ follower, have you found that times of suffering grow your character most?

Our Living Hope

Earlier this month our church started a new teaching series through the book of 1 Peter. The book of 1 Peter is written by Peter, the disciple of Christ. He is writing to a group of Christ followers who are scattered throughout Asia Minor. They are being persecuted for their faith and Peter writes the book to encourage them as they live as exiles in a foreign land.

For this teaching series I took week two and taught the following message about Jesus Christ being our living hope. If you're in need of hope today watch this!

1/22/2017 - Neal Benson | Our Living Hope from Central Peninsula Church on Vimeo.

We Will Suffer

Last Sunday I preached a sermon at our South Campus titled, "Living Like a Child of God." Paul is writing to the church in Rome and tells this group of young believer that they are children of God. They are not children of some statue. They are not worthless people who are an accident. They are not just here on earth for nothing. They are children of God!

We are children of God.

We also are children of God. God has chosen us to be His children. We have been adopted into sonship. God's children are led by God's Spirit. Its a new way of thinking. God is not some distant, far off, uninterested, mean-spirited god who is mad at us. God is our Father; our Heavenly Father who loves His children.

As Paul concludes in Romans 8:17 he says this;

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

There is an inheritance to be had for God's children. But there is a qualification to receive this inheritance. The qualification is we must suffer with Christ. We know that Christ suffered for us; Peter reminds us of this in his New Testament letter (1 Peter 4:13). There is no prescribed method of suffering for each individual. Each person is going to experience their own suffering as Christ suffered for us. I’m not even going to try to standardize the experience because each of God’s children will experience suffering in their own unique way.

As you walk, live, eat and breathe as a child of God please remember that you will suffer. This week I plan on writing more on some of the suffering I've experienced as a Christ follower.