We are a community in the South Bay that seeks to follow Jesus
by ray
Preacher: Pastor Ray
Text: Matt 15:21-28
For what kind of faith does Jesus offer His highest commendation? Answer: a faith that is not easily offended. A Canaanite woman overcame the following: 1) Jesus’ silence, 2) disciples who were annoyed by her, 3) Jesus’ confusing statement toward her, and 4) what appears as an outright insult from Jesus.
by ray
by ray
Bearing fruit and becoming like Jesus takes time. May the Lord teach us to be patient.
Read Mark 7:1-23.
– Why is Jesus critical of the Pharisees?
– Examine the condition of your heart. Is it close to the Lord or far off? How can you tell?
– How did the Pharisees introduce their own “tradition of the elders” in order to avoid a clear command such as honor your father and mother?
– Are their clear commandments that you are avoiding by inventing some interpretation that gets you off the hook?
– Where does evil come from? Do you really believe this?
Read Mark 4:1-34. Jesus demonstrates over the 3 years in His ministry to the 12 disciples what ministering to people’s hearts looks like.
– Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
– Who is doing the bulk of the ministry in the gospels?
– Do you believe that Jesus is modeling for us what doing God’s will looks like in order that you and I may follow Him and do likewise?
– Why might the Parable of the Sower be prophetic in the sense that Jesus was telling the disciples in advance what they would undergo? Who or what is the seed that is being planted in their hearts?
– Discipleship is a time of sowing and watering seeds. What is the guarantee when a seed lands on good soil? Who brings the growth? Have you thought of discipleship in this way?
– In Mark 4:33-34, what lesson can we glean about the pace and timing with which the Lord speaks to us? Does the Lord alter what He says depending on who the audience is?
– Do you see much fruit in the lives of the 12 disciples during Jesus’ 3 year ministry? When do we see fruit born? What should we learn from this?
Read Mark 4:35-41; Mark 5:21-43; Mark 6:30-44.
– How are these accounts examples of fruitlessness (or fear, faithlessness, lack of heart)?
– Who had it easier? The disciples who had Jesus right in front of them, or us? Explain your reasons.
– In Mark 5:37, why did Jesus allow only Peter, James and John to witness the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead? What is the spiritual principle?
– What were the 2 reactions to the crowd of 5,000 who were hungry? How is Jesus focusing on the hearts of the disciples through this incident?
Read Mark 6:45-52. Jesus addresses the hardness of their hearts regarding the “loaves” (which is a reference to the feeding of the 5,000). Read Mark 7:24-30. The theme of “loaves” continues with “bread” and “crumbs” falling from the master’s table in the account of the faith of the Syrophoenician (a Gentile) woman.
– Mark 8 begins with the feeding of the 4,000. Read Mark 8:14-21. Why doesn’t Jesus explain explain the significance of the 12 baskets and 7 baskets?
– Is it significant that the word for 12 “baskets” is different from the word used for 7 “baskets”?
– What was Jesus trying to communicate through the 12 baskets and the 7 baskets?
– Do you see that softening a hardened heart takes time?
by ray
Read Mark 1.
– What’s the significance of God saying that Jesus is His beloved Son and that He is well pleased with Him before Jesus did anything?
– Do you believe that God loves you, period? Not for what you do, but simply because of who you are?
– Do you find it odd that after Jesus was baptized, Jesus didn’t start ministering right away, but instead He retreated for 40 days of prayer and fasting in the wilderness? What is God trying to teach us through this?
– Do you agree that God’s ways and thoughts are often higher than our ways and thoughts?
– Do you find yourself being impatient at present regarding various concerns and questioning God’s timing?
– Think back to a time when God asked you to wait. What did you learn through this?
Intimacy cannot be rushed. It takes time to build true friendships.
– Have you ever thought of prayer as a time to grow in your friendship with the Lord?
– If Jesus Himself submitted to 40 days of prayer and fasting, and if Jesus had to be tested, and if Jesus had to learn how to kill the voice of flesh and live by the Spirit, and He is the Son of God, how much more you and I? Have you gone through periods like this?
Read Mark 1:35.
– Jesus did a lot of ministry, but what was the source of His power?
Read Mark 2.
– The critics of Jesus are beginning to surface. What are they criticizing and what were they totally ignoring?
– These people are very knowledgeable, yet completely loveless. Do you see these tendencies in your heart? If so, ask the Lord to purge them from your heart.
Read Mark 3.
– Jesus normally ministered to the crowds, but in this chapter, we find Jesus fleeing from a crowd. How did Jesus know whether to stay or to flee?
– What lesson is the Lord teaching us through this incident?
– Have you ever had a time when God told you not to do something that seemed like a good idea initially (i.e. ministering to someone, starting a ministry, serving)?
Read Mark 3:13-15.
– What have these disciples been called to?
– What is the essence of discipleship?
– What is one definition of prayer?
Jesus poured into 12 men.
– How do you assess Jesus’ strategy and investment of His time?
– Doesn’t this seem like a waste of Jesus’ talent and potential?
– What does this decision to invest in 12 men teach us about the nature of friendship?
Read Mark 4:1-12.
– This sermon was not easy to understand. Why did the best communicator who ever lived speak in parables and metaphors?
– Read Mark 4:10. Notice that the disciples and the few stragglers who hung around were just as confused as the crowd. What separates the disciples and the stragglers? How is this a portrait of prayer?
– What does it mean to lead with your heart and then your head? What happens when the order is reversed?
– Read Mark 4:11-12. Jesus unlocks the secret of the kingdom of God to those who humbly came to Him. Have you had moments when God revealed secrets and gave you understanding suddenly during prayer time?
Read Mark 4:13-20. Jesus proves that He indeed is a great communicator.
– Ask the Lord to search your heart and soften it and believe that He will expose and remove the rocks and the thorns.
– A good heart is someone who has no agenda other than just being with Jesus – do you agree or disagree?