God's Strange Ways

A Pleasing Faith

Mark 7:24-30 A Pleasing Faith I) Shameless Humility II) Shameless Persistence III) Shameless Confidence Reflection Questions: Read Matthew 15:28 -“Then Jesus answered her, 'O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. 1)What can we learn from this woman about the kind of faith that Jesus commends? 2) What barriers does this woman cross in coming to Jesus? 3) What are some common barriers that we can have in our relationship with Jesus that keep us from coming to Jesus and asking? 4) Jesus answers the woman’s quest with a parable, see v. 27. What is the picture he paints? How does the woman understand Jesus’ words? 5) What will be different in your walk with Jesus, having read this text?

The Stain

Mark 7:1-23 The Stain I) Stains make us unpresentable v.1-5 II) Stains that come from inside of us v.1-16 III) How can our stains be cleansed? V. 17-23 Reflection Questions: 1) What was the purpose of the purity laws in the Old Testament? 2) What is Jesus’ critique of the Pharisees? What do you think of Jesus' statement in v.21-23? 3) What about us? Is it hard to be honest with your thought life and your inner desires? 4) When and where and in what ways are you inclined to think or act as if your outward actions make you clean? 5) What substitutes for inner purity and holiness are churched people likely to rely on to give them standing with God? 6) What practices or habits have you adopted (or could adopt) to help you rely on what Jesus has done?

Ministry and Unbelief

Mark 6:1-30 Ministry and Unbelief I) Jesus encounters unbelief v.1-6 II) Jesus tells his disciples to expect unbelief v.7-13 III) Mark’s sandwich Jesus sends out the twelve v14-30 IV) The more of this text: unbelief and suffering Reflection Questions: 1) What is the meaning of each of the questions in v.2-3? 2) What do you make of v. 5-6? 3) Pastor Rick said that unbelief blocks the flow of grace. What is unbelief? When have you experienced unbelief in the lives of other people? 4) What are the implications of Hebrews 3:12-15? Talk about each of them (as many as you have time for) and what this means at a practical level? 5) What is our responsibility and God’s in witnessing to Jesus and the gospel? What should encourage us and make us hopeful and bold?

God's Strange Ways

Mark 5:21-42 God’s Strange Ways I) A desperate father v 21-28 II) A desperate woman v 29-34 III) From desperation to despair v33-43 IV) Can you find yourself in the story? Reflection Questions: 1) How do you typically respond to interruptions when you are trying to get something done? 2) Recall a time when you felt desperate and share briefly about it. 3) What do you think of these desperate people in the text? 4) What kinds of needs in your life are actually a desire to know and experience more of Jesus? When is it hard for you to see this? Can you think of a time when you did? 5) What else can we learn from Mark’s sandwich storytelling technique?