Fear: Absence of Faith

1. Storms reveal my WEAKNESS. (Mk 4:35-37)


2. Storms reveal what I THINK about Jesus. (Mk 4:38)


3. Storms reveal who Jesus REALLY is. (Mk 4:39-41)

Psalm 56:3 - When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Isaiah 12:2 - I will trust, and will not be afraid...

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 4:35-41

1. Why do you think the disciples assumed Jesus didn’t care about their plight? Have you ever felt that you were going through a storm, and Jesus doesn’t care (Mark 4:38)?
    
2. Think of a storm that you have gone through. What did Jesus revealed to you about Himself when the “wind ceased”?

Breakout Questions:

What are you afraid of? Illness? Financial crisis? Issues with your family? What reminder from God’s Word do you need to conquer your fear?

Kingdom: Supernatural and Unstoppable

1. You do YOUR PART. (Mk 4:21-25)

Ways We Hide the Light (Our Baskets and Beds):


1. FEAR


2. SIN


3. SHAME


4. SELF-CENTEREDNESS


5. COMPLAINING

Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world...


2. God does HIS PART . (Mk 4:26-29)


3. God gets RESULTS . (Mk 4:30-34)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 4:21-34

1. Sunday we talked about “Ways We Hide the Light (Our Baskets and Beds)” from Mark 4:21. Which of these 5 things get in your way of sharing the Gospel with people? How can each of these be corrected?
   a. Fear
   b. Sin
   c. Shame
   d. Self­-centeredness
   e. Complaining
    
2. When you think of evangelism, do you lean more towards Calvinism (God does what He wants with who He wants, period) or Armenian-ism (saving people is up to each of us)? What do you think Mark 4:21-29 says about the matter?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another to be better lamps for Jesus!

Gospel: A Response is Required

1. The Parable (Mk 4:19)
• Seed -
• Path -
• Rocky ground -
• Thorns -
• Good soil -


2. How have you responded to the message of Jesus? (Mk 4:14-20)


1. "I don't GET it." (Mk 4:15)


2. "I can't TAKE it." (Mk 4:16-17)


3. "I don't WANT it." (Mk 4:18-19)


4. "I RECEIVE it." (Mk 4:20)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 4:1-20

1. How can you tell which way someone is responding to the Gospel? What does it look like if they are hard-hearted, shallow-­hearted, or worldly-­hearted?
    
2. How do you know if someone truly receives Jesus? Can you really know? What evidence (or “fruit”) can you look for?
    
3. What determines if someone produces 30­-fold, 60­-fold, or 100-­fold?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for someone, by name, that you know needs to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. And pray for an opportunity to share with that person!

Unforgiven: Blasphemy of the Spirit

Who is Jesus?

1. "Lunatic!" Says those that don't KNOW Him. (Mk 3:21-22)


2. "Liar!" Says those that don't REJECT Him. (Mk 3:22-30)



What is the unforgivable sin?




How do I know I haven't done it?


Hebrews 2:3 - how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

Hebrews 6:4-6 - For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance

Hebrews 10:26,29 - For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins... How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?


3. "Lord!" Says those who EMBRACE Him. (Mk 3:31-35)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 3:21-35

1. Why do you think some people hold on to wrong opinions about Jesus without every really investigating Him for themselves (like His family who heard He was crazy, so they went after Him without verifying anything themselves, Mk 3:21)?
    
2. How would you define the “unforgivable sin” (Mk 3:29)? (Hint for discussion leader: It is a wholesale rejection of Jesus Christ, just as these scribes saw Jesus at work and attributed His power to Satan.)
    
3. What did Jesus mean by saying those who “do the will of God” are His “brother and sister and mother” (Mk 3:35)?

Breakout Questions:

Have you ever worried that you committed “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit”? What do you think about that now? Pray for one another.

Discipling: Equipping for Work

So You Want a Fruitful Ministry Like Jesus?

1. Focus on MISSION . (Mk 3:7-12)


2. Invest in PEOPLE . (Mk 3:13-19)

Eight People You Will Work With In Ministry:

1. GUNG-HO Guy (Simon Peter)


2. EMOTIONAL Powder Keg (James and John)


3. BEHIND the scenes Worker Bees (Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, James Son of Alphaeus)


4. The CONTROVERSIAL Convert (Matthew)


5. Constant SKEPTIC (Thomas)


6. MAMA'S Boy (Thaddaeus)


7. POLITICAL Campaigner (Simon the Zealot)


8. The BACKSTABBERS (Judas Iscariot)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 3:7-19

1. Which of the 12 apostles do you think you identify with the most closely? Why?
    
2. Which of the 12 apostles’ personality types do you find you have the hardest time working with? Why?
    
3. In what way does your personality require grace and patience?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another.