Authority: Who does He think He is?

"Question, Jesus: WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!" (Mk 11:27-33)

3 Wrong Ways to Respond to the Authority of Jesus:

1. Just QUESTION it. (Mk 11:28)



2. Just don't DEAL with it. (Mk 11:31-33)



3. Just PRETEND to accept it. (Mk 11:31)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 11:27-33

1. Why didn't the religious leaders accept Jesus' authority? Why don't people in our day?
    
2. Why did Jesus' question take them to John the Baptist? What did their answer reveal about them?
    
3. What are some ways people let "popular opinion" shape their beliefs?

Breakout Questions:

What is an area of Jesus’ authority you struggle with? Pray for one another about your "authority issues".

Prayer: How to Throw a Mountain

1. Why do I pray? Because no prayer = no FRUIT . (Mk 11:12-16)


2. Why do I pray? Because Jesus says it's PRIORITY . (Mk 11:17-19)


3. How do I pray?

1. REMEMBER God's history. (Mk 11:20-21)


2. RECOGNIZE prayer is about God. (Mk 11:22)


3. RAISE your expectations. (Mk 11:23)


4. RECEIVE the answer by Faith. (Mk 11:24)


5. RECONCILE with people who need forgiveness. (Mk 11:25)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 11:12-25

As a group, explain why Jesus cursed the fig tree.

1. What does it mean to pray "according to God's will". How does that empower your prayer? What is NOT "praying according to God's will"? (give an example)
    
2. Share ways you/we can all make prayer more of a priority in our own lives.
    
3. Is your church a "house of prayer"? How can you improve the prayer priority at your church?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another. Take turns seeing who can throw their mountain the furthest!

"Triumphal" Entry: Arrival of the King

What Kind of King is this?

1. SOVEREIGN King: Trust Him to keep his WORD. (Mk 11:1-6)



2. MISUNDERSTOOD King: Don't expect what He's not OFFERING. (Mk 11:7-11)
   

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 11:1-11

1. Describe, in your own words, what the "Triumphal Entry" was all about. Why did Jesus ride in on a donkey? What did that signify?
    
2. What was the crowd expecting from Jesus? How do you think it affected their attitude towards Him when He didn't overthrow Rome?
    
3. What are some things people want "saved from" today? How do people react when Jesus doesn't give them what they want? How should that shape how believers pray?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another:

• Passionately
• Persistently
• Specifically 

Crying Out: Shameless Approach

The Power of Impassioned Prayer

1. DESPERATION makes you cry out. (v46-47)



2. PERSISTENCE makes you grow. (v48)



3. Being SPECIFIC brings an answer. (v49-51)



4. The answer CHANGES your life. (v52)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Sermon Audio: (no recording)

Family Discussion Questions:

Discussion Questions for Parents to Disciple Their Children! We encourage every parent to have your kids listen and even take a few notes on the sermon today. Use this to discuss the sermon and put it into practice this week:

1. How do you think Bartimaeus knew it was Jesus passing by?
    
2. Why do you think Bartimaeus kept crying out to Jesus, even after people told him to stop? Did Bartimaeus seem to bother Jesus? Do you think that also teachers us that we never bother Jesus when we pray and pray about something?
    
3. Let's talk about prayer. Let's list some things that you want to pray about, and how exactly you would like God to answer... and let's pray about them right now!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 10:46-52

1. In what area of prayer do you struggle the most: passionate, specific, or persistent? Why? What are some ways to change that area of weakness?
    
2. Why did Jesus ask Bart, "What do you want me to do for you?" What does this tell us about how we should pray?
    
3. What do you do when it seems God isn't answering your prayer the way you are asking? How should you respond? How do you usually respond?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another to grow in prayer.

Salvation: Debunking the Myths

Five Myths about Salvation that Jesus Debunked


Myth #1 - People are GOOD . (Mk 10:17-18)

Myth #2 - I am GOOD . (Mk 10:19-20)

Myth #3 - REPENTANCE is optional. (Mk 10:21-22)

Myth #4 - I can SAVE myself. (Mk 10:23-27)

Myth #5 - It's not worth WORTH what you give up. (Mk 10:28-31)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 10:17-31

1. Why did Jesus tell this man to sell all he has before becoming a follower? Is this a requirement for everyone to follow Jesus? Why or why not?
    
2. What do you think most people (who aren't born again believers) are trusting to get them to heaven? Why do seemingly most unsaved people think they are "good"?
    
3. Why do you think Jesus preached the OT Commandments to this man?
    
4. Jesus said in Mark 10:23 it is difficult for "those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God". Why do you think that is? What does this say about our culture, where everyone has wealth, even the "poorest" in our society?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for each other.