Small Group Guide
“The Authority of Jesus”
Mark 1-3
Message Summary
Because Mark focuses on who Jesus is and what He has done, the theme of Jesus’ authority is threaded throughout his Gospel. In fact, Mark 2:1-3:6 contains five “conflict episodes” where Jesus does or says something that stirs up controversy with the religious leaders to the point that they want to kill Him. However, Jesus confronted the religious establishment of His day because they did not believe His message, and although Jesus spoke with authority and performed miracles that affirmed His authority, the religious leaders would not yield and acknowledge Him as Lord. Even though He is all-powerful, Jesus still operated under the authority of the Father and demonstrated this by spending time with Him in prayer. Jesus calls us to follow Him, and even though it will cost us to obey Him, He sends us with authority to tell others about Him because, ultimately, the authority Jesus possesses brings good news to the world.
Discussion & Application Questions
After briefly reviewing the message summary, use these questions to further examine the sermon and to discuss how these truths apply to daily life, so we can “be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (Jas. 1:22). Based on your knowledge of the people in your small group, select the questions that will best help you frame the group’s discussion of this sermon and sermon text.
1. Why would Mark begin his Gospel by emphasizing Jesus’ authority in the five conflict episodes (Mk. 2:5, 15, 18, 23; 3:1)?
2. How does Jesus’ assert His authority in Mark 1-3? Why does He do this?
3. How does the authority of Jesus impact our daily life? How should it?
4. What happens if we deny or disregard Jesus’ authority?
THE WORDS OF JESUS: HE SPOKE WITH AUTHORITY (1:21-22; 2:15-27)
5. How have you seen the power of Jesus’ words demonstrated in your own life?
6. Why would a Christian not be all in and take all of Jesus’ words seriously?
7. Application: In what way(s) do you need to obey His words? Is there a particular command that you need to be intentional in obeying this week? How will you do this over the course of the next few days?
THE WORKS OF JESUS: HIS MIRACLES ATTESTED HIS AUTHORITY (1:23-34; 40-45; 2:1-12; 3:1-12, 22-30)
8. What miracles does Jesus perform in Mark 1-3? How do these miracles serve as evidence of His authority?
9. What do these miracles tell us about Jesus’ attributes?
10. How do Jesus’ miracles point to the coming age and what life will be like after He returns?
THE DEPENDENCE OF JESUS: HE WAS UNDER AUTHORITY (1:35-39)
11. Read Mark 1:35-38. What was the response of the people to Jesus’ ministry? Why was Jesus AWOL?
12. Application: How are these verses (Mk. 1:35-38) instructive to us? How will you prioritize fellowship with God today and the rest of this week?
13. What question(s) do you have about prayer?
14. Why is prayer a vital part of our lives as Christians?
15. What does prayer currently look like in your life?
16. What sorts of things are you most commonly praying for in this particular season? How are you depending on God with those things?
17. Application: In what way(s) do you want to grow in the way you communicate with God? How can you take a step to grow this week with regards to prayer?
THE CALL OF JESUS: HE CALLED DISCIPLES AND SENT THEM WITH AUTHORITY (2:13-24; 3:13-21; 31-35)
18. How is following Jesus risky?
19. How does it cost more to say “no” to Jesus than it does to say “yes” to Jesus? How would you explain this concept to someone who is lost?
20. Why are we often overly suspicious of authority in our lives?
21. What is the character and leadership philosophy of the One Who has called us to follow Him (Mk. 10:42-45)? How has Jesus lived this philosophy out?
22. How should it affect our obedience to know that Jesus has sent us with His authority?
23. Read Mark 3:13-14. How do these verses describe Jesus’ motivation for calling disciples? How are you being obedient to this call?
24. Application: In what way(s) do you need to be obedient in following Jesus? In what way(s) do you need to relinquish control to Him? How will you take a step to do this?
25. What keeps you from surrendering to Jesus? What is holding you back? What is it you fear or love or desire that hinders you from fully surrendering to Him?
26. What would be reasons for why a Christian would hold God or the Body at arm’s length?
27. How does faith open the way to a fuller understanding of God and the gospel?
28. How does the power and authority of Jesus relate to your sin struggle? Your family? Your job? Your future? Your desires?
Things to Consider
If you have people in your group who did not hear the sermon, read the sermon text (Mark 1-3) together and briefly summarize the main points of the sermon. Recapping the sermon text and sermon outline can also be a helpful way to start the group, even if everyone did hear the sermon.
While most – if not all of the people – in the group would verbally affirm Jesus’ authority, what we say we believe does not always match how we live. One option for the group time is to identify commands issued by Jesus in the New Testament then to discuss what effect it would have on daily living if each person in the group lived like they believed that these words of Jesus are authoritative. Challenge the group to consider one command they do not functionally believe or live like they believe, and ask group members to identify what is keeping them from obeying this command and how they will take a step to obey that command this week. It might be helpful for the group to share these things with a partner or in smaller groups rather than in the whole group. Direct these smaller groups to pray for each other to obey and to submit to Christ in these areas of their lives. If you choose this option, take some time at the beginning of next week’s group time for these smaller groups to debrief and discuss the step they took over the course of the week.
As Pastor Matt noted in the sermon, the first eight chapters of Mark focus on Who Jesus is. Another option for the group time is to look at these first three chapters and to have group members list each description of Jesus in Mark 1-3 (His name, His characteristics, etc.). What is the significance of each of these descriptions? Use these to spend time in prayer – not praying for requests – but simply praising Jesus for Who He is. If you choose to do the option in the second paragraph, do this option as well because our obedience should be driven by worship. Focusing on Who Jesus is and what He has done motivates us to obey, but if we are not reveling in God and the gospel, obedience quickly becomes legalistic and more duty than delight. Encourage small group members to remember Who Jesus is and what He has done as they take steps to obey His commands.
Weekly Prayer Focus
Pray for Our Church:
· Praise God for the many volunteers who faithfully serve our church each week.
· Ask God to raise up more volunteers to serve in our age group ministries, especially in our Preschool Ministry and as Buddies in our Special Needs Ministry.
· Pray for our Local Disciple-Making Team as they lead, equip, and train all of our volunteers serving in these ministries.
Pray for Our City:
· Pray for Hearts in Hands, Inc. (heartsinhands.org), a local non-profit founded by Brook Hills members that provides home repair services and wheelchair ramp construction for poor and elderly people in the greater Birmingham area.
· Pray for Shades Valley Community Church and for Pastor Jonathan Haefs.
Pray for Our World:
· Pray for Jesse S. and his family, our Brook Hills field partner in India. Jesse is a key partner who leads a team of workers who are strategically serving among unengaged unreached people groups, and their goal is to see disciples formed and healthy, multiplying churches established among these people groups.
· Pray for the Bairagi people of India.
The Church at Brook Hills “The Authority of Jesus,” April 2, 2017 | Page 3