DEEPER Questions

Go through these questions in your LifeGroup or on your own to Dig Deeper into
Sunday's message

1. Like we saw with last week's story, Mark doesn't give us a lot of the details when it comes to this story about Jesus performing an exorcism. Basically what we get is this: Jesus teaches, the crowd is amazed, Jesus performs an exorcism, the crowd is amazed, Jesus becomes famous. Why do you think Mark doesn't care about the details as much as some of the other gospel writers (there's no wrong answer here!)? If his central focus isn't the details, what do you think he's trying to get his readers (you and me) to focus on? 

2. Micah talked about a few breaking news events that have shaped our culture and country in recent history. From the Miracle on Ice to September 11th, these events defined these times and forever changed the people who were part of them. The same is true of the Good News Jesus was preaching in this story. What events (good or bad) have changed your life in some fundamental way? Has hearing the Good News done the same? 

3. "Stranger Things" happen when you follow was one of the main takeaways from Sunday. Similarly, Micah shared that success often comes with strife, using the example of some strange occurrences lately at the Downtown Campus. Has this ever happened in your own life? When we start following Jesus, the enemy often tries to trip us up—can you relate? 

4. Instead of pulling away when things got strange, Jesus leaned in closer. He called out the demon from the man when it would have been easy to ignore him or walk away. In your own life, do you tend to lean in or pull away when things get strange or uncomfortable? What do you think the example of Jesus is pointing us towards in this circumstance? 

5. Through this story, Micah showed us that Jesus empties so he can fill. Jesus emptied the demon-possessed man of the unclean spirit so he could fill him with his love, presence, and peace. What are you filling your life up with right now? Are these things—drugs, money, sex, busy-ness, work, kids, food, technology, gossip—actually filling you, or are they leaving you empty? What do you think God is trying to fill you up with, or how has He filled you up? 

6. Have you experienced a moment like the demon-possessed man? Maybe Jesus didn't call an actual demon out of you, but was there a moment or season in your life where you moved from filling yourself up with other things and then turned to Jesus to fill you up? What was that moment like for you? What kind of freedom have you experienced since? 

DIG INTO Scripture

Read and meditate on Sunday's Scripture to find deeper meaning and connection to God

Mark 1:21-28

Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit

21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

LEAVE THE BUILDING 

Take what you learned on Sunday and apply it to your life 

• The kingdom of God is meant to break in and upset the status quo. How has being part of God's kingdom upset the status quo in your own life? What things has God had to "disrupt" so you can better serve and love him? 
  
• How can you be like Jesus and lean into the "stranger things" that might come up in your life this week? What's your game plan for leaning in instead of pulling away when strife and strange start to make appearances in your life? 
• One of Micah's last points was about how Jesus liberates us so we can participate. What is Jesus trying to liberate you from this week, this month, or this year? What do you need to do to lean into that liberation and be free? When you are liberated, what do you think Jesus wants you to participate in? 

PICK UP A BOOK

Looking for another way to Dig Deeper into the Mark sermon series?
Read more about being a disciple of Jesus in Jeff Vanderstelt's awesome book, Saturate!

PURCHASE SATURATE

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