DEEPER Questions

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

1. Do you remember being a kid and running to your parents and having them tell you it's all going to be okay? Or maybe you're a parent now and you do a similar thing to comfort your children when they get scared. Talk about these memories with your group. Why do you think we remember those times so clearly even as adults? What is it about being afraid that stays with us? 

2. While we tell our kids (and even ourselves), that things will be okay even when they're clearly not, Jesus takes a different approach. In the midst of a storm when the disciples clearly should have been afraid, he tells them there's nothing to fear. What do you think this tells us about Jesus and the New Kingdom he's bringing to Earth? Why is the statement, "You don't have to be afraid even when there's something to be afraid of," true with Jesus? Share your thoughts on this statement. 

3. Do you think it's possible that Jesus didn't know this massive storm was coming when he set out in the boat with his disciples? If he did plan this "teachable moment," why do you think he did so? What does this say about Jesus's leadership? 

4. We really have two options when we're faced with literal and figurative storms in life: fight or flight. Thinking about your own life, which one do you most often choose? But is there a third option? The disciples couldn't fight the waves, and they couldn't really flee since that would entail swimming to shore in the middle of this storm. What is the third option here? How does this option relate to our own lives? 

5. Rodney talked about the hardest part of a storm not being the storm itself, but not knowing how long the waves are going to crash down on you. Have you experienced this in your own life? Share with the group if you feel comfortable. What got you through that storm, or what is getting you through your storm right now? How can we trust that Jesus is always in the boat with us even if he doesn't calm the storm on our timeline? 

6. Share with the group your thoughts on this quote Rodney shared: "For the fearlessness of death and the hereafter is something we witness in them everyday" (Claudius Gaylenus). What do you think made these Christians so fearless in the face of fatal storms? Can we have that same fearlessness today? 

DIG INTO Scripture

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

Mark 4:35-41

Jesus Calms a Storm

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Matthew 14:22-32

Jesus Walks on the Water

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way[a] from the land,[b] beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night[c] he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,[d] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

LEAVE THE BUILDING 

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

• Is Jesus in the boat of life along with you? Whether he currently is or isn't in your boat, how can you put him in there this week? How can you trust him more despite the waves continually crashing down on you? 
• Why are we so afraid right now? What is the biggest thing holding you back from trusting Jesus with your current circumstances? How can you give control over to him and let him calm the storm? 
• Why don't we have to be afraid even when there's something to be afraid of? How can you make a concrete step towards picking the third option between fight or flight (Jesus) this week? How do you think your current situation would change if you truly trusted Jesus to take care of it? 

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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