The Patience Jesus | Portrait of Jesus | Mark 3:7-12
Besides the examples Bob talked about in the sermon, can you think of other examples where Jesus showed patience?
In what ways do you believe that God is patient with you?
Why are humility, patience and humble service counterintuitive regarding cultural transformation and kingdom advancement?
In which area do you struggle most to be patient - Suffering? Service to others? Love? Prayer? Verbal witness?
Bob said that living in union with Christ can bring His patience to transform our hearts. What do you think it means to live in union with Christ? Are there ways you can learn more about this?
The Temptation of Jesus | Portrait of Jesus | Matthew 4:1-11
SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Do you struggle with the idea of personal evil/Satan? If so, why do you think that is?
2. Scott said Jesus faced three types of temptation that cover the gamut of our lives: appetite, approval and ambition. Of those three, which do you find to be the most tempting?
3. Scott said that Jesus is our escape because He did (refuse to give in to sin) what we have not done and In the process secured our eternal life at the Cross. He is the Living Word that we can draw on in times of need through His Word. What practices do you need to start to be prepared for the battle for your heart? What practices do you need to stop for the same reason?
Power and Authority | Portrait of Jesus | Mark 1: 21-28
We begin our series, Portrait of Jesus, with an opening scene in the Gospels where Jesus declares that God’s kingdom has come with His arrival and immediately he begins to not only teach this—leading to proclamations of amazement among the people—but demonstrated the kingdom through casting out evil spirits. What’s the significance of it all? Jesus is saying, “The King has come and He comes with authority and power.” And what do we do before a true king? We bow. Jesus calls His discipled and He calls us to follow Him too—to bow down in submission—that we might discover the joy of becoming like Him. In discovering the true portrait of Jesus, we see ourselves as we were truly created to be.
1. Have you ever met someone of great power, fame and worth? What was it like?
2. Scott said Jesus comes to us as a king but an unexpected one, to be sure. He gives us a glimpse into His power over life itself in a cosmic showdown with evil but is determined to keep a low profile all the same. How do you make sense of this seeming paradox? What does it teach us for our own lives as His followers?
3. Scott said we all have “kings” that we bow down to, pay homage too. What “kings” have you been following lately in the place of the true King?
4. Scott concluded by noting we have been called to follow Him and this means to “repent and believe” but that is not a one time event as Christians but an ongoing reality. How is God speaking to you about this right now?
