Greetings Church,
Mark’s gospel continues its fast pace moving from the story of the feeding of the 5000 to the story of Jesus walking on water. But how are these two stories connected?
Read Mark 6:45-56.
Simple Discussion Questions for Small Groups:
To start your group, have everyone share one way they have seen God at work in their life this week.
1. What storm are you sailing through in your life this week? (let everyone share)
2. Jesus revealed his glory to the disciple sin the midst of the storm as he passed by walking on top of the water. How has Jesus revealed the glory of God to you in the midst of your storm?
3. Jesus doesn’t just send us out into the storm, Jesus is willing to enter into our storms with us. The ultimate example of this is his death on the cross and taking God’s wrath in our place. How does the truth of Jesus’ death for you as your Savior allow you to trust him in your storm today?
4. Review the Fighter Verse- Hebrews 4:15. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus has walked through the storm of suffering and temptation with us. He can sympathize with us. How does this truth allow you to trust him today?
To close your group, have everyone share one challenge they will face this week. Have group members pray for each other as well as pray other Kingdom Centered Prayers.
For Deeper Discussion:
1. Jesus Prays.
Read Mark 6:45-46. Why do you think Jesus had to pray?
*It is important for us to see that Jesus as a human lived his life completely dependent upon the Father. He relied on Abba for everything. Prayer is simply the expression of that dependence. By voluntarily living this way, Jesus is showing us what it means to live in dependence upon God and thus image God as was intended from the beginning.
Are you prayers characterized by DEPENDENCE or DEMANDS?
2. Jesus Sends.
Jesus sent them out into the storm. Does this idea bother you? Encourage you? Why would Jesus send them out into a difficult situation?
How have your personal storms served to reveal the glory of God to others? To yourself?
Pastor Mark defined discipleship this way: “Learning to admit inadequacies, and to depend on the all sufficiency of Jesus.” How do storms cause this kind of true disciple making?
3. Jesus Rescues.
Read Mark 6:52. Why does mark connect this story to the story of the feeding 5000 with loaves?
*Note: Their hearts were too hard to see that Jesus wasn’t just a miracle worker that could multiply bread, but that, more importantly, he IS THE BREAD OF LIFE. He is God.
How does Jesus walking on water show that he is God and not just another holy man or prophet?
How does Jesus walking on water prove that Jesus will pursue us no matter what? How does the cross ultimately prove this?
How does the cross of Christ give us the courage to face our storms each day? What does the cross prove about God’s love and faithfulness for you personally?
Discussion Questions for Families
This is a great story for kids of all ages. It’s definitely a great one to act out with your kids too. Who will play Jesus? Who will play the frightened disciples? Who will make the storm sound effects (youtube?). You can also add in Peter walking on water (Mt. 14:22-33).
After you have acted out the story, talk to each other about times that you have felt really scared. Is it ok to feel scared? Does God ever ask us to do things that might be scary? (Of course the answer is yes)
Talk through this question progression with your kids:
1) Why were the disciples scared?-: The disciples were scared in the storm because they thought they were alone.
2) Was Jesus scared in the storm?- Jesus was not scared in the storm because he knew God was with him (connect this to him praying Mk. 6:46).
3) Has Jesus ever been scared?- Jesus was scared before he died on the cross because he knew God would leave him alone for a time.
4) Do we need to be scared? –No. Because Jesus was alone on the cross for us, we NEVER have to be alone ever again.
5) Because of the cross, Jesus will never leave us or forsake us.
