WEEK ONE: Why Did Jesus Ask So Many Questions? (adapted from Serendipity Bible)

• Why do you think Jesus asked his disciples who people said he was?
• If you asked the typical person today, "Who is Jesus Christ?" what would he or she say?
• What would your answer to this question have been in the past? What is your answer today?
• Why did Peter get so upset when Jesus told about his future death?
• Why did Jesus get so upset with Peter's response?
• What do you think it means that "anyone who would come after me, must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me"?
• When you compare your spiritual life to Jesus' call to take up your cross, how do you feel?
• What would it mean for you to "deny" yourself?
• What might it mean for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
• When Peter declared who Jesus was, Jesus also revealed Peter's great potential.  What potential has Jesus revealed in you as you have come to know him as Lord?
• What would taking the next step in your spiritual life mean?

(this study is adapted from the Serendipity Study Bible for Groups.  Studies like this are always available for free in the Cove before and after every service!)

WEEK TWO: Is it lawful go do good or evil on the Sabbath?

• Are there any "unwritten rules" of Christianity that bother or confuse you?  What are they?
• Read Matthew 12:1-14.
• How would you summarize Jesus' teaching in this passage?
• In verse seven, Jesus says, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice".  Since we don't "sacrifice" at the temple anymore, what would be our equivalent of "sacrificing"? (there are probably several good answers to this question)
• What is an example you've seen of someone sacrificing, but not showing mercy?
• What standards are you sometimes tempted to use to judge other people's spirituality?
• Are you ever tempted to focus on sacrificing at the neglect of showing mercy?
• What can you do this week to focus your attention on being merciful to others?
• How can the group help you with this?

WEEK THREE: Why are you afraid?

• Why are storms such a frightening experience for children?
• What "silly" things are you afraid of? (eg. snakes, puppets, clowns, etc.)
• Read Mark 4:35-41.
• Why do you think Jesus stayed asleep in the boat during the storm?  What do you think he was trying to teach the disciples?
• What do you think the disciples expected from Jesus? (read  verse 41, the disciples were surprised that he could stop the storm, so they weren't expecting that!)
• Which part of this story best describes your life right now? (getting in the boat, middle of the storm, waking Jesus up, amazed by God)
• When have you felt like God was asleep in the middle of life's storm?  How did you deal with that?
• What should we expect from God when we find ourselves in a storm?
• Why is it so hard to have "faith" in the middle of life's hard times?  What activities have you found to be helpful when you're going through hard times?
• Who do you know that is in a storm right now?  How can you encourage them and build their faith?

WEEK FOUR: What do you have?

• What is the most amazing meal you have ever had? Who prepared it? How long did it take to prepare?

• Read John 6:1-15. Have each member of the group talk about one thing that stands out to them in the passage.

• Verse 6 says that Jesus was testing the disciples. Do you think they passed? Why or why not?

• How have you felt like God might be testing you in recent months? Do you feel like you are passing? Why or why not?

• The disciples were convinced that the food they had was far too little to accomplish what Jesus expected of them. When have you felt like your gifts and abilities were far too little to accomplish what Jesus expects of you? Does it help to know that He already knows what He's going to do? (verse 6)

• What is something (gift, resource, time, etc...) you have that you would be willing to give to Jesus?

• What is something amazing you would like to see Jesus do in your life?

• Spend some time praying for one another. Pray that you will find opportunities to give up your stuff to let God use it in amazing ways.

WEEK FIVE: What do you want?

• If you could ask one person in this group for one thing, who would you ask and what would you ask for?
• Read Matthew 20:29-34.
• Every aspect of these men's life was overshadowed by the reality of their blindness.  Is it any wonder the one thing they asked for was their sight?  What overwhelming issues have you observed other people deal with in their lives?  What do you think they would ask Jesus to do for them?
• If you could ask God for one thing, what would it be?
• Read Deuteronomy 5:21.
• How would you draw the line between "wanting" something and "coveting" it?  If you are comfortable, talk about some things you are tempted to covet.
• Read 1 Peter 1:14.
• How should your desires be different once you've chosen to follow Christ?  How might they remain the same?
• If you could ask Him, what do you think God would say are His desires for you?
• Read Psalm 37:4.
• What do you think it means to "delight in the LORD?"  How might that activity bring you the desires of your heart?  How might that activity change the desires of your heart?
• Would it be better to receive what you want from God or to receive what God wants for you?  Why?
• Why is this truth difficult to put into action?  What actions might we do to align ourselves with God's desires for us?
• Has this conversation prompted you to think about any changes in your life?  How can the group help you/pray for you?

WEEK SIX: Do you care?

• Is it possible to care too much about something or someone?  Give an example.
• What are some of the things in your life that you care deeply about?  What are some things that you just don't care about?
• Talk about a time when you cared so much for something that you became frustrated.
• Tell about a time you felt like saying, "That's it!  I can't take anymore!".  What made you care so deeply in that moment?
• How can our frustrations sometimes spur us on to positive action?
• As a group, make a list of the kinds of people that usually no one cares about.
• Read Mark 9:35.
• Why do some people not care at all about serving others?  How does selfishness keep some people from obeying these words of Jesus?
• Some people may read these words and be discouraged that they don't care about serving enough, but not know what to do about it.  What are some specific steps a person could take to help them "care" more about serving others?
• What are some things or people you need to care more about?
• What can you and the group do this week to be more caring?

WEEK SEVEN: Are You Any Different?

• What is the most unique experience you have every had?  What made it so unique?

   

• As a group, read Matthew 5:13-16.

   

• The theme of the three “pictures” used by Jesus seems to be focused on “uniqueness”.  A city on a hill and a light in the dark stand out from their surroundings because of their uniqueness.

   

• Give an example of a situation in which it would be good to be unique?

   

• Why and how should Christians be unique?  Are there times Christians should not be unique?  How can you find the right balance?

   

• As a group, read 1 Peter 2:11,12.  The two key instructions of this passage are to “abstain from sinful desires” and to “live among the pagans (the world)”.  Unfortunately sometimes Christians don’t quite get these two concepts right.  Use the next two questions to talk about examples of Christians getting Peter’s instructions confused.

   

• What is an example of someone who chooses to “abstain” from the world?

   

• What is an example of someone who chooses to “live among” their evil desires?

   

• The key is for Christians to find the balance of living IN THE WORLD while continuing to ABSTAIN from the sinful desires that come with the world.

   

• In Matthew 5:13, Jesus contrasts salt with sand (sand is not good for anything except being trampled on).  What is the major difference between salt and sand?  If salt is not “salty” is it any different than sand?

   

• Salt without saltiness is useless.  What would it mean for someone to be a “useless Christian”?

WEEK EIGHT: Is It Possible to Have a Good Marriage?

• Make a list of the world’s best “combination foods”. (any food that successfully combines two or more key ingredients.  Examples would be Oreos or Reece’s)

   

• Make a list of food combinations that don’t work.

   

• It seems people are often like food.  Some people work well together and others seem to be like water and oil.  What are some characteristics of a good relationship (marriage, friendship, job, etc.)?  What are some characteristics of a bad relationship?

   

• What do you think are the greatest struggles that most married couples face (if you’re in a “non-married” group, talk about the relational struggles people deal with most often)?

   

• Read Genesis 2:20-25.  Then read Genesis 3:8-13.     Notice the difference in relationship when Adam and Eve were focused on one another (Gen.2) and when they were focusing on themselves (Gen.3).

   

• How can you do a better job of focusing your attention on your spouse/friends/etc.?

   

• How did Adam and Eve’s relationship with God impact their relationship with each other?

   

• In your experience, can husbands and wives (or friends) deepen their relationship with each other by deepening their relationship with God?  How would you suggest they do this?

   

• What changes do you need to make in your life this week?  How can this group help you?

   

WEEK NINE: What's That in Your Eye?

• Together, read Matthew 7:1-5.

   

• When Jesus said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”, do you think he meant men will judge us or God will judge us?  Why? (can you say “both”?)

   

• How have you heard or seen people use verse 3 wrongly? (perhaps in self-defense?)

   

• Consider three possible reasons someone might take a judgmental attitude toward others:

   

  •   To feel better about themselves

     

  •   To avoid thinking about their own faults

     

  •   Because they see similar weaknesses in themselves

     

• Have you ever been judgmental toward someone for one of these reasons?  Talk about how you could have done it differently.

   

• Does this passage mean we should never approach or confront someone who is doing something wrong?  Why or why not?

   

• Read the following passages and talk about what they teach us regarding confrontation:

   

  •   Proverbs 9:8

     

  •   Proverbs 13:1

     

  •   Proverbs 25:12

     

  •   Proverbs 28:23

     

• As a group develop some guidelines for “healthy confrontation”.

   

• What are the “planks in your eye” (some areas in your life that you need to correct)?