Before We Get Started

For our discussion today we will be using the sermon series discussion guides. If you would like to follow along you can access this discussion guide on the website at mosaicchurchaustin.com and then select “community group resources” in the menu options.

Prayer

Because the main goal of our time together is to establish relationships and learn how to walk with one another in all that God has called us to be and do, we’d like to begin by praying for one another. So, does anyone have anything you’d like us to pray for, or  anything to share regarding how you’ve seen God moving in your life that we can celebrate together.

This Week’s Topic

This week we continue our journey through the Gospel of Mark as we step into the first of a three part series; The Man Who Acts, The God Who Heals, and The King Who Suffers. We will be taking at look at Mark’s claims regarding the life of Jesus and how this Jesus of Nazareth not only changes lives, but has changed history itself. Today’s discussion is going to be a bit of a testimony session as we discuss when, how and why our faith journey began and how, if you’re a Christian, following Jesus has impacted your life.

Discussion Questions

What does the word “Trap” mean? What is a trap? What does a trap do?

Mark 3:1-6

‘The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. ‘

As a brief recap from Sunday’s sermon, why were these Pharisees so angry with Jesus?

What would you say is at the heart of religion? 

Why do you think humanity is so prone to try to find ways to prove our worth?

How have you seen that pursuit of “being good enough” damage our culture? Our relationships? Ourselves?

Dr. Timothy Keller

The Bible’s purpose is not so much to show you how to live a good life. The Bible’s purpose is to show you how God’s grace breaks into your life against your will and saves you from the sin and brokenness otherwise you would never be able to overcome… religion is ‘if you obey, then you will be accepted’. But the Gospel is, ‘if you are absolutely accepted, and sure you’re accepted, only then will you ever begin to obey’. Those are two utterly different things. Every page of the Bible shows the difference.

Legalistic remorse says, “I broke God’s rules,” while real repentance says, “I broke God’s heart.”

How would you describe the difference between religion and the Gospel?

In what ways is religion easier than the Gospel? 

Now, in what ways is the Gospel more powerful than religion?

How might a Gospel-centered people impact the world in ways that a religious people cannot?

How can the Gospel actually free us to be our truest self? Why is religion incapable of doing that?

Closing Thought