CrossGroups Connection Guide
Today’s Scripture Focus: Mark 4:35-41
There are only two places in Mark that depart from the “action” to record actual sermons from Jesus. One of them is Mark 4, which is made up of parables. There are 60 parables recorded in the Gospels. Most of them are found in Matthew and Luke. A few are found here in Mark; there are none in John. A parable is an example from everyday life that clarifies a spiritual truth. Most of Jesus’ parables deal with the Kingdom of God, which He explains using fishing and farming, housekeeping and family life, royalty and banquets, etc. Unlike fables or allegories, parables are impossible to understand without the “insider knowledge” of faith in Christ. Ten times in Mark 4, the audience is commanded to listen! This involves hearing and obeying.
The chapter opens with Jesus gathered at the now familiar lake side, preaching to the ever present crowd. This time, the crowd was so large that Jesus preached from the water, seated in a boat. The first parable summarized everything that has happened in Mark thus far. A farmer wastefully scatters seed in a field, three fourths of which fails to produce a crop. However, the one fourth that finds good soil produces such a miraculous crop, it more than compensates for the bad seed. So it was with Jesus’ teaching, which planted truth in the world. The vast majority of the gathered crowd would never receive this truth, but the small minority of disciples would hear, understand, and feed the world.
Three more parables finish out the sermon. Jesus would speak to the crowd in parables, and then explain their meaning to the disciples, presumably gathered with Him in the boat. As it was getting dark, Jesus instructed the disciples to take Him to the other side of the lake, perhaps to preach in another location. Apparently they set out in a group of boats. In 1986, a fishing vessel was unearthed from the mud by this lake. Testing dated it from the time of Christ. It was 27 feet long, 8 feet wide and seated 15 people, with space for four rowers. Though not likely the same vessel used by Christ, it would have been very similar. As several of the disciples were veteran fisherman, travel by boat was a perfect way to travel.
The only time in the Gospels we hear of Jesus sleeping is during a storm. Due to its location 700 feet below sea level and surrounding mountains, the Sea of Galilee is famous for its fierce and sudden squalls. This must have been a particularly bad one. Rowing in such conditions would have been exhausting, especially after a full day of ministry to the crowd. Mark captures the disciple’s frustration with Jesus – “Don’t you even care if we drown?” Remember – Mark is about the authority of Jesus. Using the language He used to quiet the demons of Mark 3, Jesus told the storm to be quiet! It immediately dissipated. Ironically, this terrified the disciples more than the storm itself. They still have much to learn about this Jesus they are following.
Today’s sermon will assure us that Jesus not only cares about our storms; He can do something about them.
• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.
• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.
• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?
• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.
1. Have you ever had a problem you felt no one else could really relate to or understand? Did you try to get help, or just handle it on your own?
2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?
3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?
• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.
Today’s Sermon
Key Truths –
• The disciples were overwhelmed by the storm.
• Our storms can be overwhelming, too.
• Good news: Jesus cared about the disciples.
• Good news: Jesus cares about us.
This Week’s Assignment –
Having a CrossViewed life means accepting Jesus’ care, even when we don’t believe, understand, or even desire it. What cares do you need to allow Jesus to silence today? Write them here, and let Him help you.
CrossGroups Connection Guide
Today’s Scripture Focus: Mark 3:1-15
Mark 2 began with Jesus drawing criticism from the rabbis for claiming to forgive sins, then astounding them by healing a sinner. It closed with Jesus’ followers being accused of Sabbath violation. Mark 3 brings these elements together in dramatic fashion. Jesus is back in the synagogue. This is the same place where Jesus cast out a demon in Mark 1, so we can imagine a record crowd was present. The conservative rabbis had gathered in hopes of catching Him in breaking the Sabbath. Sure enough, a man with a useless hand was present. The man did not seek to be healed; he was probably self conscious and used to hiding his condition. Jesus saw him and commanded him to stand up!
Jesus used a common technique of the rabbis, which was to teach in question and answer format. He asked the congregation whether good or bad should be done on the Sabbath? He then used an interesting phrase – “to save life or to kill?” Sabbath tradition said medical treatment was unlawful unless a condition was life threatening. The man’s condition was clearly not an emergency, but in a culture in which you don’t eat if you don’t work, his outlook was dim. Those who freely criticized Jesus behind His back remained silent in the face of Jesus’ question. Angered, Jesus went ahead and healed the man. This prompted the Pharisees to begin conspiring with their sworn enemies – the supporters of secular King Herod – in order to murder Jesus.
For the first but certainly not the last time in Jesus’ ministry, the heat was on. Jesus left the area and went to the lake, most likely for a time of retreat. However, Jesus’ fame had already spread throughout the entire country and beyond. A great crowd of “locals” followed Him to the lake, as well as people from all over the region. They quickly became a mob, pressing so close to Jesus they risked crushing Him. Once more the crowd represents a hindrance to Jesus’ needed ministry, rather than a response to faith. Demons were present in many of those suffering, and Jesus’ presence called them to cry out “You are the Son of God” – something only God had declared at this point. Jesus quickly took authority, for the situation was about to become a riot.
After silencing the evil spirits, Jesus began climbing into the surrounding hills to escape the crowd. He summoned a group of disciples to join Him, giving twelve men from among them special authority. These were known as apostles (Greek – “sent ones”). This is the only time the word appears in the book of Mark. Apostles were called to do two things, both of which only Jesus had been doing up until this point – preach and cast out demons. By sharing this job with the apostles, Jesus was multiplying His ministry. It is no accident that twelve were chosen. There were twelve tribes in Israel when God set them apart as a people. Now, a new people had been set apart – a new Israel.
Today’s sermon will ask a serious question – are we in the crowd or above it?
• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.
• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.
• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?
• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.
1. Finish this sentence – “I would rather do anything in the world than go to the _______________ !”
2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?
3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?
• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.
Today’s Sermon
Key Truths –
• Jesus was surrounded by crowds.
• The world is crowded today.
• Good news: Jesus took followers up above the crowd.
• Good news: Jesus wants to take us up, too.
This Week’s Assignment –
Having a CrossViewed life means following Jesus to the top of the mountain, rather than staying in the crush of the crowd. You have been given authority to tell the story of Jesus. Tell someone this week some part of that story.
Please click the appropriate link to listen or download:
CrossView - January 15th, 2012
(entire service, including sermon)
Sermon - January 15th, 2012
(scripture reading and sermon only)
Click Here for corresponding scripture, small group connection guide, and sermon notes
CrossGroups Connection Guide
Today’s Scripture Focus: Mark 2:13-27
In Mark 2, we find Jesus back at home in Capernaum after a brief preaching tour in the neighboring villages. Word had gotten out about Jesus’ authority, and a crowd soon filled the house and courtyard. In Mark, crowds are always an obstacle to finding Jesus, rather than a sign of success. Palestinian homes at this time included an outdoor staircase that led to a flat straw room, paved with mud. Four men of faith dug through this roof to lower their paralyzed friend to Jesus, who was so moved that He pronounced the man’s sins forgiven. This greatly offended the rabbis, who murmured that Jesus was a blasphemer – a sin punishable by death. Jesus proved his authority to forgive sins by instantaneously healing the man, astounding the critics and crowd.
The gospel of Mark is all about authority. Jesus’ miraculous actions – casting out demons and healing the sick – legitimized His authority as both Son of God (Mark 1) and Son of Man (Mark 2). In the rest of Mark 2, Jesus exercises authority over manmade customs. While teaching the crowds beside the lake, Jesus calls Levi (later Matthew), a hated tax collector. Tax collectors were secular Jews viewed as extortionists and collaborators. Levi immediately follows Jesus without question. Next, Jesus hosts an intimate banquet in Levi’s home with wicked people. The ultra conservative rabbis, who didn’t recognize Jesus’ authority, made Him guilty by association. Rather than quibble with them, Jesus merely reminds them it’s the sinners who need Him.
Jesus’ teaching represented something new, and something worth celebrating. There were two other popular movements at this time – John the Baptist’s disciples, and Phariseeism. We don’t know a lot about John’s disciples, but the Pharisees represented about 1% of the population, and were the only religious sect to survive the destruction of Jerusalem. Both groups regularly engaged in fasting – the practice of denying the body food in order to show serious devotion to God. The people questioned the disciples for feasting, rather than fasting. Jesus said for His followers to fast would be as ridiculous as wedding guests refusing to eat at a reception. The good news couldn’t be contained in old ways of thinking.
The final story in Mark 2 deals with the subject which most clearly defined Judaism: the Sabbath. The Sabbath was instituted in the fourth commandment. It lasted from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, and no work of any kind was allowed. Tradition covered every possible action on the Sabbath to categorize it as acceptable or unacceptable, even the setting of broken bones (unacceptable!) The Pharisees tattled on the disciples for plucking and eating heads of grain while they walked, considered “harvesting”. Jesus reminds the Pharisees that even David violated the Sabbath. This is the first of many times in Mark Jesus points to David, and it is no accident. Jesus is Son of David, and has authority even over the Sabbath.
Today’s sermon will focus on Jesus’ authority in matters of custom and routine.
• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.
• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.
• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?
• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.
1. Is there ever a time when your entire family eats together? What are some favorite dishes that are shared? Do you eat around the table, or another location? Do you do anything special afterwards?
2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?
3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?
• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.
Today’s Sermon
Key Truths –
• Customs were important to the crowds.
• Our customs are important to us today.
• Good news: Jesus took authority over Jewish customs.
• Good news: Jesus takes authority over our customs.
This Week’s Assignment –
Having a CrossViewed life means following Jesus, even if it messes with when we eat, who we hang out with, and how we worship. Are there any customs in your weekly routine that are more about your comfort than following Jesus? Do something different this week!
CrossGroups Connection Guide
Today’s Scripture Focus: Mark 1:1-13
Each year we spend twelve weeks in the gospels, divided up into three four-week periods. This year, we will focus on the Gospel According to Mark. John Mark is credited with its authorship. This is the same Mark from the book of Acts, whose mother’s house served as an early meeting place for Christians. He traveled with Paul and Barnabus, and eventually assisted Peter. After the destruction of the Temple and the death of the Apostle Peter, many Roman Christians felt the need for eyewitness accounts of Jesus to be recorded in writing. John Mark had served as a traveling companion of Peter, and tradition tells us he began to write down everything Peter preached about Jesus. Some have called Mark “The Gospel of Peter”.
For centuries, scholars treated Mark as a hurried copy of Matthew, which is why it appears second in the New Testament. We now know both Matthew and Luke used Mark as the source for their gospels. Matthew, Mark, and Luke make up what are known as the synoptic gospels. Using Mark and other documents now lost to us, Matthew wrote a gospel for Jews, and Luke for gentiles. Both these gospels contain almost all of Mark word for word. Mark was an excellent source for Jews and gentiles, since it was likely written for the racially diverse Roman church. Mark is the shortest of the gospels. It is a story of action. Where Matthew and Luke might take a chapter to tell of Jesus’ temptation, for example, Mark uses a sentence.
If Mark, then is the first gospel and introduces the New Testament, it is only fitting that it uses the same opening as the introduction of the Old Testament – “beginning”. From the first verse, Mark lets us know exactly who Jesus is – the Son of God, the Messiah. “Son of God” was a phrase used for Roman Emperors. Caesars were declared gods by the Senate, and the birthday of Augustus was required to be celebrated each year. When a male heir was born to the emperor, word was sent throughout the empire of the “good news”. Mark uses the exact same phrasing to announce the good news of Christ. For his Jewish readers, he uses the term “Messiah”, as well as the words of the prophet Isaiah to indicate this was the Savior promised by God.
Mark will spend the rest of the gospel proving this lofty claim. He begins with a brief telling of the baptism of Christ. God seemed to have been absent from Israel for hundreds of years, but the prophets said one day “Elijah” would return and prepare the way for God to once again move. John the Baptizer lived in the desert, wore the same clothes as Elijah the prophet had worn, and called the people to purification so God could come. People traveled from the city to respond to this call. Jesus came from the north to receive John’s baptism, but it served a different purpose than purification. Just as David had long ago been anointed as king of Israel, Jesus’ baptism served as “good news” that a new kind of kingdom had arrived!
Today’s sermon will celebrate the arrival of this good news in our lives.
• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.
• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.
• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?
• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.
1. Have you received any good news recently? How did you respond?
2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?
3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?
• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.
Today’s Sermon
Key Truths –
• For years, it seemed to Israel that God was silent.
• It often seems God is silent today.
• Good news: Jesus heard the voice of God!
• Good news: Jesus is God’s voice for us!
This Week’s Assignment –
Having a CrossViewed life means being celebrating the good news of Jesus all year. Though the decorations may be put away and the gifts unwrapped, focus on celebrating the good news this week. Memorize Mark 1:1.