NOTE: If you missed this week’s message, click here to listen or watch.
Talk about your experience on Sunday morning.
- How did God speak to you during worship and/or teaching this week?
- What have you been reflecting on and/or praying about in response to this week’s service?
Read Mark 1:21-34 together.
- What jumped out at you as you read this passage? Why?
- Verse 22 talks about how people were amazed by Jesus’ teaching because he taught with such authority (the word authority meaning, “out of the original stuff”). Why is this significant? What does this show us about Jesus?
- What do you think the miracles of Jesus reveal to us about Jesus and his message about the Kingdom of God being near (in Verse 15)?
- Have you ever seen or experienced a miracle or a healing of some kind? Share with the group.
- Jeff shared about his discomfort around this topic of healing (because it has often hurt and confused other people). Have you ever experienced hurt (or seen others experience hurt) because of this topic? Explain.
In Verses 23-25 we read about Jesus casting out an evil spirit.
- What is your opinion about the demonic realm? Do you believe that Satan and his demons are at work in our world today, just as they were in Jesus’ day? Why or why not?
- Why do you think we don’t see this kind of dramatic spiritual activity and ‘exorcisms’ and activity very often (if at all) today in North America?
- Jeff quoted from CS Lewis’ “Screwtape Letters” about how the demons had a policy of “concealing” themselves from people, keeping people ignorant of their existence. What do you think about this? Do you think Satan and his demons often try to conceal themselves from us? Why or why not?
- Jeff talked about how the only power Satan has over our lives (when we let him have that power) is fear, intimidation and deception. What do you think?
- Why is it important to remember that Jesus has authority & power over the demonic realm and all the powers of darkness and that his authority lives in us (because HE lives in us)? How does that change the way you think about demons and the demonic realm?
Jeff talked about how our job is to partner with Jesus to bring a little bit of heaven to earth, whether that be (for example) in praying for healing or for a miracle or journeying with someone through pain and grief.
- What are some ways that others have brought a little bit of heaven into your life in the past?
- How can you work to bring a little bit of heaven into other people’s lives this week?
