Background and Study Thoughts from the sermon AWS
STUDY GUIDE First Pick / MARK 1:14-20 / SEPTEMBER 16, 2012
by Dave Mullins
Background and Study Read Matthew 14:1-12. In this section of the scriptures we find out why John the Baptist was arrested. John had taken a stand for Godliness and paid the price. It is in the wake of John’s arrest that Jesus launches His ministry. He has gone through the trials of the desert and been faithful. Now in a hostile environment He begins to preach the good news, and to call people to repentance and belief. What do you think Jesus learned on the desert trials that prepared Him for the ministry he is embarking on? What would it take to begin ministry in this environment? The environment where standing for God and godliness is punished by those in authority? Do you think most people are encouraged or discouraged by seeing others suffer for their faith? What about you? In the Greek language there are two different words for time. One of those is Chronos. This is where we get the word chronological. It is how we see the order and passing of time. The second word is Kairos. Kairos is a moment in which God moves. We all experience Chronos all the time. When have you experienced the movement of God in a moment of time? Jesus message was to repent and believe the good news that the Kingdom of God was near. With what you know about Christ and His ministry what did that look like? What does the Kingdom of God look like today? What are Simon, Andrew, James and John in the middle of when Jesus calls them? It is often in the middle of just living life that God moves in us. This is another example of the Kairos idea that we talked about earlier. Are you attentive to the possibility of God moving in your life during the mundane tasks of living? How can you be more attentive to it?
When did these four men make the decision to follow Christ? Read Luke 9:57-62. What does this passage have to say about deciding to follow Christ? When we experience a Kairos moment it is important that we repent and believe. We should evaluate what God is calling us to and what changes need to be made to follow. Then in faith we make a plan and put the plan into action. What happens when you delay acting on what you have decided you should do? When generally is the best time to act on a decision that you have made internally?
Thoughts from the sermon Rick’s first life lesson from Sunday was that ministry and life often flow out of pain. How have you seen the lesson play out in your life? How have you seen it play out in the lives of others? Life lesson number two was never lose hope that God is still bringing good news. Rick talked about pessimism and cautious optimism. Do you tend to be a pessimist or optimist? What do you need to stay focused on to be cautiously optimistic? What is the good news that God continues to bring? Life lesson number three is; when we follow Jesus, He gives us a purpose that changes our lives forever. How did this play out in the lives of Simon, Andrew, James and John? What about in the lives of those close to them? What is different in your life because of your following Jesus? Is God working in your life and calling you to something currently? How are you dealing with the answer to that regardless of if you said yes or no?
E AST 91 ST STR E E T C H R I ST I A N C H U R C H • w w w.east 91 st .o rg
by Dave Mullins
Background and Study Read Matthew 14:1-12. In this section of the scriptures we find out why John the Baptist was arrested. John had taken a stand for Godliness and paid the price. It is in the wake of John’s arrest that Jesus launches His ministry. He has gone through the trials of the desert and been faithful. Now in a hostile environment He begins to preach the good news, and to call people to repentance and belief. What do you think Jesus learned on the desert trials that prepared Him for the ministry he is embarking on? What would it take to begin ministry in this environment? The environment where standing for God and godliness is punished by those in authority? Do you think most people are encouraged or discouraged by seeing others suffer for their faith? What about you? In the Greek language there are two different words for time. One of those is Chronos. This is where we get the word chronological. It is how we see the order and passing of time. The second word is Kairos. Kairos is a moment in which God moves. We all experience Chronos all the time. When have you experienced the movement of God in a moment of time? Jesus message was to repent and believe the good news that the Kingdom of God was near. With what you know about Christ and His ministry what did that look like? What does the Kingdom of God look like today? What are Simon, Andrew, James and John in the middle of when Jesus calls them? It is often in the middle of just living life that God moves in us. This is another example of the Kairos idea that we talked about earlier. Are you attentive to the possibility of God moving in your life during the mundane tasks of living? How can you be more attentive to it?
When did these four men make the decision to follow Christ? Read Luke 9:57-62. What does this passage have to say about deciding to follow Christ? When we experience a Kairos moment it is important that we repent and believe. We should evaluate what God is calling us to and what changes need to be made to follow. Then in faith we make a plan and put the plan into action. What happens when you delay acting on what you have decided you should do? When generally is the best time to act on a decision that you have made internally?
Thoughts from the sermon Rick’s first life lesson from Sunday was that ministry and life often flow out of pain. How have you seen the lesson play out in your life? How have you seen it play out in the lives of others? Life lesson number two was never lose hope that God is still bringing good news. Rick talked about pessimism and cautious optimism. Do you tend to be a pessimist or optimist? What do you need to stay focused on to be cautiously optimistic? What is the good news that God continues to bring? Life lesson number three is; when we follow Jesus, He gives us a purpose that changes our lives forever. How did this play out in the lives of Simon, Andrew, James and John? What about in the lives of those close to them? What is different in your life because of your following Jesus? Is God working in your life and calling you to something currently? How are you dealing with the answer to that regardless of if you said yes or no?
E AST 91 ST STR E E T C H R I ST I A N C H U R C H • w w w.east 91 st .o rg
