Small Group Questions s4

Small Group Questions Scripture: Mark 8:31-37 Additional Reference: Isaiah 53 Sermon Title: The Promised One Series Title: Jesus Revealed #2 Week of March 12, 2017

THEME/ CONCEPT When humanity turned against God in the Garden, God did not turn away from humanity. Instead, God reached out in covenant love to create a people through whom he would reach the world. God made promises that prophesied his Messiah/ Christ– the “Anointed One”– would come to save them.

Application: We trust God because He fulfilled promises He made across the centuries to send our Redeemer.

Charge: Trust our promise-keeping God and the Promised One he sent.

Redefining the Promised Messiah  In what ways is Christ a "loaded" title for ancients? What about for today's population? What barriers or false beliefs about Jesus may arise given our cultural experience or expectations?

In Mark 8:31 Jesus paints a picture of his role as Messiah that shatters all expectations. The greatest redefinition of Messiah is that Jesus will deliver and reign through his suffering. While this is perfectly in sync with Isaiah 40-55 and other prophets, God's people (including his disciples) radically expected something different. They expected a leader who would lead from strength to strength, who would use power and violence to defeat the oppressors and bring the kingdom of God. In contrast Jesus saw his role as a suffering Messiah as essential to his identity.

As a small group read Isaiah 52:13- the end of 53. What spoke to you as you read this passage?

The Messiah Must Suffer- Mark 8:31-33  What do you think is behind Peter’s rebuke? Why might he so adamantly oppose what Jesus is teaching?  What personal fear might also be behind his rebuke?  What is behind the “harsh” rebuke given by Jesus? What might he be referring to when he says that Peter has in mind the “things of men”?  How have you seen your own desires or expectations attempt to squeeze Jesus into your own agenda? If we see Jesus as serving our agenda, you are just using him. But if Jesus is your king you can't make him a means to your end. You do not come to a king with demands, but is humble surrender.

Responding to Jesus Mark 8:34-37

The Messiah would not use his love for power to conquer, but through power of his loving sacrifice. As followers of the victorious, yet suffering Messiah, Jesus paints what his followers should expect as they now live as subject of the kingdom of God. What do you think it means to come after Jesus the by “denying oneself and taking up their cross” to follow Jesus? (8:34-35)

What temporary things do we chase after which could be a barrier preventing us from following Jesus the true Messiah? (8:36-37)

As followers of Jesus, the promised Messiah, we follow our king by giving ourselves for the sake of the world. As Jesus Christ extended forgiveness, love, mercy and suffered for the sake of the world he expects his followers to do nothing less. For he has ushered in a new kingdom, and we are subjects of the one who truly reigns.