Week 6 - The New Testament
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Fun Small Group Warm Up Question:
If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
New Testament
Matthew 9 ~ Matthew 12 ~ Matthew 13 ~ Mark 4 ~ Mark 5
1. When “some people” bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus, the Bible says Jesus “saw their faith” (Matthew 9:2). Who do you know who is in the low point or far from God that might need your faith to bring them closer to Jesus? Why is that so intimidating?
2. When Jesus calls Matthew to follow Him (Matthew 9:9-13) what temptations do you think Matthew faced? What excuses came your way when Jesus was calling you to follow Him?
3. Have you ever fasted before? What is the purpose of fasting? What obstacles did you face when you fasted? How did fasting it help you be more desperate for God?
4. In Matthew 9:24 the crowd laughs at Jesus. How does the world laugh at Jesus, the Bible, and Christianity today? How should we respond in the face of such opposition?
5. Read Matthew 9:37-38. How is this convicting?
6. What does “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”? (Matthew 12:34) Why is this verse and the surrounding passage so convicting to be careful with our words? Is there anywhere that you would be ashamed with how you speak? Why is changing our tongue so hard? So important?
7. Read Matthew 12:43-45. Why is moral improvement (“the house empty, swept, and put in order”) not enough to protect us from Satan? What needs to dwell in our “house”? Can a Christian be demon possessed?
8. Why do you think Jesus speaks about sin, hell, Satan and demons so much? Why might false teachers avoid such passages? (2 Timothy 4:3)
9. Why does Jesus talk about the “kingdom of heaven” so much in Matthew 13? What does He want us to understand? How can such a focus on eternity change how we live here and now?
10. Read Mark 4:21-25. How does this encourage you? How does this challenge you?
11. When the woman told Jesus “the whole truth” (Mark 5:33) how do you think she felt? Why is it so hard for us to admit fault and confess our sins to God and others? What is it like after we tell the “whole truth”?