Seeking (discussion questions)

Here are the discussion questions that accompany my message at Eastbrook Church this past weekend, “Seeking,” from Mark 2:13-17; 3:13-19; and 6:7-13.

Discussion Questions:

1. When have you experienced God seeking after you? What did that look like in your life? What happened?
2. Take some time to read through the texts we will be studying today: Mark 2:13-17; 3:13-19; and 6:7-13. If you are with your Life Group read these texts out loud.
3. In Mark 2:13-17, Jesus encounters Levi, who is a tax collector. As in our culture, tax collectors were not well-liked in Jesus’ day, being seen as representatives of the Roman oppressors. What do you think Levi, Jesus’ disciples, and others watching this encounter thought about what was happening here?
4. From Mark 2:15-17, how would you describe the difference between Jesus and the Pharisees’ attitudes toward people in general, and more specifically toward tax collectors and sinners?
5. Stepping back for a moment, would you describe your own attitude as more similar to that of Jesus or the Pharisees? Why?
6. In Mark 3:13-19 and 6:7-13, Jesus selects twelve people and then sends them out on His mission. What do you notice about who these people are (or who they’re not)?
7. From Mark 6:7-13, how would you describe how Jesus equips the twelve for their work? What does He give to them and what does He withhold from them?
8. How would you describe the effectiveness of the twelve in ministry? Where did this effectiveness come from?
9. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your sense of urgency in joining Jesus’ mission of seeking those who ‘need a doctor’? Why would you describe yourself in this way? What would it take to raise that level of urgency?

Next week we continue “The Real Jesus” series by looking at Mark 2:23-3:6 as Jesus addresses God’s provided rest in the Sabbath.