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INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
Dr. Charles Montgomery’s message this week was about change. In light of New Year’s, he began by highlighting the tradition and practice of retrospection (looking back), introspection (taking stock), and projection (future hope). The text looks at the Demoniac in Mark 5. He was a man whose life was so in bondage and so unchangeable, that he was simply known as possessed. The point was made that he “lived in dead place” and had “no restraints in his life”. These life patterns keep us from the abundant life. Charles urged us to get into life-giving relationships and to leave the dead ones and dead places behind. He urged us to embrace God’s ways and live chained to Him, and nothing else. The possibility for change comes when we know we can’t change ourselves. We need to see Jesus and worship him, acknowledge him, and turn to HIM with full awareness of how much we need him. Jesus worked on the man from the inside out, while the world works from the outside in. We can forget there is an enemy, that evil is personal. The illustration was made that E-V-I-L is L-I-V-E, but backwards. Life lived backwards from God’s will is evil. But the change for this man began internally. Jesus has to deal with the man’s identity, and the transformation is amazing. But the story doesn’t end – Jesus wants the man to bring testimony to his family and community. It’s a great thing to know Christ and his power to bring about radical transformation, regardless of where we come from.
In 5 minutes or less, briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.
GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.
• What were one or two things that resonated with you about this weekend’s sermon?
• What New Year’s resolutions did you make, if any? If none were made, why not?
SCRIPTURE STUDY
Context
The Gospel of Mark, attributed to John Mark (Peter’s companion), is concerned with telling the story of Jesus and the message of the Gospel – namely that the new Kingdom of God has begun with the arrival of Jesus. But the nature of the KOG was different from what everyone expected and Mark wastes no time in making that clear. This story is part of a series of stories illustrating Jesus’ power and authority (Mark 4:35-5:43) – specifically over the sea, demons, death, and uncleanness. For context read Mark 5:1-23. “Consider what polar opposites Jairus and this un-named woman were in terms of their economic, social and religious background. Jairus was well recognized, important, and as the synagogue ruler a very prominent person in the community. The bleeding woman was a female in a male dominated society, physically ill, ritually unclean, destitute, and is not even named in the text signifying her status as a nobody in the community. In fact she was worse than a nobody, since she was considered to be unclean due to her bleeding (Leviticus 15:25-33)” [8] . Also consider reading in a Bible Dictionary for more understanding of unclean and clean (free internet resource ).
• Who are all the characters in this story?
• Describe the basic details you know and don’t know about the woman (consider what plagued the woman (25), the result of her medical care (26), what she did upon hearing about Jesus (27) and why (28)).
• Read verse 26. Recall a time when you made attempts to improve, only to spiral downward. Describe your emotions and attitude toward God during that time. In what ways did you fail to plug Jesus into the equation?
• There is some insight into what she was thinking and feeling about this encounter with Jesus (vv 28, 33), please describe.
• What happened when she touched Jesus’ cloak (29)? How did He respond (30, 32)? Why might Jesus have responded in such a way? (possible answer – despite many people “touching” him as they walked, only the woman came to him with a need in faith and he didn’t want her to leave without personally acknowledging and speaking with her).
• Does anyone wrestle with the line of thinking that God doesn’t see you or your problems? Or doesn’t care? This story shows that God will make time - despite other seemingly pressing issues - to answer our heart’s cry when we earnestly seek him. Can anyone share a situation where you resisted coming to Jesus with an issue and when you finally did you were amazed by His grace? Please share briefly.
• What’s the significance of the woman’s bleeding (see above in Context section)? Is there a modern day equivalent in the church, locally or internationally, of some one or class of people being unclean? Nothing is off limits to the transforming love of Christ – Read Romans 8:31-39 as a closing praying and meditation over the group.
MINISTRY APPLICATION
• For those longing for freedom, or healing, or life change this year – consider gathering as a group or break down in small groups to pray together
• Recalling the sermon, in what ways are you living in dead relationships or dead places and missing God’s abundant life? Pray with another trusted friend and ask for supernatural and practical steps to break free.
• If you are still waiting for His rescue, as the woman was just before she touched Jesus, ask Jesus to give you faith, freedom, and healing like the woman in this passage.
• If there is nothing personally you’re wrestling with - ask God to give you supernatural perception, so as to effectively minister to those around you in need of miraculous change. Ask God for more power and insight in the ways the KOG is ministered through you.
• Consider studying and mediating in some great passages this week on Transformation – Galatians 5, Acts 9, Romans 6, Ephesians 2 – to name a few.
Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD
INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
Dr. Charles Montgomery’s message this week was about change. In light of New Year’s, he began by highlighting the tradition and practice of retrospection (looking back), introspection (taking stock), and projection (future hope). The text looks at the Demoniac in Mark 5. He was a man whose life was so in bondage and so unchangeable, that he was simply known as possessed. The point was made that he “lived in dead place” and had “no restraints in his life”. These life patterns keep us from the abundant life. Charles urged us to get into life-giving relationships and to leave the dead ones and dead places behind. He urged us to embrace God’s ways and live chained to Him, and nothing else. The possibility for change comes when we know we can’t change ourselves. We need to see Jesus and worship him, acknowledge him, and turn to HIM with full awareness of how much we need him. Jesus worked on the man from the inside out, while the world works from the outside in. We can forget there is an enemy, that evil is personal. The illustration was made that E-V-I-L is L-I-V-E, but backwards. Life lived backwards from God’s will is evil. But the change for this man began internally. Jesus has to deal with the man’s identity, and the transformation is amazing. But the story doesn’t end – Jesus wants the man to bring testimony to his family and community. It’s a great thing to know Christ and his power to bring about radical transformation, regardless of where we come from.
In 5 minutes or less, briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.
GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.
• What were one or two things that resonated with you about this weekend’s sermon?
• What New Year’s resolutions did you make, if any? If none were made, why not?
SCRIPTURE STUDY
Mark 5:24-36 (TNIV):
24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”
36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Context
The Gospel of Mark, attributed to John Mark (Peter’s companion), is concerned with telling the story of Jesus and the message of the Gospel – namely that the new Kingdom of God has begun with the arrival of Jesus. But the nature of the KOG was different from what everyone expected and Mark wastes no time in making that clear. This story is part of a series of stories illustrating Jesus’ power and authority (Mark 4:35-5:43) – specifically over the sea, demons, death, and uncleanness. For context read Mark 5:1-23. “Consider what polar opposites Jairus and this un-named woman were in terms of their economic, social and religious background. Jairus was well recognized, important, and as the synagogue ruler a very prominent person in the community. The bleeding woman was a female in a male dominated society, physically ill, ritually unclean, destitute, and is not even named in the text signifying her status as a nobody in the community. In fact she was worse than a nobody, since she was considered to be unclean due to her bleeding (Leviticus 15:25-33)” [8] . Also consider reading in a Bible Dictionary for more understanding of unclean and clean (free internet resource ).
• Who are all the characters in this story?
• Describe the basic details you know and don’t know about the woman (consider what plagued the woman (25), the result of her medical care (26), what she did upon hearing about Jesus (27) and why (28)).
• Read verse 26. Recall a time when you made attempts to improve, only to spiral downward. Describe your emotions and attitude toward God during that time. In what ways did you fail to plug Jesus into the equation?
• There is some insight into what she was thinking and feeling about this encounter with Jesus (vv 28, 33), please describe.
• What happened when she touched Jesus’ cloak (29)? How did He respond (30, 32)? Why might Jesus have responded in such a way? (possible answer – despite many people “touching” him as they walked, only the woman came to him with a need in faith and he didn’t want her to leave without personally acknowledging and speaking with her).
• Does anyone wrestle with the line of thinking that God doesn’t see you or your problems? Or doesn’t care? This story shows that God will make time - despite other seemingly pressing issues - to answer our heart’s cry when we earnestly seek him. Can anyone share a situation where you resisted coming to Jesus with an issue and when you finally did you were amazed by His grace? Please share briefly.
• What’s the significance of the woman’s bleeding (see above in Context section)? Is there a modern day equivalent in the church, locally or internationally, of some one or class of people being unclean? Nothing is off limits to the transforming love of Christ – Read Romans 8:31-39 as a closing praying and meditation over the group.
MINISTRY APPLICATION
Below you’ll see some options for ministry time with your group. We always encourage you to reserve time in your group to pray for one another and wait on the Holy Spirit.
• For those longing for freedom, or healing, or life change this year – consider gathering as a group or break down in small groups to pray together
• Recalling the sermon, in what ways are you living in dead relationships or dead places and missing God’s abundant life? Pray with another trusted friend and ask for supernatural and practical steps to break free.
• If you are still waiting for His rescue, as the woman was just before she touched Jesus, ask Jesus to give you faith, freedom, and healing like the woman in this passage.
• If there is nothing personally you’re wrestling with - ask God to give you supernatural perception, so as to effectively minister to those around you in need of miraculous change. Ask God for more power and insight in the ways the KOG is ministered through you.
• Consider studying and mediating in some great passages this week on Transformation – Galatians 5, Acts 9, Romans 6, Ephesians 2 – to name a few.
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