Know Grow Show

The Servant King - Mark 4.21-34

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, North Gower, Ontario
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
 
 
 
No questions this week. Too much to do!
Sorry :-)

The Servant King - Mark 4.1-20

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, North Gower, Ontario
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
 
 
 
growgroups are taking a break for the summer, but here are some questions for personal study, or for discussion around your meal table at home. 
Dan shared that the main point of the message today is this: "As we read the Bible, God uses it to break up the soil of our fearful and divided hearts, so that we can be part of His ongoing harvest". 
Parables are like a rock in a road - to those not interested they are in the way...an obstruction. To those who want more, they are an opportunity: lift up the stone and discover the treasure underneath. How does this picture help us understand the purpose of parables?
As you read the Bible, are you vaguely bored or do you have the heart of an adventurer? Why do you think this is? How can you help your spirit of an adventurer grow to the next level?
Dan said that we are listening Jesus preach a message about listen to God's message.
Dan said that Satan, like the birds in the analogy, will try to steal away the seed of God's word in our lives through distraction or de-prioritizing. How have you experienced Satan steal away the word from your life?
Dan said we all assume that we are the good soil. Why is this a) not realistic b) dangerous?
Speaking honestly, would you consider yourself to be a) the pathway b) the stony soil c) the thorny soil or d) the good soil? What evidence helped you make that assessment? 

Befriending the Vikings (Sarah Davies)

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, North Gower, Ontario
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
 
Sarah shares with us about her pioneer work at Copenhagen University with Power to Change (https://p2c.com/)
FREE SMART PHONE RESOURCES!
Sarah mentioned two evangelism resources: Soularium and Perspectives. You can get them for free on your smart phone!
Look for the Perspectives app on your smart phone store http://www.perspectivecards.com/app/.
Look for Soularium on the google play store or apple store. 
QUESTIONS
Sarah shared in Danish culture it's considered immature to believe in God: "Why believe in God if there's science". Do you see some of the same tendencies in Canadian culture? If so, how?
Sarah said that talking about faith is taboo in Danish society. What is it about faith that makes it sometimes so sensitive to talk about?
Sarah said that 'nationals are better at reaching their own people'. Think of some reasons why this might be. 
Pray for Olivia and Clarissa and the future work of Agape / Power to Change in Denmark. 
Sarah shared this statistic: "Quebec has the largest unreached population in North America: 99.3%* of the population have never heard the Gospel (roughly 8 million people)" - *Daniel Henderson (goo.gl/xyynFp). Were you surprised by this fact? What does it mean for us to have a mission field this size on our doorstep?
Listen to Sarah's epiphany: God cares more about sanctifying us, making us more like Jesus, that He does about our comfort
Sarah said that we can be "honest with God": much more than we probably are. In what way is God calling you to be honest with Him?
Read Romans 4 and 5 and then Hebrews 11 and 12. How do these chapters encourage you in your faith?
 
Steps for online giving to Sarah for her future work in Montreal with Power to Change. 
Go to p2c.com
Click on donate in the top right
Click Staff Ministry Donation
Type "Sarah Davies" into the search area
"Ministry for Sarah Davies" should come up as an option; select it and you will be taken directly to her page. 
 
 
 

The Servant King - Mark 3.20-35

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, North Gower, Ontario
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
 
 
growgroups are taking a break for the summer, but here are some questions for personal study, or for discussion around your meal table at home. 
3:21 Jesus' family come to 'take charge' of Him. Dan explained this would have probably been because of a sense of family shame. What other reasons might there have been?
3:22 Why did the teacher's of the law accusation (that Jesus was driving out demons by the prince of demons) not make any logical sense?
3:26 Why do you think Jesus refers to Satan as 'the strong man'?
3:26 Dan said that Jesus was plundering the strong man's home of souls. How can this help us understand salvation?
3:28 Michael Card says that about verse 29 "If a person denies the vehicle of forgiveness (the Holy Spirit), he has cut himself off from the possibility of being forgiven. It is not the “unpardonable” sin. It is a sin whereby you place yourself beyond pardon". Does this make sense to you? Does this help you understand verse 28. Why or why not?
3:34 What does it mean to you to be considered by Jesus as His relative?
Where are you at the moment: are you still in Satan's dungeon, still unrescued, or have you been adopted by God? Talk to Him about this. 
How would you finish the sentence "Jesus is..."
 

Thank you message from Rev Joe Ocran (Ghana)

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, North Gower, Ontario
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 

The Servant King - Mark 3.1-19

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, North Gower, Ontario
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
 
 
growgroups are taking a break for the summer, but here are some questions for personal study, or for discussion around your meal table at home. 
Which resonates with you at the moment regarding Jesus: would you consider yourself to be a Couch Critic (3:1-6), a Fair-weather Fan (3:7-12) or a Faithful Follower (3:13-18)?
3:5 Jesus was angry, deeply sad (distressed) and full of healing compassion all in the same moment. What does this tell you about Jesus, about God?
3:7 Why do you think Jesus withdrew to the lake? What might His state of mind / heart been at this moment?
Keeping in mind the deity of Christ and His omniscience and foreknowledge, why do you think He chose Judas Iscariot as one of His apostles?
Why is it amazing that Matthew (Levi) and Simon the Zealot served together under Christ? Does the gospel still have the power to bring contrary people together? Think of an example of people you know personally. Mark 3:21
3:13 Take some time (preferably outside in nature) with Jesus and imagine Him saying to you “I want you. I choose you.” Do you believe this? Let this truth that Jesus wants you and chooses you grab your heart.
3:13 How significant is it that the first thing on the job description of the disciples was that they might “be with Jesus”? Take some time over this week to be with Him and let Him minister to you.
3:13 Why is it important that we are “with Jesus” before He sends us out?
Who can you tell this week that Jesus (a) wants them (b) to be with Him (c) so that He can send them out?

The Servant King - Mark 2.18-28

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, North Gower, Ontario
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
 
growgroups are taking a break for the summer, but here are some questions for personal study, or for discussion around your meal table at home. 
The centennial bulb (centennialbulb.org) has been shining non-stop for 117 years. People think that light bulbs don’t last this long anymore because of planned obsolescence (the idea that things are built to break down). What are your thoughts on this? Where else have you seen planned obsolescence in your life?
Mark 2:21-22. In what way is the ‘new way’ of Jesus doing things incompatible with the old way?
What is the result if we just try to ‘add’ Jesus onto our lives rather than letting Him become our life?
Matthew 5:17 – Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets? What place does the Old Testament still have in the lives of Christians today? How is it obsolete? How is it not?
Warren Wierbse: There are two ways to destroy a thing. You can smash it or you can permit it to fulfil itself. An acorn, for example, can be smashed with a hammer, or it can be planted and allowed to grow into an oak. In both cases, the destruction of the acorn is accomplished, but in the second instance, the acorn is destroyed by being fulfilled. [i] How does this quotation speak to the passage we’ve been studying this week?
Mark 2:19-20 – What does Jesus mean by referring to Himself as the Bridegroom? What is He trying to say?
Mark 2:19 – Jesus said that He is the Lord of the Sabbath. What does this mean on a practical level? How should knowing this truth change how we ‘do’ the Sabbath?
What did Jesus mean by ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath’?
Matthew 11:28-30 (from the Message): 28 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Use these verses to start a conversation with God this week.
 
[i] Be Diligent, Warren Wiersbe

The Servant King - Mark 2.1-17

 
Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, North Gower, Ontario
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
 
growgroups are taking a break for the summer, but here are some questions for personal study, or for discussion around your meal table at home. 
What is the scariest or most uncomfortable crowd experience you have been in?
2:2 People came for miracles. Jesus preached. Do you think that people would have been disappointed? Why or why not?
2:4 Try to imagine what might have been going through the paralyzed man’s four friends’ minds as they tore apart the roof of the house Jesus was in. What would it take for you to be willing to destroy your neighbours’ property?
2:5 You could not miss the fact why the paralyzed man was brought to Jesus. In what way might it have been surprising for him to hear Jesus’ pronouncement: Son your sins are forgiven? In what way might he not have been surprised? What does this statement reveal to you about Jesus?
When Jesus turns on the spiritual infra-red and looks at your life, what do you think He sees? What colour are you – a cool purpley blue or a hot white? What would it take for your internal spiritual temperature to rise? Talk to him about this and act in obedience.
2:17 – Doctors don’t call their patients to make appointments; if anything, it’s the reverse! What does it tell you about Jesus that Jesus is type of doctors who calls his patients to Him?

The Servant King - Mark 1.21-45

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, North Gower, Ontario
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
 
growgroups are taking a break for the summer, but here are some questions for personal study, or for discussion around your meal table at home. 
Dan said that Mark 1:1-20 is about showing Jesus’ credentials, whereas verse 21-45 shows Jesus’ track record. What are some of the credentials we see in verse 1-20? What does Jesus track record look like in verses 21-45?
In 1:25 Jesus tells the demon to be quiet, even though what the demon said was true about Jesus. In 1:34 Jesus would not let the demons speak. In 1:44 Jesus tells the man healed of leprosy not to tell anyone. Why was Jesus so secretive? For more information, research the Messianic Secret.
Mark 1:41 When faced a man asking to be cleansed from leprosy the NIV says ‘Jesus was indignant’, the ESV says ‘Jesus was moved with compassion’. In what way do these two translations shed light on Jesus’ response to this man? What do we learn about Jesus from this situation?
In Mark 1:37 Jesus was told “Everyone is looking for you”. Jesus responds in verse 8 by saying “Let us go somewhere else…”. What does this exchange tell us about Jesus’ ministry priorities? What might Jesus be showing us through this?
Mark 1:41 What is your emotional response to these five words of Jesus: “I am willing. Be clean”. Talk to Him about it.
Dan said that “Miracles lay the groundwork for the true miracle of the message”. Why is the message of the Jesus (Mark 1:15, 1:41) greater than the miracles Jesus did?
What miracle do you need God to do in your life? If it’s been a while since you’ve asked Him, why not ask Him for it today?

The Servant King - Mark 1.1-20

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, North Gower, Ontario
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
 
 
Know
Imagine Jesus was in a police line-up. What would lead you to positively ID Him as Messiah?
Grow
Compare how Mark starts his gospel compared to Matthew, Luke and John. Why do you think Mark starts of his account so abruptly?
Mark 1:1 - Why is it important to the Roman Christians reading Mark’s account that he presents it as good news? Why would this have been so important considering their situation?
Dan said that the following things identified Jesus as the Messiah: prophecy, John the Baptist, God the Father and the Spirit, Satan, Jesus Himself and the disciples who followed Him. Why is Mark trying to hard to make this point that Jesus is identified as Messiah?
Mark 1:8 – What is the difference between baptism with water and baptism with the Holy Spirit?
Mark 1:10 – What is the significance of the heavens being ‘torn open’ rather than just opened? Use your imagination – what might this scene have looked like?
Mark 1:10 – Why do you think the Holy Spirit chose to appear like a dove? God the Father did not appear as anything visible (unlike the Spirit). Is this significant?
Mark 1:12 After being empowered and commissioned for ministry, why did the Spirit “at once” send Jesus out to the wilderness?
Why did Dan say that without Mark 1:13 there would be no Hebrews 4:15?
Mark 1:18 Do you think if the disciples had known all the suffering and trials they would endure in following Jesus, that they would have followed Him anyways? Why or why not?
 
Show
Mark 1:17 Do you think that the command “Come follow me” and the promise “and I will send you out to fish for people” was just for the disciples or is also for followers of Jesus now? Explain your answer.
How is God calling you to “Come follow me and I will send you out” in your context?