Know Grow Show

The Servant King - Mark 5.1-20

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. 
Try to imagine the life story that might have led to the demon-possessed man (Dave) living the life he did before he met Jesus.
It appears that the Legion of Demons possessing this guy gave him super human strength (to break shackles etc). How does this strike you?
Do you agree or disagree that some forms of deviant behaviour are influenced by demons?
Why did Jesus simply not send the Legion of demons into the abyss? Why did He capitulate to their demands to go into the pigs?
What does the reaction of the pigs in verse 13 teach us about the demons?
Do you think horror movies help or hinder our understanding of the supernatural? Why do you think this?
5:15 When the townsfolk saw the man in his right mind, we are told immediately that “they were afraid”. Why this response? Why not gratitude or awe? Try to place yourself in their shoes.
5:19-20 Why did Jesus tell the man to go home to his own people and tell them what had happened? Wasn’t it enough that they’d seen? Look at their response. What does this tell us about the power of our own Jesus story?

The Servant King - Mark 4.35-41, 45-56

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. 
Have you ever been "stuck in a moment that you can't get out of?
Dan said "but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how easy or hard life is. What matters is the truth of what we are building our lives around." How would you describe the central truth that your life is built around? 
Dan said "The question is not how comfortable is your life? The question is how prepared are you for the inevitable bad weather that is coming your way". Are you prepared for the furious squalls that life will bring you?
In Mark 4:38 Jesus is asleep in the storm. In Mark 6:48 Jesus is praying on the hillside while the disciples struggle below. Has Jesus ever felt far away from you? Have you ever wondered if He is concerned about you in the midst of your struggle?
Mark 4:38 "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" Is this a prayer of faith or a prayer of doubt? Why do you think this?
Jesus said "Take courage. It is I (I am). Don't be afraid" (Mark 6:50) Take some time with Jesus and listen to Him as He says this to you. In what circumstance do you need to hear this truth today?
Dan said that "Often the chaos of our life is the path that Jesus walks on to get to us". Do you believe this? How have you experienced this?
Is Jesus the skipper of your boat in the midst of your storms?
 
 
 

Jeff's Transformation Story

Jeff is a local business man from North Gower, Ontario. He's also a skeptic who has been transformed by an encounter with Jesus. 
In his words: "I have not relinquished my skepticism of easy answers to complex questions. And that’s OK.  God gave me a stubborn brain. But no matter the question I take on, in Christ, I always seem to find a magnificent answer that makes perfect sense."
Listen to his story, shared at North Gower's Church In The Park 2018. 

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