Mark 6:30-34
Lead in: In Mark 6, the disciples have just returned from their first experience proclaiming the Good News. The overwhelming success of that mission trip has left them focusing too much on their success and not enough on those they are called to serve.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when success has caused you to forget the need to put not our success, but others first.
Lead in: In Mark 6, seeing that the disciples were all caught up with the success of their first mission assignment, Jesus takes the disciples on a wilderness trek. It’s there that he helps them refocus their lives on the values of his kingdom.
Prompt: What have been the getaway experiences that have helped you return to your work back home with a new perspective?
Lead in: Over the three years he was with them, Jesus taught the twelve the true leadership qualities they would need to be his disciples.
Prompt: What do you see as the leadership qualities needed to be a true disciple of Jesus?
Prompt: What is the leadership quality that comes most naturally to you? What is the leadership quality that comes less naturally to you?
Lead in: With the demands of our busy lives, we need downtime. Recognizing this need in himself and in the disciples, Jesus took them to a deserted place away from the crowds.
Prompt: How do you balance the need for rest and prayer with the obligations and responsibilities of your busy life?
Lead in: In Mark 6, despite his intention to withdraw for some rest when the crowd followed him, Jesus was moved with compassion. They were like sheep without a shepherd. So, he stayed and “began teaching them many things”.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when you felt deeply the pain of another and so you delayed time away and were there to help that person.
Lead in: In Ephesians 2, Paul speaks of those who are “far off” but have “come near”. There are times when the sinful pattern of our lives makes us feel “far off” from God. Yet, so often it’s not our perfection but those falls from grace that bring us closer to God. For God uses our sin to draw us close to Himself. Getting knocked off his horse was the wakeup call for Paul. It can be that for us.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when getting knocked off your horse was the wakeup call that helped you draw closer to God.
