Mark 10:2-16
Lead in: In Mark 10, the people bring children to Jesus hoping he might bless them. The disciples try to shoo the children away. But Jesus says, “Let the children come to me.” As the child embraces those who care for them, so the Kingdom is for those who are humble enough to embrace the God who cares for us all.
Prompt: Where do you find it hard to humbly accept the help that people want to give you, that you want to do on your own?
Lead in: Jesus recognizes in children their capacity for wonder and awe. With child-like wonder they welcome each day with a sense of eagerness and excitement.
Prompt: With #1 being “I’m dreading today,” and #10 being “I can hardly wait for this day,” give yourself a # that corresponds to how you typically entered the start of each day this past week?
Prompt: What would it take to enter each new day with a greater sense of child-like wonder and awe?
Lead in: In Mark 10, Jesus confronts the Pharisees for the hardness of their hearts.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when you struggled not to let your heart harden against someone who hurt you or talked unfairly about you.
Lead in: If Mr. Rogers were to comment on how the disciples tried to shoo away the kids coming to Jesus, his thoughts might be something like this. “We’re all God’s children, whether we’re naughty or well behaved, grateful or ungrateful. And God has a big hug waiting for all his kids. So don’t stop the kids. Let them come.”
Prompt: Like the disciples tried to do with the children, think of the people in your life that you are tempted to shoo away to make your life less complicated. What change in attitude would it take to see those whom you find annoying as a gift, and not a burden in in your life?
Lead in: Quoting Genesis 2, Jesus reminds the Pharisees, “What God has joined let no one divide.” Then in John 17, Jesus prays that we “become one as he and the Father are one.”
Prompt: What is it in our world that is dividing us, as a nation, as a church, as families?
Prompt: Considering the issues that can divide us, what is needed to bring us together as one? What can you do to make that happen?
