1. How would you define “grace”?

How would you describe grace?

Can you give an example of grace in action that you have observed?

2. Paul said, “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more…” (Romans 5:20).

What does that verse mean to you?

How would you explain that verse to someone who was having a difficult time comprehending grace?

Have you seen this truth in action? In what way?

3. It’s been said, “It’s a long way from my head to my heart.”

What advice would you give to someone who understood grace cognitively, but had a difficult experiencing the joy of grace? Another way to say it—perhaps they know they are forgiven, but they don’t feel freedom from guilt. How would you help them?

4. Read the three parables from Luke 15—The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin and The Lost Son. Pick one truth from each parable to share with the group.

5. Of the three parables, the Parable of the Lost Son is the one that seems to have the greater impact. Perhaps this is because we can place ourselves in this story more readily than the others.

What is it about this parable that most deeply touches you?

6. Consider the older brother (Luke 15:25-32).

What would be a modern parallel to him?

How would you help him see the lost son the way the father sees him?

Group Leaders: This can be a difficult discussion. Because of people’s strong beliefs about healing and because of some huge disappointments with past expectations of healing, this can be a very emotional (and even potentially contentious) discussion. Make sure everyone respects the experiences, struggles and opinions of others. For some this is a painful topic emotionally and for some this is a difficult topic intellectually. Precede this discussion with prayer.

1. Twenty verses into the first gospel to be written (Mark) we begin to hear about Jesus’ power over darkness and his power to heal. The stories of healings in the four gospels are numerous. Why do you think the four gospel writers made this such a dominant part of their accounts of the Jesus story?

2. The healing accounts are both inspirational and troublesome.

What do you find inspirational about the accounts of healing at the hands of Jesus?

Do they increase your faith? How?

Do they challenge your values? How?

What troubles you about the healing narratives? Why?

3. What past experiences make you believe in healing?

What past experiences make you weary of some claims of healing?

4. This is often a very emotional subject. Why?

People can often get very dogmatic about their views on healing. Why do you think this is often a contentious issue?

5. People often claim to know why some people are healed and others are not. Do you think there is an explanation that we can comprehend?

6. We have all prayed for healing that did not happen. We have all prayed for people to live who have died.

Do you continue to pray for healing? If so, why?

7. What advice would you give to someone who is praying for healing?

What would you avoid telling that person?

8. On what do you base your prayers for healing?

Faith?

God’s love and compassion?

The character of God?

The New Testament’s call to pray for the sick?

Other?

9. There is something greater than healing—resurrection.

What does that statement mean to you?

How do you respond to it on an emotional level?

Does it bring you hope or take hope away?

1. What images or emotions come to your mind when you hear, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17)?

Overall, is “repentance” a positive term or a negative term to you? Why?

Consider the meaning of the New Testament word translated “repent”.

metanoeō

meta = change

noeō = understand, perceive, or imagine

“a change in understanding or perception”

Does that change your interpretation of Matthew 4:17? If so, how?

2. Read Matthew 4:18-22. Matthew tells us that those first disciples responded to Jesus’ call “at once…immediately” (4:20, 22).

How do you think it is possible for that to happen?

What kind of experiences do you think must have preceded this event in order for them to be instant in obedience?

3. Jesus asked a Zealot and a tax collector to be part of his small group of disciples. (For background on those two disciples, see the scriptures and meditation for Tuesday, March 2.)

What do you think Jesus was up to?

What can we take away from Jesus’ selection of disciples?

4. How would you define or describe a “disciple”?

Compare definitions and descriptions among the group members.

Discover how those definitions were formed.

Has there been a person in your life who exemplified what it means to be a disciple?

5. Based on your definitions/descriptions of a disciple, consider Matthew 28:19—“Therefore, go and make disciples…”

How is a disciple made?

Again, compare group answers and explore how those concepts were formed.

Who is responsible for disciple-making? (Don’t go for the easy answer—“all of us.”)

6. Based on your answers to questions 4 and 5, what would a disciple-making church look like?

7. What yearnings are stirred within you when you read these words?

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

1. The accounts of Jesus’ temptations (Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13) talk about three broad areas. Some scholars have seen them in this way…

a. Stones to bread—the temptation to use economic power

b. The demonstration at the Temple—the temptation to use ecclesiastical or religious power

c. Worshipping the devil for control of the nations—the temptation to use political power

In what ways do these descriptions make sense to you?

How would these temptations have distracted Jesus from his real mission?

In what ways are these same temptations with us today?

2. Do you have trouble believing that Jesus was actually tempted? Why or why not?

Do you think it was easy for Jesus to resist these temptations? Why or why not?

3. Thursday’s devotional includes this statement…

“One of the reasons power is so seductive is that we can readily rationalize its use. Each one of us feels as though we would use power in a noble way. We know that power corrupts, but we always feel that it corrupts others. We believe that people with whom we disagree would use power in a self-centered, destructive way, but that we would always use it for good.”

We can all speak about the corruption of power—how people have used their power in destructive ways. Can you share examples of people using power in noble ways?

How were they able to keep from the corrupting influence of power?

Consider the terms “power” and “authority.”

How would you define them?

What do they have in common?

How are they different?

Did Jesus use power, authority, or both?

4. Read the devotional thought for Friday, the 26^th. In what way is the implantation of doubt the beginning of temptation?

5. Read 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 and Hebrews 12:1-3. Discuss how these passages can combine to give wisdom and guidance for overcoming temptation.

1. When the first century Christians said, “Jesus is Lord” (which they said often) they were committing a political act of treason. (The Monday and Tuesday devotionals deal with similar statements by Mark and Peter.)

In what ways is our faith at odds with our culture?

Can you think of ways in which our faith has assimilated the culture—or has been assimilated into the culture?

Has this been a good thing or a bad thing? Why?

2. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24).

For today’s American Christian, what are some of the things that are vying for our allegiance?

How do these things compete with our allegiance to Christ?

Is it more of an issue of allegiance for most Christians, or is it more a matter of focus?

 How are the two related?

3. The New Testament teaches us about both the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ.

Which is easier for you to embrace—his humanity or his divinity? Why?

How do you reconcile the two?

4. The New Testament teaches us the three persons of the Trinity—Father, Son and Spirit.

How would you explain this concept to someone who had never encountered it before?

How do you experience the Trinity? (Not, how do you understand the Trinity, but how do you experience the Trinity?)

How would you explain this—your experience of the Trinity—to someone?

5. Read Hebrews 4:14-16 and share what this passage means to you.