Scripture: Mark 1:1,9-15

1. Pastor Will talked about the importance of “Boxes” in our spiritual life: a place we go, or an activity we do, where we reliably experience connection with God. What have been some of the significant “God-boxes” in your life?

2. One of the problems with locating God in a certain “box” (e.g. a certain place, church community, political viewpoint, etc.) is when we are excluded from the box, or when we see people fighting for control of the box. Have you ever experienced exclusion or disillusionment with a community or place where you have previously connected to God? What was that experience like?

3. Read over the Scripture reading for the week: Mark 1:1,9-15. Notice that Mark chooses to start his gospel without any birth story or background. He jumps straight to the baptism of Jesus and his announcement that the kingdom of God has come near. What strikes you about how Mark starts the story? What things do you think Mark is trying to communicate about Jesus by starting the gospel in these ways?

4. “Heaven” was considered the “box” where God dwelled. And the Holy of Holies in the Temple was the “box” where heaven could be experienced on earth. At the time of Mark’s gospel, there was a war being waged between the Roman empire and Jewish revolutionaries over control of the temple. Will brought our attention to two major significant details, at the very start and end of Mark’s depiction of Jesus: when he’s baptized, heaven is “torn open” (1:10); when he dies on the cross, “the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” At both times, Jesus identified as God’s Son. The Greek word in both cases is “schizo,” which means to tear or rend. What feelings and thoughts do these images evoke in you? How does Mark’s language and depiction of these scenes spark your imagination when it comes to how we think about and experience God?

5. Bible scholar Brian Blount summarizes this theme in Mark by saying, “God is on the loose.” What does that phrase mean to you - is it comforting? challenging? In what ways is that “good news” for you?

6. Will suggests that Jesus’ call to “Repent” in light of the arrival of God’s kingdom can be interpreted to mean two things: Stop playing the ‘put God in a box’ game AND Start running to the places where we find Jesus. What are ways in your life that you may have put God into a box? What might you need to change in that regard?

7. Will also quoted a fellow pastor, Dan Sadlier, about the ways we also put those made in God’s image in a box. How do you see that happening in our culture today? In what ways do you think Jesus would challenge those behaviors?

8. A major point in the message is that while we shouldn’t put God in a “box,” we also should not withdraw from the world. Rather, we should seek to engage the world in the ways Jesus did. Looking ahead to the rest of the gospel story, brainstorm around this question: what kind of ways do we see Jesus engaging the world? What’s God’s invitation for you when it comes to following Jesus this week? What might it look like to engage the world and love like Jesus in your life right now?

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

1. In this Scripture, Jesus and the disciples are on a boat on the Sea of Galilee, facing a "furious squall." Pastor Becky shared how, all throughout the Scriptures, the sea represents chaos. Is there a time in your life where you were tossed about in the sea? Where life felt like chaos? What feelings did you have in that time?

2. What do you make of the disciples' response to the fact that Jesus is asleep as the storm hits? How do you think you'd respond in this situation? What do you think Mark is trying to emphasize by drawing attention to Jesus sleeping?

3. In this story, Jesus demonstrates authority over the wind and waves by calming the storm. Becky noted that the word "authority" is a theme in the first half of Mark's gospel. It's repeated 10 times and many stories emphasize the authority of Jesus. "Authority" can be a difficult word for us sometimes. What is your image of the authority of Jesus? How do you think Mark's gospel is inviting us to understand such authority?

4. In verse 40, Jesus seems to rebuke the disciples, asking "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Becky pointed out that those questions are in the present tense, suggesting that the disciples' fear persists even after Jesus calms the storm. In fact, in the next verse, Mark says, they are "terrified." Has your fear about a situation ever persisted even after you've witnessed God's goodness and power? Share about it with others. Why do you think fear can be so powerful?

5. Repetition is a major literary convention in Mark's gospel. Indeed, Mark includes a very similar story to this one in Mark 6:45-52. Compare the two stories. What's similar? What's different? After comparing, consider this question: what question or point is Mark posing to his readers by including both of these stories?

6. The story of the Gospel, and of the full story of the Scriptures, is that Jesus has the final victory over all chaos. Becky suggests that Mark is challenging the power of our fear in light of the authoritative victory of Jesus: will we trust Jesus' authority even when Jesus seems "asleep," or when we can't see him "in the boat" with us? Reflect on that question: where are you having trouble seeing Jesus in the situation? What might it look like for you to exercise faith in that situation?

7. In Mark chapter 6, Jesus says, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." What does it look like for you to live out spiritual courage right now?

Scripture: Mark 3:1-6

1. Pastor Will introduced the concept of "code-switching" at the start of the message. Code-switching is the adjustment of one’s style of speech, appearance, behavior, or expression to “fit in,” to achieve social standing, fair treatment, and belonging with the group around you. Have you ever experienced code-switching? What was it like?

2. Sometimes the pressure to conform to some written or unwritten code can lead to brokenness and division. Have any of you experienced rejection for NOT fitting into or questioning a particular social code?

3. Mark uses a literary device called "sandwich-ing" to focus our attention on Jesus' ministry of healings, highlighting these three stories: healing of a man with leprosy (1:40-45); healing of a paralyzed man (2:1-12); healing of a man with a shriveled hand (3:1-6). Take some time to look over these stories. What do you see as common elements in each story?

4. Will claimed that "each of these healings challenge a social-religious code around who belongs in God’s people, who has access to the power of God’s kingdom." How does this aspect of the story inform our understanding of "healing"?

5. In Mark 3, Jesus asks, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” Will suggested this is an invitation for us to reflect critically and honestly on some of our religious practices and rituals. What's one example of a religious practice that you've found to be restrictive that could use reform? And what's one example of a religious practice that you've found to be life-restoring?

6. In two of these healing stories, Mark draws attention to Jesus' indignation and anger. What are your reactions to that portrayal of Jesus? Can you think of examples of exclusive social-religious codes that might spark Jesus' anger today?

7. How does the image of an angry Jesus willing to break the "codes" in order to bring people close to God inspire and challenge you? 

8. What are ways in our church community and relationships that we can decrease the pressure to "fit it" and increase access to God and belonging to God's people?

Scripture: Mark 3:7-19

1. Pastor Becky distinguished between "tourists" and "travelers." How do you understand the distinction she was making? What's a time where you traveled somewhere and it was hard work that changed you in some way?

2. We live in a consumerist culture which can lead us to approach church and spirituality as "tourists." Can you identify ways in your life and journey where you've related to church more as a "tourist"? What are positive aspects of spiritual tourism? What are some of its limitations?

3. Read over Mark 3:13. Jesus separates himself from the crowds, and then "called to him those he wanted." Put yourself in the shoes of those he called. Becky shared she might've felt very special, but she might've also felt terrified. How do you think you would've felt in that situation?

4. Jesus calls us in different ways. What's a time in your life that experienced Jesus calling you?

5. "Traveling with Jesus means being WITH Jesus and being SENT by Jesus." Which aspect of discipleship - "with" or "sent" - comes more naturally to you? Which is more of a challenge? Share why you think that is.

6. When it comes to being "with" Jesus, Becky shared the images of going to the mountaintop with Jesus or being covered in his dust. Which of those images resonates with you? What does being "with" Jesus look like for you?

7. Being "sent" by Jesus means sharing in authority over evil, sharing Jesus' love, and being part of his kingdom work. What did being "sent" look like for the disciples? What do you think it looks like for you in this season of life?