This past weekend, we continued our study through the Gospel of Mark. This intimate look into the life and ministry of Jesus will help us understand who He truly is and what our response to Him should be. In part five of this series, Pastor Doug taught from Mark 3:7–35. In this message, we saw Jesus appoint the twelve disciples as we dove into the purpose and cost of discipleship, how Jesus is more concerned with unity than talent, and how He is drawing new people to Him every day!

In this week’s group study, Boca campus Worship Pastor Andrew Wooddell expands on our examination of Mark 3:7–35.

THIS WEEK’S GROUP RESOURCE

Below, you’ll find some key questions to reflect on and consider in your group, with your family, or in your circle of friends, some action points for the week, and a look ahead. 

Ice Breaker: If you could pick one organization you’d want to recruit for, what company would it be and why?

Getting the Conversation Going: As we discussed last week, Jesus was different. He didn’t think, look, and act like everyone else. And that is clearly shown in the people He chose to be His disciples and the manner in which He went about choosing and calling them! He didn’t appoint the most popular, talented, esteemed, educated, well-respected, dynamic, wealthiest, or best speakers, which is likely what most of us would have done. Instead, He chose a ragtag group of fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots—basically “unschooled, ordinary men” (Acts 4:13 NIV).

As Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:26–30 (NIV) regarding the state people were in before God called them, “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

You see, that’s the thing about the call of God in Christ Jesus: It doesn’t matter who we are, where we came from, what we have, what we’ve done, what end of the spectrum we’re in financially, politically, or religiously, whether we’re a prince or a prostitute, a Pharisee or a fiend, rich, poor, young, old, moral or criminal, the call to follow Him and be redeemed and made new is for everyone who believes!

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”—1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

Discussion Question 1: Like the disciples in His day, God has also chosen you! He has called you, and if you are a believer, you have answered the call to follow Him and to trust in Him for salvation. Why is it so important you understand that He first chose you before you received and chose to follow Him?

Discussion Question 2: How has God changed you since the day He drew you to Himself? Share about your discipleship journey!

“The message needs messengers.”

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”—Romans 10:9–15 (NIV)

The Call for Us All: How can we expect people who don’t believe in the gospel of Jesus to live it out? How can we get so indignant at nonbelievers when their lifestyles don’t line up with the Christian way of life they know little to nothing about (and what little they may know of it is often a poor representation as portrayed by the mainstream media and sometimes by Christians living as poor witnesses)? How can we expect them to live according to the message of the cross when “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV)? How can they be saved if we don’t tell them the good news of salvation?

The truth is, if you’re His disciple, you’ve been sent. It’s not just a call for some Christ followers; it’s not just the job of a select group of super Christians, dynamic speakers, outgoing individuals, or pastors . . . It’s the mission and purpose of every follower of Christ. Mark 16:15 (NIV) says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,” while Matthew 28:19 (NIV) says, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” This is for all of us. 

We don’t need Bible college training to do this. Just like the outcast woman at the well who immediately went into her town to tell people about Jesus, and just like untrained, ordinary Peter and John in Acts 4, we just need to tell people the good news that Jesus loves them, died for them, and can change their lives and hearts in ways they never thought possible. We don’t need to know everything! One blind man put it best when he said, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see (John 9:25 NIV). The gospel of Jesus has the power to change every heart on its own. And God has called and commissioned us to be the messengers who deliver this good news!

Discussion Question 3: Why does God call you to make disciples? Why does He desire to use you?

Discussion Question 4: How are you answering God’s call right now in this season? What steps can you take to grow as a messenger of the gospel and disciple maker?

“You will never reach your full potential as a Christian until you help someone else reach theirs!”—Pastor Doug Sauder

This Week: Being a disciple comes with a cost. Jesus makes this clear in Mark 8:34–35 (NIV) when He says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

As you go through your week, ask yourself . . .

• What is following Jesus closely costing me today?
• Where do I need to grow as a disciple in order to help others become and grow as disciples?

Pray It Out: Share prayer requests in your group. Write down the requests of your group members, spend time praying over these requests, and keep praying individually over them throughout the week.

A LOOK AHEAD

This weekend, we’ll continue our study through the Gospel of Mark as Pastor Doug teaches from Mark 4:1–34. In this message, we’ll unpack three of Jesus’ parables on the nature of faith and the kingdom of God. 

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