Sermon Bible Study Guides

Mark 8:1-21 - February 16th 2018

Watch out!

Read Mark 8:1-21

1. Where have they been? What has just happened? (Review 7:31-37)
2. Who is with Jesus? What has been happening in Jesus’ ministry?
3. Why does Jesus say? How do his disciples respond?
1. What does this interaction tell us about them?
4. What happens? How?
1. How does this compare/contrast with the feeding of the five thousand (6:30-44)? Does it reveal anything new to us?

1. What do the Pharisees do and why?
2. How does Jesus respond? Why?

1. What does warn his disciples? What does his warning mean? What is leaven and what kind of ‘leaven’ do the Pharisees and Herod have? (Think about the interactions between these groups with Jesus so far in Mark)
2. How do the disciples respond and why?
3. Consider each of Jesus’ questions to his disciples. What does each mean? What does Jesus want them to understand? Will they ever understand?
1. What is the significance of the feedings?

Application:

1. What spiritual truths are being revealed by Jesus that his disciples are failing to see?
2. What do we learn about Jesus’ identity and character?
3. How can we know and understand Jesus? What keeps us from knowing and understanding Jesus? What is the remedy?

James 4:11-17 - February 9th 2018

What are you saying?

Read James 4:11-12

1. What does James warn against doing? Who does he warn?
2. What is the reason he gives for why we should do this?
3. Why is speaking evil against a brother the same as speaking against the law?
4. What position does someone claim for themselves when they speak against the law?
5. Whose rightful position are they therefore taking?

Read James 4:13-17

1. What is wrong with the statement James says people make (v13)?
2. What does James say you ought to say instead? What is the reason why you ought to say what he suggests?
3. What does he teach about your control over your life?
4. If you fail to do what he says, what do you boast in?
5. What is James’ conclusion? How does this relate to what he’s been saying?
6. What is the relationship between these two sections? What is the common issue James is addressing?

Application:

1. What areas of your own life are addressed by James’ instructions?
2. What do these very specific signs indicate about a person’s heart?
3. What is the best way to address and stop these specific sins?
4. What makes these practical instructions uniquely Christian?