Group Discussion Guide
Kingdom of God, Part 4
This guide is designed to help your group create a space for genuine connection and conversation within your discussion time. Don't feel pressured to address every question each week. Instead, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you as you lead your group in uncovering what God intends to communicate during your time together.
This guide comprises three sections: Loving, Learning, and Living. Each section aims to steer your conversation towards meaningful discussions about spiritual growth as individuals and as members of the body of Christ.
This guide comprises three sections: Loving, Learning, and Living. Each section aims to steer your conversation towards meaningful discussions about spiritual growth as individuals and as members of the body of Christ.
LOVING
First moments together as a group to connect and pray (approx. 10-15 min).
Open with prayer and invite God to be part of your conversation and relationship.
- How have you seen God at work in your life since the last time we met?
- What has been one high and one low since the last time we met?
- How did you do with living out what we talked about last time we met?
Open with prayer and invite God to be part of your conversation and relationship.
LEARNING
The majority of the group discussion is devoted to open dialogue, reflecting on God’s Word and its personal application to each of our lives (approx. 60-75 min).
Scripture References from Message: Mark 11:12-24
Big Idea from Message: The Kingdom of God brings judgement, restores the broken, and calls God’s people to faith.
Note that in verse 14, Mark says “his disciples heard (Jesus curse the fig tree).” Why do you think it's important that Mark notes this here?
Mark layers together the image of the fig tree, an Old Testament stand-in for the righteous fruit Israel was meant to bear, with the Temple, the place of God’s life with and outworking of his mission through his people. Jesus aims his rebuke at each of these images in turn. Why do you think Mark puts these allusions to Israel together in this section, which comes as Jesus turns his attention evermore only toward the cross?
Circle back to the question Curtis asked, “What ‘tables’ of your heart might Jesus want to overturn?”
The next day, the disciples see that the fig tree has completely withered. Astonished by the miracle, they hear Jesus respond simply, “Have faith in God.” How is faith the primary foundation in this new and different kind of kingdom? And how does the judgment on the fig tree reveal the seriousness with which God desires genuine, fruitful faith?
Is there an area of your life where you need to experience God’s restorative justice for yourself or a relationship in which you need to offer that kind of justice to someone else?
Scripture References from Message: Mark 11:12-24
Big Idea from Message: The Kingdom of God brings judgement, restores the broken, and calls God’s people to faith.
Note that in verse 14, Mark says “his disciples heard (Jesus curse the fig tree).” Why do you think it's important that Mark notes this here?
Mark layers together the image of the fig tree, an Old Testament stand-in for the righteous fruit Israel was meant to bear, with the Temple, the place of God’s life with and outworking of his mission through his people. Jesus aims his rebuke at each of these images in turn. Why do you think Mark puts these allusions to Israel together in this section, which comes as Jesus turns his attention evermore only toward the cross?
Circle back to the question Curtis asked, “What ‘tables’ of your heart might Jesus want to overturn?”
The next day, the disciples see that the fig tree has completely withered. Astonished by the miracle, they hear Jesus respond simply, “Have faith in God.” How is faith the primary foundation in this new and different kind of kingdom? And how does the judgment on the fig tree reveal the seriousness with which God desires genuine, fruitful faith?
Is there an area of your life where you need to experience God’s restorative justice for yourself or a relationship in which you need to offer that kind of justice to someone else?
LIVING
The challenge for the week ahead is to grow in our faith and lovingly hold each other accountable through the community.
This week, consider what it means to live in God’s vision of justice for yourself and others. If you are following along with our 35 Days of Preparation, journal about what justice means to you and what it would look like for you to be an agent of God’s justice in the spaces you find yourself each day. Spend time praying and asking God to extend his restorative, healing justice to the broken areas of your life, and to make you a person of that kind of justice for others.
This week, consider what it means to live in God’s vision of justice for yourself and others. If you are following along with our 35 Days of Preparation, journal about what justice means to you and what it would look like for you to be an agent of God’s justice in the spaces you find yourself each day. Spend time praying and asking God to extend his restorative, healing justice to the broken areas of your life, and to make you a person of that kind of justice for others.