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By Leigh Mackenzie
Study Questions for Groups
1. What was challenging for you this past week? (Be as specific as possible.)
Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—for their help. Ask the first reader to read Mark 5:1-20 aloud. Then ask the second person to read it aloud again (it may be useful to read it from a different Bible version).
Then ask everyone except the reteller to set aside their Bibles and simply listen. Ask the third person to retell (not interpret) the narrative in about 60 seconds. (Keep it simple!)
2. What in this passage captured your attention the most?
3. Using as many details as possible from the text, describe the demon-possessed man and his behavior.
(Leader, don’t rush this part, and encourage the group to respond only using the passage of Scripture under consideration, not other passages of Scripture, commentaries, sermons, or books.)
- Describe how Jesus responded to the man at different points in the narrative.
- How did people in that region respond to Jesus?
4. What do you learn about God’s power from this story?
5. What does this passage reveal to you about how God views humankind?
- What does it reveal about how God sees you?
6. Look again at verses 19 and 20. How can you obey God this week in the same way as this man?
- Who are “your own people” where you live, work, and play?
- In a sentence or two, describe what “the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
7. Based on this passage, complete this sentence: This week, I will . . . (Encourage people to respond in concrete, measurable terms. Will they be able to respond definitively to the questions, “Did you do it? How did it go?”)
8. What challenge will you face this week?
For Next Week: Sometime this week, read and reflect on John 6:1-15, 25-29, as we continue to look at the miracles of Jesus. You are also encouraged to read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections in Christian Standard as part of your own personal study. (Note: We won’t read or discuss any of these extra materials in our session next week, but they will help you grow in your own faith.)
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