03.29.20 - Discussion Guide

Mark 4:35 – 41

Opening question: What is the worst storm* you have ever experienced? What do you remember doing and feeling as the storm passed?

*A REAL storm, not metaphorical – a good example might be the tornado that passed by Lawrence in Spring of 2019. *

Read the passage out loud together.

1. During Pastor Bill’s sermon, he drew our attention to the response of the Disciples: does their response surprise you? How would you have responded if you were in their shoes? (see v. 38, “Don’t you care that we are perishing!”)

2. Have you ever experienced a similar “storm” in your life; a situation that led you to doubt God’s care for you? What did you do throughout this storm? How did you feel?

3. Pastor Bill provided us with Truth to combat our feelings of fear and hopelessness during the storms that arise throughout our life – what were some of those passages and what assurances do they give us? (see Romans 8:18 & 28, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 + any other passages you can think of together!)

4. Pastor Bill also reminded us of another Truth Jesus conveys: “In this world you will have trouble…”. As Christians, we are not immune from the hardships of this present world. Does this reality ever confuse or frustrate you? Why does God allow us to undergo these trials and tribulations? (see Hebrews 12:4-12, James 1:2-4)

5. We were reminded today that our faith is ultimately not about our ability to muster up enough during trials and tribulations but is rather rooted in the object of our faith: God Himself. He is the “author and finisher of our faith”, the one who upholds us. This, however, does not remove our responsibility – we are still called to “work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling” remembering that “it is God who works in us”. Therefore, how can we seek to equip ourselves for the storms that may arise in our lives, so that we do not find ourselves going to God and asking, “don’t you care?!”

Take some time to pray together as a family.