Jesus Still Calms the Storms

 

Study Guide for Week of July 4th 

This Week Reading: Mark 4:35-41

Crossroads Community Group Guide:
A. Welcome: Welcome everyone especially new persons and read out loud the purpose of your group
B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use It is Well  (or pick your own on YouTube make sure it has the lyrics on the screen)

D. Announcements

1. Weekly Resources on Crossroads Facebook Page    

        Monday: Listening Room Resources for the week

        Children's resource each week  

2. Daily Devotional Video: The Encouraging Word with Pastor Willie

3. Announcements and Events:  Crossroads Web Site

4. Watch the Sunday service here Sunday 11:45am

E. Review   

1. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

F. Opening Question (a simple question to introduce the main theme - called an icebreaker): What gifts has God given to you?

G. Read Background Information: 

Storms are a common theme in the Bible. Think of Noah and the flood, Jonah running away, Peter walking on the water; Paul shipwrecked in the storm. All of these storms point to two things. First the storms of life that we all face and secondly to the storm of God's judgment. Through it all Jesus still calms the storms of life and prepares us for his coming in judgment.  here are three characteristics of storms.

Verse Outline:

       I.    II. Characteristic One: Storms are an Expected Part of Everyone’s Life – verses 35-37

Key Concept: The storms of life are unwanted and unexpected but part of life in a broken world

Key Verse: Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Community Group Application: Community group members see the storms of life as opportunities to reach people who do not Have Jesus as the foundation of their lives.

         II. Characteristic Two: Storms Exposes Weak Foundations – verse 38

Key Concept: Storms expose weaknesses in our faith

Key Verse: Matthew 14:29-31 Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Community Group Application: Being part of a community group and attending church regularly are key to building your faith through the storms of life 

I. IIII. Characteristic Three: Storms are an Opportunity to Build our Faith in Jesus verses 39-41  

Key Concept: In the presence of Jesus, we can have peace even in the wildest storms of life – William Barclay

Key Verse: Matthew 7:24-27

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Community Group Application: Community group members build themselves up on the teachings of Jesus

     II.     H. Word: - read Mark 4:35-41 break it down into smaller portions to read. Read it in portions aloud together several times. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words - keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?
2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.
3. What are the details?
4. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

I. Discuss the following general questions together (Goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion - the leader should not speak more than 30% of the time - let the group discover what God is saying to them).
1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?
3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?
4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

 
J. Commitment - Obedience - Application  (This is the key - have everyone answer this question): 
1. What in specific will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

K. Prayer Time:                
1. Pray for an empty chair representing new people who you want to join your group. Name names of people specifically. 

2. Pray for your group to multiply.               
3. Pray for the needs of the members of the group. It is best to divide into 2 groups one of male and the other female.

L. For Next time:                
1. Ask each person the name of a person they will invite to the group                                         for next week.