Echo Chamber Questions
Denying Jesus--Mark 14:66-72
THE BIG IDEA is that denying Jesus is a natural progression from the heights of presumption to the depths of despair.
1. An incognito Christian is an oxymoron. Do you believe that? What are the practical implications of this?
2. Renouncing Jesus comes from fear of man. Can you identify areas in your life where you have fear of man issues? Instead of presuming (like Peter) to deal with these on your own strength, how would you/ can you effectively deal with this?
3. Do you hate your sin? Why? Because you got caught? Because of the sorrow of hell? Or because it betrays the beauty of Christ? If you’re not at that place, please, confess it and get prayer.
4. Do you feel your soul, your families soul are weighing in the balance? Do you see Peter/Judas present in yourself and everyone you love?
5. Jesus’ inclusion of you destroys your exclusion of HIM. Do you trust that?
Justice Himself, On Trial--Mark 14:53-65
THE BIG IDEA is that Jesus entrusted Himself to the final justice of God, and therefore accomplished everlasting mercy for his people.
1. It was pointed out that the hypocrisy that these "leaders" had knew no bounds. At every point they broke the very law they were using to condemn Jesus. What should you as a reader pull away from that? Were these men just exceptionally evil men? Take this opportunity to confess to your brothers and sisters the ways in which you have been hypocritical in following Jesus. (Leader: If possible use these as prayer points at the end, allowing people to pray for one another)
2. It was also pointed out that Jesus' steadfastness to the glory of his Father knew no bounds. On the one hand, he was silent before his shearers-fulfilling Isaiah 53:7. On the other he did finally speak up. But there was even a reason for that. Look at the parallel account in Matthew 26:63, and notice what the high priest said to Him. Now look at Leviticus 5:1. What do you see? (Leader: Jesus fulfilled the law by speaking under this adjuration, even though by speaking he was signing his own death warrant). What should you, as the observer of this faithfulness to the law, pull away from these events?
3. During this kangaroo court, Peter was following Jesus from a distance. What about you? Are you following Jesus from a distance? (Maybe not.) Are there categories in your life that you are trying to distance from Jesus? Which are they?