40 Days Discussion Questions - Week 1
Being a Christian is all about following Jesus Christ. What does it mean to follow Jesus Christ? Over the next 40 Days, we will aim to examine what it really means to be called out to follow Jesus Christ.
This week’s memory verse: Mark 8:34 “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
1. Read Mark 8:27. Who would you say Jesus is? How has your answer to that question changed throughout your life?
2. Pastor James said, “The call is more than just believing but pursuing.” When you consider the call that Jesus has on your life, what is the difference between believing and pursuing?
3. Pastor James said: “You must reevaluate what is number one in your life. Until you do, you will always struggle with following Jesus. But when you go, ‘Jesus, I love you, and I want to follow you, wherever, whenever you want’ then your life will change” Why is it hard for some people to trust their whole life to Jesus? What is holding you back from trusting Jesus with all your life?
4. This is the essence of following Jesus: Jesus knows, He sees what God sees, and He sees what we can’t see. We can only get to where God wants us to be by following Jesus. What comfort do you find in the thought that Jesus sees everything and knows where God wants to take you?
5. Read Mark 8:34. Jesus does not exclude anyone. In the same crowd were the most religious of the religious, along with prostitutes and tax collectors, the worst of the worst. Everyone is invited because everyone needs Jesus. What would you say to someone who said they were too "bad" for Jesus to accept? What would you say to someone who said they were too "good" to need Jesus? Which conversation would you rather have?
6. Are you willing to keep stepping out of the crowd to pursue the One who loves you, died for you, and wants to be with you? Will you listen? Will you follow?
In Jesus, we have all that we need:
You are no longer condemned in Christ. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1 NIV)
You are free in Christ: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Galatians 5:1 NIV)
You are completely forgiven in Christ: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24 NIV)
You are accepted in Christ: “You who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him” (Colossians 1:21–22).
You are loved as a Child of God in Christ: “All who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
You are redeemed in Christ: "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18–19 NIV).
You are victorious in Christ: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
You are strengthened in Christ: "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13 NLT)
You are made right in Christ: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him (Jesus Christ) we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)
You are confident in Christ: "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6 NIV)
7. What are the six 40 Day commitments? (see pages v & vi of the devotional if you get stuck) How can your group help you stick to these commitments for the next 40 Days?
Pastor James’ Preaching Notes
(Mark 8:34 ESV) "34Calling the crowd to Him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
Being a Christian is all about following Jesus Christ.
The call is more than just believing but pursuing.
(John 8:31 NLT) "31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings."
(Matthew 15:8 NIV) "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
(Mark 8:33 NLT) "33 Jesus then rebuked Peter “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”"
The call is to follow Jesus because he sees what you can’t.