Unexpected – Part 1
March 28-29, 2020
Dr. Jeffrey Allen Love
“’Abba, Father,’ he cried out, ‘everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’” Mark 14:36 (p.776)
- God Gives Me Courage To Do His Will.
“He told them, ‘My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’” Mark 14:34 (p.775)
- Look to Jesus’ example.
“‘Abba, Father,’ he cried out, ‘everything is possible for you…'” Mark 14:36 (p.776)
“While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.” Hebrews 5:7-8 (p.922)
- Be willing to do God’s will.
“…Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Luke 22:42 (p.805)
“Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” Hebrews 10:36 (p.927)
- Pray for courage.
“And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.” Hebrews 3:6 (p.921)
“So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD!” Psalm 31:24 (p.427)
Next Step: _____ I will read the Daily Reading and the Daily Study from the Life Transformation Bible: Courage in Trials (p. A-78, A-79).
Discussion Guide from the Weekend Talk
From the Weekend Talk of March 28-29, 2020
Unexpected, Part 1
Use this Discussion Guide to dig deeper into the principles from Weekend Talk. Our Life Groups will use them, but we encourage you to discuss them with your family, or over the phone or online with friends.
Yes, our Life Groups continue to meet, ONLINE! Life Groups use these questions to go deeper into what we talked about this weekend. Dig into them so you will be ready for the discussion at your Life Group. Please let us know if you would like to join a group. We are also looking for opportunities to begin NEW ONLINE Groups.
Car Questions/Conversation Starters
- Have you ever done something that was needed, but that you were afraid to do?
- How would you define courage?
- When have you had to be courageous? Are those times always big, dramatic challenges, or do they more often show up in small, quiet ways?
- Who have you known who is courageous? What made them that way?
Quick Review
- Looking back at your Talk Notes, was there anything you heard in the service that stood out or maybe even confused you?
Discussion Starters from the Weekend Talk
Refer to the Talk Notes and related Bible verses from this Weekend’s Talk Notes.
- Pastors Jeff Love and Steve Tanner highlighted One Thing to remember from this Talk:
“God Gives Me Courage to Do His Will.” (see Mark 14:32-36 (p.775*))- Read Mark 14:32-26. See also Luke 22:39-46 (p.805*)
- When have you experienced praying with anything close to the intensity of Jesus’ prayer here?
- What emotions are described?
- Why was Jesus “deeply troubled and distressed?”
- Jeff and Steve pointed out that while it is God who does His part by giving you the courage to do His will, you need to be active in the process to do My Part. My Part includes…
- Read Mark 14:32-26. See also Luke 22:39-46 (p.805*)
(1) Look to Jesus’ Example. (Mark 14:36 (p.776*) and Hebrews 5:7-8 (p.922*))
- What is the significance of Jesus’ declaration in Mark 14:36?
- How would you have reacted to the intensity of Jesus’ words and actions if you had been there?
- Talk about learning obedience from suffering (Hebrews 5:7-8). When have you learned through suffering?
(2) Be willing to do God’s will. (Luke 22:42 (p.805*) and Hebrews 10:36 (p.927*))
- What is “the will?” Have you ever struggled with will-power?
- What does “God’s Will” mean?
- Hebrews 10:36 talks about “patient endurance” and “continue to do God’s will.” What is significant about these phrases? Is living as a Follower of Jesus something we do for just a moment, or is it a life-long process?
(3) Pray for Courage. (Hebrews 3:6 (p.921*) and Psalm 31:24 (p.427*)
- How do you pray for courage? What do you say?
- When have you had to pray for courage?
- How does Jesus’ example of His “Garden Prayer” encourage you?
Digging Deeper
- Read Mark 14:29-42. What else about this scene in the Garden of Gethsemane speaks to courage and our need to ask God for it?
- The Greek word translated “courage” literally means “boldness and confidence.”
- Read Mark 6:47-52 (p.767*)
- What reason for courage did Jesus give the disciples?
- How/Why does the presence of Jesus change our ability to have courage?
- How does John 15:5 (p.824*) speak to this concept?
- 12 times the Bible uses the phrases “be strong and courageous.” Look some of them up on your device. Why do you think “strong” appears alongside “courageous” so often?
- Read Mark 6:47-52 (p.767*)
Taking It Home: Next Step
- My Next Step: I will read the Daily Reading and the Daily Study from the Life Transformation Bible: Courage in Trials (p. A-78, A-79). And remember, the Kids and Students ALSO have Discipleship Readings! What a great “in-home” activity for a family!
Pray
- Pray now for those in leadership in our country, state, community and church. And pray for one another, the Church, and Alive Church. Pray for unity and community in these unusual times.
This Weekend:
We begin a new series that will begin our process of focusing on the Resurrection of Jesus we celebrate on Easter! We continue to meet online. Remember that we are also providing unique online content for kids. Find out more at alivechurch.com.
Please tell a friend about Alive Church Online.
Did you know? You can access our video content through Roku and Apple TV, as well. Just search for “Alive Church” on those streaming platforms. And you can stay up to date and engage with the people of Alive Church via our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.
All of these notes are also in our App. To get our FREE App just text “ALIVEAZ APP” to this number: 77977 and follow the instructions. If you need help, we’ll help you!
* The Life Transformation Bible is the New Living Translation of the Bible, including many useful tools to help you better understand God’s Word, including our own Alive Church Life Transformation Discipleship Plan. They are available FREE in the church lobby.