Mark 14:31-42
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This is the third week in our mini-series on The Fruit of the Spirit. This sermon is called "The Faithfulness of Jesus"
Questions and going deeper resources
Small group questions
Connect Pray each day that the Spirit would open your eyes and heart to see the needs of those around, and help us respond in Christlike kindness.
Warm-Up
- What comes to mind when you think of faithfulness?
Read Mark 14:32-42
- Thinking about Jesus’ whole life, what are some examples of his consistency, trustworthiness and reliability? Who comes to depend on Jesus?
- What was the significance of Jesus coming to Jerusalem? (Hint: read Mark 10:32-34).
- What is significant about this moment? How do we know this is a moment of anguish for Jesus?
- How does Jesus respond to the unfathomable weight of God’s plans?
- When you have been under stress, in a moment of crisis, what have you done? How did you relate to God? How was your response similar or different to Jesus?
- In what other circumstances do we see Jesus praying? (Hint: Mark 1:35; 6:46)
- How can prayer, expressing dependence on God, enable us to be faithful to God everywhere and anytime? Why is it necessary to invest in foundations of faithfulness now and not wait until later?
- What are your current habits of prayer? How’d you like to grow in dependence on God in prayer?
- What does the cup represent? (Hint: Jer 25:15-29) What does Jesus do?
- What was Jesus' faithfulness directed to? How is Jesus’ faithfulness to God also faithfulness to us?
- Why is obedience to God’s will an important component to faithfulness? Why can this be hard?
- What helps you submit to God’s will and obey his plans?
Read John 15:9-14
- Why is Jesus’ faithfulness the assurance of our salvation?
- Does our faithfulness to Jesus need to be perfect? Who helps us be faithful? When have you known the Spirit’s comfort, assurance, and reminding of Jesus?
- What are aspects of your frontline that Jesus cares about?
- What would it look like to show faithfulness to Jesus, through caring about the things on your frontline that Jesus cares about?
Apply Continue or begin the practice of praying to God each day. You might incorporate John Stott’s prayer: “Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Amen.”
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for Jesus’ faithfulness, the assurance of our salvation, and the ultimate expression of your love and forgiveness. By your Spirit, help us to be faithful to Jesus. Amen.
Going deeper resources
On Your Front Line this Week
How can you pause to pray (even for just 1 minute), amidst the busyness of your day?
For Families
- Download: some of the family resources to use at home: stbartskids.org
Listen, Watch, and Read
- Book: “Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit: Growing in Christ’s Likeness” by Chris Wright: https://bit.ly/3sE81la
- Videos: “Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit” by Chris Wright: https://us.langham.org/fruit/
- Book: “Friendship with God” by Mike McKinley: https://bit.ly/3RdCkcA
- Sermons: “Fruit of the Spirit & the Character of Jesus” by Tim Keller: https://bit.ly/3r5alRY
- Book (regarding patience): “Becoming Friends of Time” by John Swinton: https://bit.ly/45YskJ7 (or in the St Bart’s Library: https://bit.ly/3r5dyRo)
- Book (re patience): “Three Mile an Hour God” by Kosuke Koyama: https://bit.ly/48aYwdM
- Book (re joy): “Surprised by Joy” by C S Lewis: https://bit.ly/44SKbzO (or in the St Bart’s Library: https://bit.ly/44LPCAq)
- Book (re joy): “The Pleasures of Pessimism” by Natasha Moore: https://bit.ly/481x6a5
