Following The Way of Christ: Transformed By a Storm
Mark 6:45-52
Abby Odio, Pastor of Teaching and Formation
This week as we continue through the Lent series we are looking at the life and character and way of Jesus as it’s told through the eyes and the lens of the book of Mark. Our text for today from Mark 6, serves as a powerful invitation to this story. It’s an invitation, that we’ll see as we dive in, is framed in three parts:
An awareness of our old story
An invitation to a new memory
Receiving with a softened heart
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Discussion Questions
Before questions, attempt to give the group a bit of a summary of the main points of the sermon and then choose a few questions that fit your group’s needs and style. We don’t intend for you to use all of these. Three to five questions may be a good number.
Begin by reading Mark 6:45-52 aloud, taking turns reading the verses. Consider reading it in NRSV. as read in service, and other versions.
Wheels or doors, which of these do you think more of exist in the world?
We were reminded this week that stories matter. The ones we tell about ourselves, about others, about purpose and pain as well as the stories that we submit to and give ourselves over to.
In what ways, knowingly or unknowingly, do these stories have shaping power and influence in our lives?
Where might you carry a blind spot for how that is playing out for you personally?
What experience do you have with wind?
Is it something you associate with negative or positive memories?
Do you typically experience it as an adversarial wind/mirage story or the opposite and something that provides relief?
How do you resonate with the statement that “straining is what we know”?
Pastor Abby gave her personal story of how stories run deep through her experience playing basketball and the sign of her hands camping serving as a reminder of living in the old story; do you have indicators that come up to remind you of a particular story? (examples could be from childhood, college, early marriage, etc.)
What do you think of the disciple’s reaction that after watching Jesus walk on water and calm the storms that their hearts were hardened?
Are you aware of “old ways” that exist for you? (For example: anger, defensiveness, harmful relational dynamics, judgment of self or others?)
What would you say is the current state of your heart?
Are there particular points in your life when you wished you’d known, or had greater awareness, that Jesus was there to see you (as he saw the disciples across the water)?
Take a moment to reflect on what might be “your old story”. Consider writing it out on a piece of paper or sharing in pairs if folks have the built up trust to do so.
Leaders: Here you can give the option to take a moment for silence or ask directly if during the sermon anything came up for anyone around the following question:
is there a part of your story today where you need to receive the fullness of Christ; to remember anew the life & story to which we are called?