When you think about sharing the message of Jesus with someone else, what emotions come to the surface? Why do you think they arise? What has been your experience with sharing the Gospel in the past? What responses do you expect to get when you share Jesus’ message?

What reasons does Jesus give for teaching in parables at this point in his ministry? We typically want teachers to be clear and easily understood, yet here Jesus is intentionally making the truth a bit more obscure through using parables. What are the benefits of this teaching approach?

How do you respond when you encounter a teaching of Jesus that you find hard to understand and apply?

Which of the four soils do you think our culture most closely resembles? As you look at your own heart, are there any areas where you are in danger of becoming hardened to Jesus’ message; where you are becoming shallow and unwilling to side with Jesus because of the social cost; or where you find yourself overly focused on the concerns of life here and now and too consumed by the security and pleasures that money promises to deliver?

Remember, Jesus’ arms are always open to those ready to use their ears to listen to him!

Have you ever encountered someone who said they would believe if only God would prove he existed in some way? Have you ever wanted Jesus to “prove” himself to you or someone you love by doing something supernatural or extraordinary? Did he comply with your request?

How do you react to the scribes’ and pharisees’ request that Jesus show them a sign? Legitimate? Illegitimate? Why do you think Jesus responded so harshly to them? Do you think there is anything that Jesus could have done to authenticate who he was to their satisfaction? How had they responded to the signs Jesus had already performed?

What role do you think evidence should play in our trust of Jesus Christ? Is faith just a “leap in the dark’? Jesus points out his impending death and resurrection as the one “sign” that would be given to the scribes and pharisees and Paul points out that our trust is worthless unless Jesus was raised from the dead (I Cor. 15). What evidence would you share with an unbeliever who doubted the historical reality of the resurrection?

Why do you think Matthew included Jesus’ story of the man freed from one demon only to be repossessed by seven at this point in the story? According to Jesus, what is the evidence of our being part of his family? Is there a difference between doing the “will of the Father” and trusting and obeying Jesus? See John 6:28&29

Have you ever wound up in a difficult place (in a relationship, in your job, in parenting, etc) because your expectations did not line up at all with actual reality? What happens when our expectations clash with reality? How do you respond emotionally at those times?

The majority of Jews in Jesus’ time were expecting a Messiah who was a powerful political and military leader who would restore Israel to her former glory. How does the description of the servant in this passage from the prophet Isaiah clash with these messianic expectations?

In what ways have your expectations of what Jesus should do and how he should be involved in your life compared with how Jesus has actually been working in your life? How do you respond when Jesus does not meet your expectations?

What do you think caused the Pharisees to be so opposed to Jesus that they attributed the freeing and healing work of the Holy Spirit operating through Jesus to Satan? What do you think it is about this sin that makes it unpardonable?

“Religion has a way of turning God given blessings into burdens!” How had the Sabbath (a day originally given to humans for communion with God, rest and refreshment) become a burdensome, guilt inducing religious ritual by the time of Jesus? Are there any Christian practices in your life that have morphed from being a blessing to becoming a guilt producing burden (e.g. prayer, fellowship, Scripture reading/study, sharing your faith, etc)? If so, what do you think caused the change?

How should we go about processing the criticism of another Christian who claims that we are doing ________ all wrong or our biblical understanding and application of __________ is incorrect? What does Jesus appeal to in his defense of his disciples and himself in this section?

Are you quicker to show mercy or express condemnation when you think someone is thinking or doing something wrong? Where in the church and in our culture today do you think we need to do a better job of reflecting the merciful love of the Father to others?

What do you think caused the Pharisees to begin planning Jesus’ death after these interactions about the Sabbath? Do you think they believed that they were doing what was right? What do you think kept them from acknowledging who Jesus really was?

Does God use everyday Christians or only the ones who have great speaking, organizational, or fundraising skills? God used everyday folks in Scripture who we see as great because God called them and equipped them. God intends to accomplish His purposes in and through His people! As we read Deuteronomy 6:4-9, we see God calling His people to bring Him into every area of life. God desires to use every thought, word, and deed in every moment of every day for His glory and our good. The ordinary Christian doing ordinary, everyday stuff can have extraordinary impact if God is in it!

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

Peter and John were ordinary people with an extraordinary call. We are all called by God and equipped by God to answer the call. As “Everyday Christians” we are charged with impacting those around us by ensuring that our relationship with Jesus is evident in our daily lives and interactions. There is nothing special about us, but there is certainly something special about our Savior and His Holy Spirit Who indwells us! God accomplishes His will in and through us as we go along in the day to day, moment by moment, seemingly unimportant routines of life. He is the one doing the work and we can be a part of that work if we know who we are.

Do you believe what God’s Word says about Who God is? Do you believe what God’s Word says about who you are? We must know God and believe what God says about Himself in order to know who we are and why we’re here. With our identity secure in Christ, we are ready to be everyday Christians!

How do you typically respond when you are wanting to share the message of Jesus and the other person makes it clear that they are not at all interested? How does that impact your desire to share the good news with others?

Both John the Baptist and Jesus proclaimed the same message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2; 4:17). In what ways were their ministries similar? In what ways did they differ? Which approach was the “right” one? How should this inform how we look on other believers who are called to a different style or method of sharing the good news? What are the “non-negotiables” of the Gospel that must be communicated regardless of approach?

How can an understanding of the Father’s and the Son’s involvement in revealing the truth to someone encourage us to share the good news and keep us from discouragement when someone doesn’t respond? How does this reality fit with Jesus’ call to ALL who are weary and burdened to come to him to find rest?

If you have trusted Jesus, do you see him as “gentle and humble of heart’? Does his “yoke” feel easy (lit. kind) and does his burden seem light? If not, why do you think that is so?

Have you ever had a season, after your initial salvation, where you were struggling with doubts? What do you think brought on those doubts? If you are no longer in that season, what enabled you to move beyond your doubts?

What do you think was causing John the Baptist to wonder if Jesus really was the Messiah at this point in his life? How can faulty expectations of what life with Jesus “should” look like cause us to doubt Jesus and his love for us? Are you allowing Jesus and his teaching to shape your expectations or do some aspects of his teaching “offend” you?

Os Guiness was asked, “What would you say is the hardest test for faith – a crisis, disappointment, disaster or delay?” He responded, “Unquestionably it is delay!” Do you agree? Why do you think we find waiting so difficult and doubt producing?

How can we become a church that is “merciful” to those who are struggling with doubt? (Jude 22). What happens when doubts are repressed or ignored? Are there times when we should refrain from sharing our struggles with doubt?

Given the challenges and opposition Jesus tells his disciples they will face, why do you think they willingly responded to Jesus mission for them? If you are a follower of Jesus, what keeps you going when others ridicule or oppose your faith?

In Mark 3:13&14, Jesus first calls his disciples to be with him and then sends them out. Do you think the order is significant? How can we go about being “with” Jesus in our day? What are the dangers of being “on mission” without first being with Jesus?

In the West, we rarely face overt physical persecution for following Jesus. However, do you see any ways in which Jesus, his message and his followers are being opposed today? In what situations do you find it challenging to speak up for Jesus? What do you think would help you to become more bold?

How can having an “eternal” perspective on life help motivate us to be “on mission” with Jesus? What aspects of our culture make it difficult maintain this perspective?

If some part of your future was going to be very difficult, would you prefer to know in advance or remain blissfully uninformed? What are the benefits and dangers of both approaches?

Jesus pulls no punches when he informs the twelve disciples of what they will encounter as they are sent out to represent him and share the Good News of the Kingdom. Why do you think he was so direct?

Do you think the “cost” of following Jesus is adequately discussed in our churches? What motivates believers to downplay the downside of following Jesus – especially when sharing their faith? In what situations are you tempted to not “acknowledge” that you follow Jesus?

For many believers around the world, the cost of following Jesus looks much like the picture Jesus paints in this passage. However, we in the West rarely experience overt physical persecution. What do you think are some of the “costs” of following Jesus in our culture. Can you think of any ways that following Jesus has “cost” you?

What do you think motivated the disciples to spread the Gospel despite the opposition and persecution? What helps and motivates you to “acknowledge” Jesus in your world?

As you look at this passage and others, what would you say motivated Jesus’ mission to “seek and to save the lost” (Lk 19:10)? As you observe the “crowds” of our culture, what is your typical emotional response? How can we increase our compassion for those who don’t yet know Jesus? Are Christians viewed as “compassionate” in our society today?

The world is a very broken place and the needs around us are “plentiful” – even overwhelming. How can we go about discerning which of those needs Jesus may be calling us to get involved with? What would you say is the difference between seeing a need and sensing Jesus’ call to meet that need?

If we are anything like the Galatians, it is easy to begin our work in dependence on the Spirit’s strength, yet quickly fall back to relying on our own efforts (Gal. 3:3). How can we determine whether we are laboring with Jesus’ authority/power or attempting to do what he has called us to do in our own strength?

Although the 12 apostles are unique and this mission is unique, do you think there are any principles here about sharing the good news with others that may be wise and applicable in our culture?