The Beautiful Upset: WK 4 - GROUP GUIDE

The Entrance We Didn’t See Coming

INTRODUCTION
The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

OPENING QUESTION
Have you ever met someone famous? A musician, an athlete, an actor, an author? What was it like meeting them and do you get anything out of it?

HEAD

1. Read Mark 11:1-25, together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading.
2. The way Jesus entered Jerusalem was definitely a fulfillment of a Messianic prophecy. It’s almost as if, knowing his end was near, he was giving the religious leaders permission to do their worst. Why would he put himself out there like this for all to see…during Passover no less, when there were roughly two million Jews in Jerusalem?
3. Imagine what it was like to be in the crowd during Jesus’ entry; FINALLY, the Messiah had come. After waiting 100’s of years, what must this moment have been like?
4. Why do you think Jesus cursed the fig tree? Was he hangry or do you think there might be more to the story that first meets the eye?
5. Jesus had been to the temple in Jerusalem before, at least three times as recorded in the gospels, but others think he would have come yearly. Why choose now to reclaim the temple and drive out the commotion?
6. Verses 23-25 have often been used to shame people who pray for something but their prayers aren’t answered because they didn’t have “enough faith.” What do you think Jesus is really trying to teach the disciples in this moment, about prayer?

HEART

1. The temple in Jesus day was a system of barriers, that started in the court where Jesus drove out the money changers.  Some scholars even believe that it would have been so loud in that court, that you couldn’t hear yourself think let alone pray.  Knowing that this court was the only place the Gentiles were allowed to go, what else was might Jesus have been trying to communicate about our access to God?
2. What have you learned in your life about prayer that has helped you? What is still hard for you or causes you to question?  What do you think God wants from our prayers?

HANDS
This week, try scheduling an hour of time to spend with just God, in prayer. Maybe you spend that time talking, maybe you spent it in silence, maybe you go for a walk in nature, maybe you breathe in and out the name of Jesus.  However you do it, try an hour. It can be hard especially if you’ve never done it before, but find a quiet place and just be with God.

WORDS TO LIVE BY
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28, NLT