The Beautiful Upset: WK 5 - GROUP GUIDE

The Weight We Cannot Carry

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 been in a place that you strongly felt the presence of God or a deep sense of holiness? Share about one of those places and why you think you felt the way you did.

HEAD

1. Read Mark 14:32-50, together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading.
2. Again, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John farther into this experience. Why do you think he kept singling them out from the others?
3. The disciples had likely never seen Jesus so deeply troubled and distressed. What do you think they made of it and how could they fall asleep when he was struggling?
4. When Jesus says he was “crushed with grief to the point of death,” what do you think he means?
5. What do you think it would have done for Jesus’ heart if he found Peter, James, and John praying even just one of the times he checked on them?
6. According to Mark 14:48-49, how else is the kingdom of God not like the empires of this world?
7. Estimates are that as many as 1,000 soldiers came to arrest Jesus. Why so many and what do you think Peter thought was going to happen when he pulled his sword?

HEART

1. The Garden of Gethsemane was likely a common place of retreat for prayer. Do you have a place or space that you like to pray, or that helps you to pray? What makes that place special for you?
2. Do you think the battle in the garden was just Jesus and his emotions, or was there another character in the story? How does Jesus battle and what can we learn from him about how to fight back when the enemy attacks?
3. Jesus knew how the disciples would respond when he was arrested, but imagine for a moment how it would have felt to see them all run away from him. Discuss.
4. Jesus decided in that garden to go through with the plan and to allow us humans to torture and crucify him.  He decided in that garden to go through with the pain of separation from the Father and the Spirit. What does it mean to you to know he loves you that much?

HANDS
This week, read all three accounts of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and simply reflect on what he was willing to do in hopes to spend eternity with you. As you reflect, if you’ve never committed your life to him in the waters of baptism, what’s stopping you from reaching out to a friend or your pastor right now?  If you have, Easter is always a great time to renew your vows to Him.

WORDS TO LIVE BY
9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent.
2 Peter 3:9, NLT