THE TABLES THAT STILL NEED TURNINGMark 11:15–19 (NLT) “Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices… ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.’”There’s a historic church on the East Coast with a front entrance that looks like something out of a postcard, broad marble steps, arc...  Read More

THE TREE WITH PROMISE BUT NO LIFEMark 11:12–14 (NLT) “He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off… but there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat your fruit again!’”I remember the night we landed in Rome—9:37 p.m., jet-lagged, starving, wandering the streets looking for anything open. We found a family-run rest...  Read More

THE KING WHO DISAPPOINTS OUR EXPECTATIONSMark 11:7–11 (NLT)“Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples.”At this point in the story the crowd has rolled out a red carpet of cloaks and palm branches. They’re shouting “Hosanna!” expecting Jesus to st...  Read More

THE DONKEY THAT CHANGES EVERYTHINGMark 11:1–6 (NLT) “Jesus sent two of them on ahead. ‘Go into the village over there,’ he told them… ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.’ The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door.”There's a hotel in Monte Carlo where rooms cost more per night than most family vacations. When you arrive, your transportatio...  Read More

The Greatness We Can’t GraspINTRODUCTIONThe 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 QUESTIONShare with your group about a person in your life that showed you a picture of Jesus by how th...  Read More

THE TOWEL OVER THE CROWNMark 10:43–45 (NLT) “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant… For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”’When Jesus redefines greatness for His disciples, He doesn’t condemn the desire to lead, He simply redirects it. He turns leadership inside out, making servanthood the measure of true ...  Read More