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Bartimaeus: Son of Timaeus, his name in Hebrew is “unclean” but in Greek it’s “highly prized.” Jericho is 900 ft. below sea level and Jerusalem will be a 3,300 ft. climb.  Look closely at Bartimaeus’s approach to Jesus. He didn’t listen to the crowd, he continued to cry out for mercy, he threw off his cloak, he sprang to his feet, and then followed Him. Sometimes we are blind beggars looking for attention and love from others rather than being satisfied in Christ. Some wear a cloak of self-pity, rejection, or man pleasing; these all need to be thrown off. Describe the process of Bartimaeus going from unclean to highly prized. Pastor Bob mentioned Jesus finding us in low places or hidden places of the heart that we are begging from. Do you have any? Describe your uphill journey with Jesus. “Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” - Adrian Rogers

Jesus heads uphill to Jerusalem and explains to the disciples what will happen to The Son of Man. James and John ask to be put in a position of glory in His Kingdom. We are called to glorify God, not to be glorified. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. Jesus serves us daily, and from His death we receive freedom to serve. We have been ransomed by the greatest Servant of all. Jesus helps us, we do not help Him. 1. Give examples of how Jesus serves us. 2. What motivates you to serve? 3. Who do you serve the most? The least? 4. Describe your first thought of Jesus washing your feet.

God’s heart’s desire is for us to honor our mothers. Honor is placed on a person; respect is placed on what a person does. We are all flawed and fall short, including our moms. If our heart is bitter towards our moms, one way to honor them is to forgive. Honor the heart that God gave mothers to nurture and teach. Honor is building others up in love. Honor is as simple as a phone call. 1. What has your mother taught you? 2. If you are a mother, discuss the difficulty of being a mom. 3. Strategize ways as a group to honor others. 4. How did Jesus show honor to His mother?

Jesus introduces the Kingdom by welcoming children. If there is a Kingdom, there is a King. The rich young ruler was being ruled by his money and power. The rich young ruler wanted to merit eternal life & was not willing to give up his power or his possessions. It is impossible to be saved by earning. We owe a debt that only Jesus can pay. Following Jesus is a divestment of self and an investment in Him. The King rules and reigns over those in the Kingdom. The Ruler is the standard of the truth, sets the rules, guides, and directs. Note the contrast between the rich young ruler’s encounter with Jesus and Zacchaeus’s interaction with Him. 1. Are your material possessions being served or are they being used to serve? 2. If you’re following Jesus then you are unfollowing something. Which one of the following have you unfollowed? Comfort, power, bitterness, sexual sin, love of money… 3. Jesus told the rich young ruler if he was to sell all, he would find riches. Which of these have you become rich in since following Jesus? Grace, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, giving, serving. 4. Spend time discussing the contrast between the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus.

God’s design for marriage is for the covenant to last until death separates us. God’s design for marriage is a mirror of Christ and the Church.  Moses instituted a divorce certificate because of the hardness of man’s heart. (sin) Divorce and remarriage are permitted in cases of sexual sin, abandonment, and abuse. Men are called to protect, lead, and to help sanctify their wives. Women are called to come under the mission that their husbands are given.  There is hope for broken marriages at the foot of the cross. 1. Discuss as a group the husband’s mission as given by God in marriage. 2. Discuss the role of the wife. 3. Why does God say in Scripture that singleness is a better choice? (see 1 Cor 7) 4. If you are able, share the current state of your marriage. 5. What advice would you give to someone considering marriage?

Knowing the power of the resurrection helps us to trust, believe, hope, and persevere through trials.  There is power in God’s law to charge us as sinners condemned to die. There is power in our nature to be self-willed. There is the power of love and obedience when Jesus surrendered His will to the Father in the garden. There is power in the cross of Christ to atone for sinners. There is power in the resurrection that produces victory over death and the grave. There is power over the devil. There is power given for us to be transformed, to love, and to spread the Gospel. When Christ returns, He will return with power! 1. How did your family celebrate Easter as a child? Have you changed the tradition? 2. How does knowing the power of the resurrection help you today? 3. Discuss the power of our self-will. 4. Have you experienced His power in your walk?

Jesus instructs the disciples regarding the consequences of sin. Jesus describes hell as unquenchable. Jesus instructs His disciples that all will be salted and go through fire. Salt was used in covenant making as well as offerings. Salt is one part sodium and one part chloride and is immutable.  Salt purifies, preserves, seasons, and changes to everything it is added to. Jesus says we must be the salt and bring peace.  Each item of food in the Passover meal has meaning and each item may be dipped into a bowl of saltwater. The saltwater bowl represents the tears of the slaves. 1. What does Jesus’s description of sin and hell mean to you? 2. Discuss in your group how we can be salt to the world. 3. Salt was used to symbolize faithful friendship. Discuss the fruit that has been born from friendships within your group.

Jesus tells the 12 of His impending fate and resurrection for the second time. The disciples were afraid to ask questions and did not understand. Their hearts were consumed with self and their own potential greatness. Jesus says greatness is only achieved in the Kingdom through serving. A child is brought in to demonstrate the need for humility as well as serving without the applause of people but to the Glory of God. Another argument about someone other than the 12 casting a demon arises with John. Jesus explains that even if “anyone” give a cup of cold water to one of his own it doesn’t go unrewarded. Jesus only has six months left with these future world changers and they must learn to deny self-recognition and glorify God. We are much like the men when we compete and seek approval from others. 1. Have you ever found yourself seeking the approval of others? 2. What does serving others look like? 3. What was your personal take-away from Sunday’s sermon? 4. How can serving others change your own heart?

Expect evil to present itself after times of refreshing. Jesus rebukes all for their faithlessness. Jesus privately explains to His disciples… no prayer, no power! Great stress or circumstances generally weaken our faith, but at the same time motivate us to pray. Unbelief causes the believer to be double minded and uncommitted, and displeases God. Prayer stretches and builds our faith muscle, thus, prayer and faith are interconnected. 1. When are you least likely to pray? 2. How do prayer and faith interrelate? 3. What area in your life is currently producing reasons to pray with faith? 4. Can you share an experience of when the descent from the mountain brought an unexpected challenge?

The account of the transfiguration of Jesus is a pivotal moment in the life and ministry of the Messiah. After the assent to the top of the mountain with Peter, James, and John, Jesus will descend from the mountain and head towards Jerusalem. Jesus tells his disciples of his impending rejection, death, and resurrection for the second time. This time gives them a glimpse of His glorified state of divinity. Both Elijah and Moses appearing with Jesus during the transfiguration points to a pivotal moment: the law and the prophets will be fulfilled and completed in Jesus. The transfiguration also gives us a picture of our resurrection. Peter testifies to this event in his second letter; notice how majestic and how powerful this event impacted his life. This event should leave us just like it did with the disciples. With Jesus touching us and reminding us to listen to Him. God affirms his Son and His obedience. And by our faith He affirms us as His sons and daughters.

Everyone either has gone through, will go through, or is currently going through tribulations. Tribulation is when your very foundation is being shaken. God wants us to be victorious as we go through tribulation. David’s intimacy with God is built his faith and strength to withstand tribulations. It is important to turn to God and seek Him for help. God promises to respond to us when we are humble before Him. Even in tribulations, God is drawing people nearer to Him. When Jesus prepared a meal for His disciples, He didn’t judge them for their little faith. He received them, fed them, fellowshipped with them, and taught about love. The love of God was poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus, God’s love was given to us to heal, restore, and fill us with His strength. God’s love can restore you, bring balance, and bring healing no matter what storm you are facing. It’s not easy, but God’s love leads us through tribulation.

Jesus ascends through Mark 8, then begins to descend ever the next 8 chapters to the cross. The account of healing the blind man by spitting into his eyes is only found in Mark. It is no coincidence that the man’s progressive healing is parallel to the disciples slow understanding who Jesus is. Jesus asked two questions; who do they say I am and who do you say that I am? He tells them [plainly] what will happen but they still can’t see fully. We are much the same in our sanctification; slowly changing but sometimes stalled as we co-sign sin. Jesus asks us to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him. Spiritual blindness includes not seeing anything wrong with what God calls sin.

The Pharisees came to argue and test. They probably didn’t actually want a miracle; they wanted more fuel to accuse him of being a false prophet. The Pharisees and Sadducees (it’s crazy that they worked together here) wanted a sign from heaven. Signs from heaven would: - show the prophet to be trustworthy and reliable. - show power and authority. Many of the miracles that Jesus performed were done in response to the person’s faith. There are many instances where Jesus did not perform miracles. It was usually a response to the motive behind the request or because Jesus knows the bigger picture. The disciples missed out on an important lesson because they got distracted and forgot about what Jesus had already done for them. 3 questions we should ask ourselves: - What is the heart behind the things we ask of God? - Are we missing the signs? - What have we forgotten that God has already done?

The crowd was with Jesus for 3 days without food. Their desire to be with Him was greater than their desire for food. Jesus had compassion on the crowd. Compassion means to co-suffer with someone. Jesus had more than empathy or pity; He suffered with the crowd. Jesus gave them what they needed to sustain them on their way home. Jesus knows more than anyone else what you are going through because He has compassion for you. He endures your struggles with you. Jesus made sure the entire crowd was fed and satisfied. Even when we can’t see Jesus from where we are, He still cares deeply for us. Being yoked with Jesus is another image of His compassion. The compassion of God… ...gives our souls rest. ...restores our hope. ...leads us through the struggle to the cross. ...knows we’re starving and gives us the Bread of Life to sustain us. ...gets us all the way home to Him. ...became the Passion of Christ.

Jesus is challenged by the religious leaders for not following tradition. He begins to tell all and then teach His disciples that defilement comes out of the heart. We cannot not gain access to God by tradition. Legalism is founded on non-scriptural laws placed on believers. Jesus encounters a woman in a gentile nation who needs deliverance for her little girl. Jesus in this moment leaves the 99 in Israel to save the one. He came for the Jew first and then the Gentile. What seems like a rude statement does not phase the woman, and she asks Jesus for a crumb. Pride will keep us independent and critical. Pride always elevates us over others, including God. Humility is knowing that we are not worthy and need salvation. Jesus then heals a deaf mute by opening his ears and loosening his tongue. Notice his sigh. Our ears have been opened by His Spirit and our tongues have been loosed to praise and to testify!

When Jesus asks His disciples to get in the boat, He is setting them up for a teaching. Jesus sees that the disciples are struggling against the wind The disciples are “terrified” by the appearance of Jesus. He brings His presence, His person, and His power. He encourages the disciples to take heart! Do not fear! Fear is a paralyzing force that keeps us from our destination. Jesus brings peace and takes us to the other side. The disciples are learning who Jesus is and are having to trust even when He is not physically with them. Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. To take heart is to receive by faith the empowerment of His presence, His person, and His power.

The key to understanding the feeding of the 5,000 is found in the verse 34: His motive was to be “The Good Shepherd.” Jesus wanted His disciples to participate in the feeding. The blessing preceded the multiplication. The disciples were walking by sight, not faith. Jesus’s first act of shepherding the flock was to teach about the Kingdom. All were satisfied and the 12 brought home a basket each. This is the only miracle (other than the resurrection) that is found in all four gospels.

The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart. “Soul words” are intangible but we respond to them because they are intrinsically more than just words. The heart is the center of all thinking, willing, feeling, and moral life. With enough sin, you can undo some of the benefits of God’s grace. The Scripture describes our hearts as being made of stone or as being changed to flesh. A new disposition is a new nature, a new approach to life. We have been given new life, a new chance, a new outlook. We walk in a new realm and not in the old realm. Someone who refuses to “listen” contributes to a disposition in himself of not wanting to hear, not wanting to believe, and darkens his understanding. Without the Spirit, the human heart is a poor student of the Word of God! On the far side of the problem with the heart is repentance.

Jesus sends out the 12, two by two, but instructs them to not take any provisions. Jesus wants the 12 to learn to trust. Mark flashes back to the imprisonment and execution of John the Baptizer. John’s mission to call others to repent costs him his life. John never held back from his calling. John was fearless in his approach.

Jesus returns home to Nazareth to unbelief. Unbelief doesn’t limit God but certainly hinders the work of Jesus in our lives. Jesus marvels at our unbelief as well as our confident expectation. God desires us to hold fast to His promises. God gives us His divine nature and His righteousness by faith. Jesus never again returned to His hometown.