Glencairn Church

Going Deeper is designed for use with your small group, a friend, or on your own. Its aim is to create time for you to spend with God and his word. Do as much or as little as you like.

1. Pray for each other, our church and leaders, for the not-yet believers in your life, and for opportunities to disciple others. Share a recent entry from your Life Journal with the group.

2. In Mark 1:35-45 Jesus demonstrates the richness of his interior and exterior life, the supreme priority of prayer, and the giving of ourselves to others in love. What thoughts or questions did the message raise for you? Which ones, encouraged you or posed a challenge to you?

3. The Gospels contain eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life and mission, and therefore the reality of who He is. Some people don’t like the Jesus of the Bible (or parts of him) and create their own Jesus based on a projection of their own desires. This Jesus, therefore cannot correct, challenge, or transform you. In what ways have you seen people create their own Jesus? Are there areas where you have struggled to accept the reality of Jesus of the Bible?

4. Read Mark 1:21-34. Notice that this is one day in the life of Jesus. Immerse yourself in the passage – what must it have been like for the disciples? For the people? For Jesus? Consider the impact emotionally,
physically and spiritually.

5. Read Mark 1:35-39. What did Jesus hear in prayer? Jesus places a supreme priority on prayer, even in the midst of busyness and a great opportunity. How do busyness, success, and opportunity impact your spiritual life? What does this say to you? Jesus is essentially saying “Nothing is more important than prayer.” Why is that? Do you have a “solitary place” that you go to in prayer?

6. Read Mark 14:36; Matt 6:9; Mark 1:11. What kind of relationship are we to have with God? What barriers might there be for you to have that kind of relationship?

7. Jesus understood his purpose to include both word (see Mark 1:15, 38) and deed, in bringing the Good News. Churches can often focus on one or the other (only evangelism, or only ministry to physical/social needs). Where do you see Glencairn focusing on one area over the other? How can a greater balance be achieved? Where do you see a need for greater balance in your own life?

8. Read Mark 1:40-45. Lepers were isolated and in great pain, physically, socially, and spiritually. How did Jesus minister to the whole person? What was the attitude of the leper?

9. Why did Jesus tell the leper to present himself to the Priests? Why did Jesus not have to do the same, after touching a leper? Notice that Jesus now had to stay in the secluded places. What does this mean to you that
Jesus “traded places” with the Leper? How does this point to the cross?

10. Take a moment of silence to consider how God is speaking to you. Is He asking you to make changes or to do something new? What concrete steps of response do you want to take? How can your group support you
in these steps?