The Power of Christ // Rockford Campus // September 15, 2024

 

Storytellers: The Power of Christ

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE

 

REMINDERS

Join us at the Groups Summit on Sunday, September 29th for an evening of fellowship and fun as we circle up around our value of RELATE. We will be hearing stories and teaching about why Groups matter so much to Magnify Church—past, present, and future. All groups should plan to attend, as well as anyone who is interested in joining a group or who wants to learn about groups at Magnify.

We’ll be hosting a social time between 5:30–6pm with hors d’oeuvre and small desserts. Programming starts promptly at 6pm. You can find more information on the events section of the website.

 

LEADER DEVELOPMENT CLASS (Sun. Oct 6, 6–7pm – Rockford Campus Room 300)

We’re relaunching our LDC this fall! Come join fellow group leaders from various ministries to both get sharper and help sharpen others in faith. Whether you’ve led a group for 20 years or you’re just getting started, this class is open to all leaders young and old. No RSVP necessary.

New Leaders:  Please plan to attend 8 of these classes over the course of Oct. 2024 through April 2025.

Veteran Leaders: Please plan to attend 4 of these classes between Oct. 2024 through April 2025.

 

TOGETHER IN LIFE

The passage this week is set in the midst of calm and in a storm. Some enjoy watching storms roll in and the changing of the weather as it goes from clear to cloudy to rainy and windy. Others find these times terrifying or simply inconvenient.

Do you enjoy particular kinds of weather? If so what and why?

What thunderstorms, snowstorms or any other kind of storms do you remember living through? What made it so memorable?

 

TOGETHER IN THE WORD

THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Luke 8:22-25 | The Power of Jesus

Note: If you are meeting as a group, we encourage you to read the entire text together out loud.

 

KEY QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

“What would it take to convince you that Jesus is the answer and comfort to the biggest problem in your life?”

 

“WHO THEN IS THIS?”

Life has a way of reminding us that we are not in control. Storms are one example of just how much we are totally dependent upon God. Whether an extreme weather event or a hard, life-altering moment of relational or health challenges, storms remind us how little control we actually have.

In verse 25, the disciples are marveled by Jesus’ power and ask declaratively: “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” This is one of the most profound questions we can ask and answer in our lives: Who then is this Jesus?

• Take a look at a few other places where this question (or ones like it) are asked:
  • Luke 5:21
  • Luke 7:49
  • Luke 9:9
  • Luke 20:2
• What is the context for each? What is going on and why do they ask this question?
• What is the response to this question at that time?
• How do these relate to this question in Luke 8:25?

 

We would be oversimplifying the story to say that this is merely about Jesus calming the storms of our life or performing a miracle. As important of elements of the story as they are, the main purpose is to call into question where the disciples faith was placed.

With Jesus, we all are asked this question: Will you trust me?

 

GETTING IN THE BOAT

In verse 22, Jesus and his disciples get in a boat. This is Jesus idea. Things seem calm and good when they set sail…

• What do you know about Galilee and the region?
• What do you know about Jesus’ many disciples?
• What do we know about this situation from both the text here and also surrounding stories from Scripture about Jesus and the Sea of Galilee?
• What were the disciples anticipating on the other side of the journey?
• What would have been expected of a situation like this? What would you expect?
• What do we expect when we follow Jesus in life? Do we expect easy, carefree sailing? Do we expect to simply rest and wake up refreshed, delivered to our desired destination? What do you expect when following Jesus?

STORMS OF THIS LIFE

In verse 23, we read about two things that seem to be at odds with each other: a massive raging storm and a sleeping Jesus.

• What do these verses tell us about Jesus?
• What do these verses tell us about nature and Creation in relationship to Jesus?
• What do the disciples say here? What makes this significant, given some of the disciples expertise and experience?

READ Mark 4:35-41

• What is similar about this passage from the one in Luke? What’s different?
• Notice in particular Mark 4:38. How is this revealing something similar about the disciples’ attitudes in the midst of the storm?

Often in life we are faced with storms of many kinds.

• What kinds of storms do people face in life?
• What kinds of storms have you faced?
• What are some of the questions people ask or statements they make in the midst of life’s storms?
• What do these reveal about the nature of a person’s heart?

“Jesus, don’t you care?”

Like the disciples in Mark 4 or Luke 8, we can often wonder: ‘What in the world is God doing?! Doesn’t he care?!’

This is a challenging question to ask because it can be painful with either answer of ‘yes’ or ‘no’. We know God is love and that Jesus cares for us, so the answer is most certainly “YES”.

But in that, we can feel the painful reality that He does care AND he is allowing suffering to exist in our lives. Even in the loving arms of Jesus, we can endure hardship. When we truly believe that Jesus does care for us in our pain, we can enter into it more fully, we don’t need to hide from it or bury it down, and we can trust that God is doing something in the midst of it.

“The only person who dares wake a king at 3 a.m. for a glass of water, is a child. We have that kind of access.”

• How do you feel about these statements? What thoughts do you have about God’s care for you in the midst of your pain?
• When faced with storms, what is your typical knee-jerk reaction? What do you do and who do you talk with?
• Do you know and believe that you have access to God in a way that a child of a king would to their father?
• When going through difficult seasons what would this look like for you to take all things to God to care for you?

The Gift of Faith

According to Hebrews 11, faith is: “Being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see.”

TOGETHER IN ACTION

Our next steps as a church this week are to:

• Exercise your faith. Start sometime in the next hour. Believe in Jesus and trust His promises for your biggest and smallest problems.
  • What is one BIG  or small problem you can take to Jesus right now?
  • What do you want in this situation? What are you hoping for?
  • What do you think Scripture says about this problem? In other words, what has God already declared?
  • Is there some way this group can support you in this problem and help you weather the storm?

• Enjoy thinking about the power of God with your group. Read Scriptures, talk about Creation, and share moments of God’s provision in your life.

 

TOGETHER IN PRAYER

READ PSALM 107:23-32

• Consider how this Psalm connects to our text and to your life today.
• Pray for one another’s storms you are in right now.
• Pray for wisdom to get in the boat with Jesus – trust Him with faith.
• Pray that He would help you to see clearly in situations where life seems unclear or challenging.
• Pray for faith to take steps toward others in forgiveness, repentance, and love.