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Jessica Godfrey

Feb 04
Love0

February 4, 2024

By Mark: The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ No Comments

We continue our study of the Gospel of Mark as a church as we examine the life of Jesus and his invitation for us to follow His example. The goal is not to gain an academic understanding of this gospel, but to be transformed by the Jesus we see here. May these discussion questions help you dig into the truth found in this passage and may it have a deep and lasting impact on your life.
What comes to mind when you think about authority?
Are you a person who naturally respects authority, or someone who resists authority?
Can you think of a time when you have seen authority abused?
What about a time when you have seen authority stewarded well?

Read Mark 1:12-28 and look for the authority of Jesus on display.

Authority in Temptation (1:12-13)

Authority in Preaching (1:14-15)

Authority in Calling (1:16-20)

Authority in Healing (1:21-28)
Does anything jump out to you in these quick snapshots into the life of Jesus?
Jesus is driven out to the wilderness, a place devoid of life and sustenance where He is completely dependent on God.
How have you experienced God in the wilderness seasons of your life?
How does the temptation of Jesus encourage you?
Mark presents Jesus as one who has come to make all things right and he is shown doing what Adam didn’t do in the first garden. Our “adversary” (Satan) has a one-dimensional strategy that has been at the core of temptation ever since the garden.
What is it?
Why do you think it is so effective for Satan to cause us to doubt the goodness of God?
Jesus speaks for the first time (v. 15) and clearly states the simplicity of the gospel, “repent and believe.”
How are you tempted to make the gospel more complex than this?
Jesus breaks from social norms when He initiates by calling His disciples.
How have you experienced God’s initiation and pursuit of you?
Jesus teaches and casts out a demon, which causes people to be astonished and amazed at the authority of Jesus.
Do you find yourself resisting or resting in the authority of Jesus?
The authority of Jesus invites us, not to just commit to him, but to surrender.
What is the difference between these two?
How can surrendering to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him be freeing?

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Jan 28
Love0

January 28, 2024

By Mark: The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ No Comments

We are jumping into the Gospel of Mark as a church and it is our prayer that God will use this gospel to bring conviction to our confession and clarity to our confusion that often surrounds Jesus. May we faithfully align with Jesus’ invitation to follow Him in accomplishing His mission.
What comes to mind when you think about the book of Mark?
What is unique about this gospel in relation to the other three gospels?

Watch the Bible Project Video giving an overview of Mark:

Click Here!

Our desire is not to accumulate knowledge about the book of Mark, but to grow in our understanding and love for Jesus. What excites you as we jump into this study of Mark?

On Sunday, we talked about a couple of key things that give us a solid context for understanding Mark’s gospel.
Author: John Mark Date Written: 60s AD Original Audience: Romans Themes: Immediately and Authority
What was interesting and/or surprising for you about the context of Mark?

We pointed to three key questions in Mark’s gospel:
Who is Jesus? What did Jesus come to accomplish? How will people respond to Jesus?
Why are these questions so important for us today?

Read Mark 1:1-11. What do you learn about Jesus in these verses?
What is something that you learn or are surprised by in this text?


In the first 11 verses, we highlighted four testimonies to the identity of Jesus: Mark declares (1:1), the prophets testify (1:2-3), John prepares (1:4-8), and God Speaks (1:9-11)
What jumps out to you about these testimonies?


How could the first 11 verses of Mark help you explain to a non-Christian friend what you believe about Jesus and why?


Mark wants us to see that Jesus is the long-awaited king who was God, but this King came to prepare a way for us to come back to God. Jesus made it possible for us to share His identity as a son/daughter of God.
How does this encourage you today?
What would it look like for you to live in the truth that you are God’s child?

JOIN US TO DISCUSS THIS TEACHING ON WED PM. Click here for more info.
Nov 26
Love0

November 26, 2023

By Promised & True No Comments

All of God’s promises are true, but so often we can lose sight of what has been promised. Over
the next few weeks, we are going to dig into five promises that God gives us in the book of
Isaiah. As we remember what God has promised we will be reminded that each of these
promises are true and can significantly impact our lives today. This week we discussed God’s Promise of God’s Victory.

What comes to mind when you think about God’s promise of ultimate victory?

Read Isaiah 54:16-17. What catches your attention as you read these verses?

What does it mean to you to be reminded that “no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment”?

On Sunday, Rudy pointed to the baptism of Jesus and the subsequent temptation of Jesus as examples of the two voices that speak into our lives (Matthew 3:13-4:3).

How have you experienced the voice of God’s blessing in your life?

How have you experienced the voice of the enemy speaking lies to you?

Galatians 5:22-23 gives us the fruit of the Spirit, and on Sunday, we discussed these and the opposites of the fruit of the Spirit. How can use the fruit of the Spirit to identify God’s voice as opposed to the voice of the enemy?

In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul describes the battle we are all engaged in and the armor that we have access to through God. How does this passage remind you of your active role in listening for God’s voice and discerning the truth that comes from Him?

Luke 4:31-37 gives us a story where Jesus commands a demon that is in a man to “Be quiet!”

How does it encourage you today to be reminded that God gives you to authority to tell the enemy’s voice to be quiet?

Over the past several weeks in this series, we have talked about the promise of God’s perfect peace, renewed strength, constant presence, divine provision, and ultimate victory.

Which of these promises has been especially encouraging to you?

Our ultimate victory will be found when Jesus returns to take us home, but we can live in victory today knowing that no weapon and no word that comes against us will win. Celebrate this truth!

JOIN US TO DISCUSS THIS TEACHING ON WED PM. Click here for more info.
Nov 12
Love0

November 12, 2023

By Promised & True No Comments

All of God’s promises are true, but so often we can lose sight of what has been promised. Over
the next few weeks, we are going to dig into five promises that God gives us in the book of
Isaiah. As we remember what God has promised we will be reminded that each of these
promises are true and can significantly impact our lives today. This week we discussed God’s Promise of God’s Presence.

  1. What do these six things have in common? How do you see the theme of God’s presence woven throughout the Bible? Garden / Tabernacle / Temple / Jesus / Church / New Heaven & New Earth
  2. In Isaiah 41:8-10 we see God’s people described in four ways? Chosen / Taken / Called / Named Which of these are significant to you today? Why?
  3. It is clear in these verses that it was God who acted, and his favor was never earned. How is it comforting for you to be reminded that God’s promises are never earned?
  4. Check out Deuteronomy 7:6. How does this passage point to our good God acting on our behalf?
  5. The end of Isaiah 41:9 has a beautiful line…“I have chosen you and not cast you off.” How does this truth about our God encourage us in times when we may have strayed?
  6. Have you ever found yourself asking if your mistakes have somehow pushed you beyond the loving reach of our God?
  7. Isaiah 41:10 is such a beautiful declaration. What encourages you today?
  8. We looked at three ways that we can experience God’s presence
    • Omnipresence – God is everywhere at all times.
    • Manifest Presence – Our awareness of God’s presence is awakened.
    • Indwelling Presence – The Holy Spirit dwells within every believer.
    • How have you experienced God’s presence in these ways?
  9. Because of God’s incredible love for us, he makes it possible for us to live as if he were not there.
  10. Therefore, we are invited to live fully aware of God’s presence each day. How can you seek to live in wonder of God’s presence this week?
  11. Respond to the following quote from A.W. Tozer, “Nothing bothers the devil more than a Christian delighting in God’s presence.” What does it look like for you to not only believe in the promise of God’s presence but to delight in God’s presence today?

John 17:24 is such an encouragement as it reminds us that Jesus desires for us to be with
Him where He is. Our God made it possible for us to dwell forever in His presence!

JOIN US TO DISCUSS THIS TEACHING ON WED PM. Click here for more info.
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