03.09.08
Small Group Plan - March 9, 2008
“Argument & Asylum”
The Road to Grace
Small Group Plan
March 9, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
I read of a man trying to finish a project, but he was constantly interrupted by his daughter. He wanted to be patient so he thought of an idea. He cut up a map of the world — like a jigsaw puzzle. He was thinking it would take her a long time to put all the little countries back in their place and get the world back together. And it would be a great educational project.
He got her started and went back to his work. But in just a short time, she was finished. When he asked how she got it together so quickly? She explained:
I Found A Picture Of A Person On The Back Of The Map.
And When I Got The Person Right,
The Rest Of The World Came Out Right.
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· Where would you pin the cause of selfishness and stubbornness?
· When your world seems to be out of control, what do you do to get back on track?
· Why is silence and solitude relaxing for some, but boring for others?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
Tuesday – Day of Argument
They Take The Argument To Jesus — Mark 12:13-17
13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
· What usually brings enemies together (like the Pharisees and Herodians)?
· What does this tell us about the threat-level Jesus represents?
· When attacked, openly or deceitfully, how do you usually respond? Why?
· After refusing to answer direct questions earlier (11:27-33), why does Jesus now respond to such an underhanded question?
· What superficial concerns (like taxes) do we have today?
· If we took Jesus’ words seriously and gave “to God what is God’s” what would have to change in our lives?
He Brings The Argument To Them — Mark 12:1-12
1 He then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed. 6 “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Haven’t you read this scripture: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; 11 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” 12 Then they looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.
· Do you believe that confrontation just as valid as compassion? Explain.
· Do you think this story supports this thought? Why or why not?
· Why is it difficult for some to picture Jesus in conflict?
· This parable is an amazing story of God’s patience. Why has God been so patient with humanity?
· How are we (the new tenant) vulnerable to the same mistakes that Israel (the old tenant) made?
Wednesday – Day of Asylum
Mark 14:3-9
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. 6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
· List the people who would smell this woman’s gift over the next two days.
· Love doesn’t always stop to calculate and measure. Why?
· This woman gave without words. What are other gifts that can be given without words?
· How should we react when our efforts are criticized?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· How does it feel to think of yourself as a new tenant in God’s Kingdom?
· As a new tenant, what are our responsibilities?
· How would you describe the honor of bearing the image of the Creator of the universe?
· How does the Bethany woman change your view of generosity?
Close by asking God for His continued patience with us, the new tenants.