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The online groups guide is designed as a teaching series companion to foster discussion, study, and prayer, especially in a group setting.
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Love
Teaching Text: Mark 1:9-14 and 35-39
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Themes
Consider these themes and ask your group what else they see in the passage:
Jesus Draws Away
Presence practice
Watch or listen to the sermon. Then take a moment of silence and think about these questions:
So that His eyes were on you - to know God sees you.
To know His ears are open to you - to know God hears you.
To be aware that God speaks to us - to have His mouth speaking in a way you can grasp
To seek God’s face is to seek God’s countenance, His presence, the actual communicative parts of God.
One of the most easy to ignore but repeated things we see Jesus doing is drawing away to pray.
Here is a way you can practice the same rhythm this week: ask, listen, give
Jesus draws away (solitude)
Ask: for God’s examination and increased faith (search me, o God; lead me in the way everlasting)
Listen: For God’s affirmation (the kind, gentle, tender voice of the father); for the spirit’s confirmation (the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”)
Give: yourself the opportunity to rest - practice sabbath.
Formation
Thoughts and notes you can use for discussion:
Jesus withdraws often to pray - there were things Jesus was willing to give up in order to do this …
Extra sleep
Being available
Increased influence
Meeting people’s expectations
We see in Gethsemane a surrender of will
What would it look like or how might your life be changed if you took the next 6 weeks, from now until Easter, and practiced withdrawing to pray in a new way?
This is what we see in Jesus
The pattern of withdrawing – And what can be true about this pattern that we might see in our own lives
Getting away from pressures - this is Jesus stepping out of the wind for a few moments
This is a moment to breathe
If you never withdraw you may not even notice how much you are living against the pressures of the world
Withdrawing in prayer can allow you to take an honest stock of you life
Reorient your heart - this is a chance to reconnect in relationships with the Father
For us it is a moment to let our love rekindle, our priorities to reset, to hear the voice of God and know God hears our voice
Seek communion - it seems Jesus sought communion with the Father in prayer. This is seek the face stuff.
You can grow in this. If you don’t feel very good at prayer you can learn by practice.
If you don’t know your friend as well as you like, you can grow by conversation
You begin by bringing your real self before God …
Receive direction
Often when you seek communion, you often will receive direction
We see it with Jesus in that He knows its time to move on to the next town
It may be subtle but we can receive real guidance in our life as we pray
This again is something we can grow in
“What are my thoughts? What is from God?”
You learn by praying
Access spiritual insight and victory
Vent sorrow and receive joy
This is Jesus experience
Acquainted with sorrow, anointed with joy
That your joy may be complete!!
There is some mystery in prayer that makes us uncomfortable
Faith - God can do anything but He seems to prioritize relationship and participation
Volume - it seems there are times when how much we pray makes a difference – Like how often and how many people \
Tipping points? Like pressure on a door. Spiritual laws we aren’t always aware of
The “Does prayer work?" question - Does conversation work?
There are things we come to access in prayer that we cannot get any other way.
Yes, we feel peace and God’s presence but that is not all
The world can be changed by prayer
Where is your skepticism protecting you? Where is it limiting you?
The scripture says there are times when we have-not because we ask not.
“It occurred to me one day that though I often worry about whether or not I sense the presence of God, I give little thought to whether God senses the presence of me. When I come to God in prayer, do I bare the deepest, most hidden parts of myself? Only when I do so will I discover myself as I truly am, for nothing short of God’s light can reveal that. I feel stripped before that light, seeing a person far different from the image I cultivate for myself and for everyone around me.
God alone knows the selfish motives behind my every act, the vipers’ tangle of lust and ambition, the unhealed wounds that paradoxically drive me to appear whole. Prayer invites me to bring my whole life into God’s presence for cleansing and restoration. Self-exposure is never easy, but when I do it I learn that underneath the layers of grime lies a damaged work of art that God longs to repair.” – Phillip Yancey
What are we willing to withdraw from to seek communion with God?
