July 14, 2024

Pastor Brian McGuffin

Introduction

What are the decisions you have to make every day? 

Are any difficult for you? Why or why not?

Are there any decisions you have to make involving your faith in Jesus that are difficult for you? (e.g. talking about your faith, skipping church to be with a family member or friend) 

Scripture

Mark 10: 32 - 44  NIV

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,

    a daughter against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—

36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Discussion Questions

1. Read through the verses in Matthew 10. Put into your own words the main ideas of the following verses:

    a) verses 32 - 33

    b) verses 34 - 36

    c) verses 37 - 39

    d) verses 40 - 42

2. Pastor Brian talked about aligning ourselves with Jesus, "acknowledging Jesus before others". In what ways can we do that? (List as many as you can think of)

3. We all have various communities/groups that we belong to, such as: work, civic groups, family, social, sport groups, etc.

    a) Which ones do you consider essential in your life?

    b) Are you involved in any Christian groups?  If so, which ones?

    c) In what way(s) is LSA essential to you?

4. a) As a parent/grandparent, what can we do to strengthen the bonds with Jesus in our family?

    b) How do we deal with family members (or friends) who want nothing to do with Jesus?

5. a) Are you aware of places where vocally sharing your faith in Jesus would be a problem?  How would you deal with that?

    b) Have you ever faced a difficult situation that perhaps had consequences for being a public Christian?  Tell us about how it went.

6. What does it actually mean to be "all in for Jesus"?

7. Reread verses 40 to 42. Sharing Jesus can be vocal and/or quiet.  List some things we can do frequently to make Jesus first in our lives.

    (Pastor Brian mentioned some at the end of his sermon such as reading a chapter of the Bible every day, saying kind words, etc.)

8. LSA (our local church) helps us feel like we belong to a group that supports our faith in Jesus. That is encouraging, but we can also make it a "hide-away" so we don't have to share our faith with others.

    a) In what ways can LSA share Jesus to the community around us?

    b) In what ways can we help LSA do that?

9. As you have followed Jesus in your life, what blessings have you received?