Day 40: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (16:1-8)

Discussion Questions

(1) Do you doubt the bodily resurrection of Christ? What keeps you from following and believing Jesus as your personal Savior? (162)

(2) What keeps you from telling all those you see about the risen Lord? (163)

(3) What will it take for you to be transformed from cowardly to courageous for Christ? (164)

(4) Is your hope placed in this life? If so, why do Christians give up so much for this life for a life to come? (164)

(5) Are you willing to lose everything for the sake of gaining everything in Jesus and then share that hope with the world? (164)

(6) Does the brand of Christianity you are living day to day demonstrate the power of the cross?

(7) After reading the Gospel of Mark, considering the person and work of Jesus Christ, how does that compel you to worship with greater passion?

(8) How does the truth of the risen Savior affect your worship?

Day 39: At the Cross (15:38-47)

Discussion Questions

(1) Even with direct access to God through Christ, why, even now, do we still neglect communion with him? (158/160)

(2) Either by action or unbelief, what keeps you from seeing Jesus as the true Son of God? (160)

(3) The gospel writers emphasize the physical death of Jesus. Why is this such a central point of emphasis? (159)

(4) What difference has the cross made in your life? Share a brief testimony of how the cross has changed your life.

Day 38: The Crucifixion of the Son of God (15:21-37)

Discussion Questions

(1) Pastor Cook says the verbal abuse Jesus endured on the cross are motifs of Christianity and discipleship. Are you willing to endure such a life for Jesus? (154)

(2) Jesus dies alone. Does a loving God ever remove his presence from his followers?

(3) Will you serve Jesus with your life as he willingly offered his life for us?

(4) His death brings life to everyone who believes. With whom do you need to share this truth?

(5) How often do we place positions of prestige and worldly honor above the privileges of being a citizen in God’s kingdom? (155)

(6) Jesus’ seemingly weakest moment is powerful to save. How can we show that our greatest strength comes through humility? (156)

Day 37: “Suffered under Pontius Pilate” (15:1-20)

Discussion Questions

(1) Have you ever found yourself like Pilate cowardly surrendering the lordship of Christ in your life by choosing to appease others? (151)

(2) In “Living it Out” Pastor Cook highlights how the envy of the religious leaders led to their rejection of Jesus. How have you been envious or jealous of others instead of seeking/serving Jesus? (152)

(3) Jesus suffered for the truth; are you willing to stand for what is right?

(4) Are you willing to suffer for the sake of the gospel?

Day 36: Peter’s Denial (14:66-72)

Discussion Questions

(1) Why did Peter weep? Was he remorseful for his denial or just upset he was proven wrong? (147)

(2) Compare Peter to Judas’ demise. Why is it important that we contrast the sins and responses of Peter and Judas? How were they alike? How were they different? (147)

(3) Do you resonate with Peter? Having the truth and knowledge all around you but your pride sends you into defeat? In what areas of your life are you operating with overconfidence? Where do you need to strengthen your prayers in this area? (146)

(4) Would you stand for Jesus in the midst of opposition or deny him? If this is a weak area in your life, how should you change your prayers in response to this need?

Day 35: Jesus before the Sanhedrin (14:53-65)

Discussion Questions

(1) How can you respond like Jesus in situations where you are treated unfairly or unjustly?

(2) How do these stories of Jesus’ betrayal, mock trial, and giving himself up to die for us encourage your heart today?

(3) How does Isaiah 53:7 help you understand the willingness and obedience of Christ’s sacrificial death? How does this change your perspective of Jesus’ saying, “Pick up your cross and follow me”? (142)

(4) Jesus’ silence perpetuated the situation. Are there times to speak up and times to be silent? How can you know the difference?

(5) How can we fail to love and serve with our whole lives for our entire lives?

(6) Do you resonate with Pastor Cook’s expression of feeling “Give me Jesus!”? Why not? If we felt like this more, wouldn’t we desire to sin less? (143)

Day 34: Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest (14:43-52)

Discussion Questions

(1) Do we have a tendency to remain silent when opportunities arise for us to speak a word for the gospel?

(2) Is our Christianity one that goes with the flow, or does our lifestyle run counter to the prevailing winds of our decaying culture?

(3) Is Jesus your greatest treasure?

(4) When you betray Jesus, do you receive shame or forgiveness?

Day 33: The Darkest Night of All (14:32-42)

Discussion Questions

(1) Are you exercising trust in God’s omnipotence with faith in action?

(2) Jesus is unbelievably honest in prayer. How can we model Jesus’ honesty and trust in our prayers?

(3) How can we take the mindset of Jesus’ prayer, “Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will,” into our daily fight for holiness?

(4) Have you thought Jesus was afraid to die? How does Pastor Cook’s enlightenment of this event change your thoughts/opinions? (134)

(5) How does the imagery of Jesus approaching God as Father in the darkness of death rather than on a mountain top resonate with you? (134)

(6) How often do you find yourself flesh-dominated, knowing the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak? Do you turn to God in prayer for help? (135)

(7) In your dark night do you go to God in prayer?

(8) In what areas of your life are you trusting in God’s power?

(9) Jesus the Comforter is with us in hours of darkness. Do you overcome sin with prayer and accountability?

Day 32: Jesus’ Body and Blood (14:22-31)

Discussion Questions

(1) How does participation in the Lord’s Supper encourage you?

(2) The gifts of God’s grace are many–forgiveness of sins, hopeful anticipation of Christ’s return, and a loving church family. How does a loving, local church body become a gift of God’s grace in your life?

(3) We are family under the lordship of Christ. Maybe you can call and encourage a church member with what you are learning from this study.

(4) Do you find yourself longing for the eschatological banquet Jesus mentions while taking the Lord’s Supper? Has the Lord’s Supper become routine and mundane for you? (130)

(5) Pastor Cook discusses three perspectives while taking the Lord’s Supper. Do you find yourself using these truths and promises as reflections and corrections for your heart? (131)

Day 31: Preparations for Passover (14:12-21)

Discussion Questions

(1) Readers of Mark have known and anticipated the betrayal of Jesus since Mark 3:15. How do you think the disciples took the news? What went through their minds?

(2) How does this passage help you maintain trust in God’s plan even when you can’t see his hand at work?

(3) What is the importance of the Lord’s Supper resembling the Passover Feast? Why was the Messiah seen as the Passover Lamb? (126)

(4) Judas walked daily with Jesus and still betrayed him. How can we remain watchful that sin doesn’t capture our hearts and lead us astray?

(5) Do you truly live as one following God or would you just be considered “religious”?

(6) How easy is it to go through the motions of following Jesus?

(7) When we are struggling, do we fail to see God as our victor and still doing work in us? Or do we feel like Satan is winning? (128)