Tips for Teaching This Week’s Session of The Gospel Project for Adults

Listen to this week’s leader training podcast with Y Bonesteele, team leader for The Gospel Project for Adults, for a summary and guidance in leading your group.

This week’s additional resources for study and preparation:

• Article: “The Beauty of ‘Gospel Awkward’ ” by Trevin Wax
• Sermon: “MARKed by Jesus: Mark 3:7-35” by Thomas White
• Sermon: “The Calling of the Disciples” by R.C. Sproul

Transcript of Leader Training Podcast:

Hi, this is Y Bonesteele, team leader of The Gospel Project for Adults. Welcome to another Leader Training podcast. Today we are in Unit 23, Session 2, Healing and Calling, with the core passage of Mark 3:7-19, and with the key concept of: When Jesus calls, His disciples obey to continue His mission.

When Jesus started His ministry, performing miracles before the crowds, the crowds continued to follow Him. Scan the QR code on page 76 of the Leader Guide to learn more about Jesus’s strategy for beginning His ministry in Galilee. Mark continued to describe Jesus’s ministry in Mark 3.

Verses 7 and 8: “Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing.” The description of the crowds not only showed that news was spreading about Jesus and that He was becoming popular, but the mentioning of “crowds” also reveals the validity of who Jesus was. There were large crowds mentioned 3 times. And large crowds mean many witnesses. The large crowds show that Jesus’s ministry was public and widely witnessed. His miracles and teachings were not done in secret. The many witnesses provide historical credibility to the Gospel accounts. The truth of Jesus and His works were witnessed by many in the region so if false, could have been disputed. Mentioning of crowds not only describes what was happening but gives evidence to the witnesses surrounding Jesus.

What could people hear about what the Lord is doing in and through your life? Your group can give their personal examples here of provision, healing, restoration, peace, among other ways the Lord has worked.

The crowds were coming so: Jesus “told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, so that the crowd wouldn’t crush him.” Jesus was a leader in His authority but also His practicality and strategic thinking. Crowds are coming; let’s get on a boat. “Since he had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch him” in verse 10. I’m not sure whether this statement is meant to show us the people’s faith or the people’s lack of faith. They had enough faith to know that Jesus could heal, but maybe not enough faith to know that He could do it whether they touched him or not. But Mark doesn’t mention their faith or their lack of faith so all we know is that they wanted to touch Jesus to be healed. And the unclean spirits? As spiritual beings, they knew who Jesus was. They “fell down before him and cried out, ‘You are the Son of God!’” in verse 11. And like before, Jesus would “warn them not to make him known” in verse 12. The crowds, however, didn’t know at this moment the truth of the unclean spirit’s words. Even if they might have heard the demons’ cries, it went over their heads. The crowds were a bit clueless. Ironically, the demons recognized Jesus’s true identity more clearly than many of the crowds, who were primarily focused on His miracles.

“How has Jesus shown Himself to be more than you thought He was at first in your own life? Give your group some time to reflect through this question. It’s interesting to look back at our view and knowledge of Christ as a new believer and think through how much we’ve learned and grown since then.

Jesus then, in Mark, picked His team so to speak. In verse 13, he went up a mountain and “summoned those he wanted, and they came to him.” Verses 14 and 15, “He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, to send them out to preach, to have authority to drive out demons.” They were more distinct than Jesus’s general disciples. Disciples come from the Greek word mathetes, meaning learner, a follower of Jesus. We are all disciples, those who trust in the saving work of Christ and call Him Lord and Savior.  Apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos, meaning one who is sent. Jesus’s Twelve disciples are His apostles. They had a special commission: “to be with him, to send them out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons.” For these tasks, “He appointed the Twelve.” And the list of people? “To Simon, he gave the name Peter; 17 and to James the son of Zebedee, and to his brother John, he gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder”); 18 Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.” It would be easy to quickly glance over the list of names here but there is significance in the names of the Twelve.

As The Gospel Project Commentary states on p. 79, “Simon Peter comes first in all four lists of the apostles” in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts. This is where Mark tells us that Jesus gave Simon the name Peter, meaning Rock, and from this point on, Mark would refer to him as Peter, except for in 14:37. And as with all four lists, James and John came next. These 3 were Jesus’s inner circle. James and John were nicknamed “Sons of Thunder,” supposedly because they had flared tempers and strong personalities. Matthew was the most different from the others. He was a tax collector so worked for the Roman government and was more well-off than the other blue-collared disciples, but they were all disciples still. He probably also clashed with Simon the Zealot because a zealot was associated with Jewish nationalist movements that opposed Roman rule and longed for Israel’s political freedom. There were plenty of differences in this group, but they were unified in Christ.

And then there was Judas Iscariot, not a last name, but probably a reference to where he came from, probably from Kerioth. The group must have trusted him because he was their treasurer. Judas is described already early on, as the one who betrayed Jesus. A mismatched group of apostles that Jesus hand-picked to be His apostles. Were they perfect? Not in the least! Did Jesus still use them for His mission and purposes? Definitely. Was Jesus a perfect leader? Yes. Did His people still fail? Indeed. As leaders, mentors, parents, teachers, this is encouraging to know that even if we were perfect—which we are not—those we lead could still choose to go their own way.

What this shows me is that Jesus knows we will fail sometimes. We will not always choose the right way or think the right thoughts or follow Him well, but He still calls us and He still wants us to be a part of His team. And He doesn’t call us in isolation. He calls us to a team, a body, a community, a group of people, to do the mission together. To share the good news together. To serve and minister together.

What can you do to start or continue to follow the call God has on your life? Sometimes it starts with being aware of your passions and giftings. Many churches give out spiritual gifts tests or you can find one online, or simply ask your pastor. Ask God to help you discern what you’re good at and what you love. Then seek out opportunities to serve in that capacity in your church or community.

How does it make you feel to be called to participate in the same mission the twelve disciples were given? We are all called to be disciples who make disciples. It is a privilege and honor to be called by God in such a way. We are blessed and God gets the glory when we help in someone becoming a follower of God.

Note that the Theology Connection on Calling refers more to the Holy Spirit’s calling on someone to salvation. This is one type of calling. The other sense of calling is toward a specific activity, action, or service for God’s purposes and mission. Many times, though, His calling is to obedience to His commands in general terms. And other times, He calls us in and out of jobs, in and out of ministries, and so forth. All believers share the same primary calling—to follow Christ, grow in holiness, and participate in His mission. Within that broader calling, God may lead believers into different ministries, vocations, and opportunities for service.

On to the Group Experience, start with the icebreaker activity about creating a Bucket List from page 80 of the Leader Guide. Move to the Context and display Pack Item 2: Jesus’s Ministry in Galilee Map to point out locations mentioned in today’s passage. Recap and ask what stood out to your group and what questions do they have. Transition highlighting the idea of “calling” as you approach the Group Activity.

Recreate the chart: Desires and Calling on a board. This week’s activity is pretty straightforward with answers in the Leader Guide. Guide your group through reading  the passages and filling out the chart regarding motives and Jesus’s intentions. Highlight Judas separately in The Disciples row, noting that his motives were not the same as the other disciples.

Also note that the crowds desired to see Jesus or to witness Him heal or be healed by Him, but this is not a calling. The disciples, however, were called by Jesus, to be sent out for His mission and purposes. They were drawn to Him, called, for a special purpose.

Debrief with: How can we know when God is calling us to do something for His glory? We make sure it’s in accordance to His Word and His will. We bring in respected leaders, mentors, and friends who know us and can give us wisdom. We pray for direction and clarity. And after seeking God’s will through Scripture, prayer, and wise counsel, we move forward in faith. As we do, the Spirit often provides peace and confidence in our obedience. We come to all this with an open mind and heart, willing to submit to God’s will whatever it may be.

Summarize and continue into the Head, Heart, Hands section, focusing on the Heart question if time is limited: “How do you see God’s love for you in His calling on your life?” Answers will vary but will include blessings that resulted in job callings or ministry callings that reveal God’s love.

Continue with Next Steps as additional application points and end with prayer requests and praises, praying through Psalm 98:1-2: “Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has performed wonders; his right hand and holy arm have won him victory. 2 The Lord has made his victory known; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.” Jesus’s power to perform miracles is evidence of His deity. He is God and He calls us to follow Him. We are His disciples when we follow, obey, and trust in Him as Lord and Savior, preaching the good news to others.

Thanks again for joining me on another Leader Training podcast. Reach out at [email protected] and hope you have a great group time.