Group Notes | March 22

The Road To the Cross: Going A Little Farther
March 22, 2015
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Open:

Climbing Stone Mountain began with excitement but soon turned to pain! Every few minutes we would ask someone coming down, “Is it much farther to the top?” Can you think of times when someone had to encourage you to continue on a difficult path?
Last week we learned that walking the road as a Christian requires obedience, discipline and respect. Today we want to focus on persevering through times of trials, pain and suffering. Abandoning our faith is not an option.

Discuss:

1. Read Mark 14:32-34. What emotions do you experience knowing that Jesus—God the Son—felt agony for the death that was coming to Him?

2. During times of severe distress in your own life, what are some responses you feel in your spirit? Do those times cause you to doubt God’s love?

3. Read 1 Peter 5:10. How can you develop a trust so deep that the most frightening events do not cause you to think God has deserted you?

4. Read Mark 14:36. What are some reasons why being in God’s will is better than insisting on your own desires, especially if yours seem so much easier?

5. Can you share a time when you quit—or almost quit—because the suffering seemed too great? Tell how you felt when you looked back and saw that God had been with you all the way.

6. What do you do when you begin to feel discouraged, thinking the hard times are too great? Can you eventually reach out to others who are going through difficulties, with encouragement to continue?

Close:

As we break into smaller groups, we want to let the message of the Cross completely saturate us as we consider the suffering Christ went through for us. We need to finish the task He gave us, going into our community and letting them know of a Savior who died for them. Involve yourself with the Life Groups at church who serve the community, and pray that God would use you to comfort others who are going through times of pain.

Memory Verse: Mark 14:35: “Hen went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.”