LIFE GROUPS WEEK 5 – WINTER 2026
LIFE GROUPS – WEEK 5
FULL SERMON – 42 MINUTES
ICE BREAKER:
-
Have you ever said or heard a crazy prayer, and it worked?
SCRIPTURE:
Mark 9:14-29 NLT
14 When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. 15 When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him.
16 “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked.
17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. 18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”
19 Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.
21 “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.
He replied, “Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil[f] spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!”
26 Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?”
29 Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”
KEEP IT UNCOMPLICATED:
Observation Questions:
- What do you notice about the different responses to the situation in the passage? How did the disciples, the father, the crowd, and Jesus respond to the situation?
-
Matthew 17:20 NIV says “He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” What did Jesus say about faith the size of a mustard seed?
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV says “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” What does this tell us about righteousness?
Understanding Questions:
- What is the difference between self-righteousness and the righteousness of God?
- Pastor Justice explained that righteousness is a position, and holiness is a spectrum. What are the differences between righteousness and holiness?
Application Questions:
- Where in your life have you been waiting to feel “more ready” before acting in obedience?
-
Has sin, pride, or fear of failure ever held you back from praying for a miracle or believing you could be used by God?
-
If righteousness is a gift from putting your faith in Jesus, what behaviors or patterns could you change to live more in line with the righteousness God has given you?
Spirit Lead Me
-
Take a quiet moment and ask the Holy Spirit: “Who are You asking me to pray for? What step of obedience are You inviting me into this week?” Write down one name and one action step, then share with the group for accountability.
- We are preparing for the Great Commission as a Life Group by taking turns to share a testimony. Select someone to share their testimony, and decide who will share their testimony next week.
Life Journal Reading Plan
-
Day 1: Mark 1
-
Day 2: Mark 2
-
Day 3: Mark 3
-
Day 4: Mark 4
-
Day 5: Mark 5
-
Day 6: Mark 6
-
Day 7: Mark 7
Related Posts