Mark 11:27-12:17

Jesus was kind and patient. Compassionate and gracious. After all, his yoke was easy and his burden light. But if you crossed him, you got parables about being destroyed and a wit so sharp you might not survive an exchange.

But is this really the case for everybody?

Spend some time reading the text and understanding his points made to the religiously powerful (especially in light of his impending death just days a way at the hands of those he speaks to.) And then be reminded that this is how he confronts the power systems in his name, but not necessarily us. The difference is huge.


Thaw

• How is your schedule and pace now that September is here?

• What most has stayed with you from Sunday morning?
• When you think of God looking at you, how do you describe it? Angry? Disappointed? Disinterested? Happy?

Leader note: you will come back to this idea. Invite people to hang on to their image, as well as any others that were shared.

Read

• Mark 11:27-12:17
• Thoughts and impressions?

Discuss

• Christ seems to have little patience with the powerful, but not just because of their power. How would you describe the difference between Christ's feelings toward the religious elite, and those sinners who are lost in their foolishness?
• Which are you closer to?
• Going back to the question about God looking at you, and how God feels about you: does Jesus' tone in this selection match how you think God feels towards you, or is it different? Explain.

Read

• Romans 2:1-4
• Thoughts and impression?

Discuss

• How does this passage compare with your conception of God, and how God transforms our lives?
• Some might think something like, "sure God uses kindness to bring us to repentance, but there are limits. If kindness doesn't work, God will be unkind if that what it takes." Why would this be the case, and what examples might there be?

Leader note: This is a heavy idea. You may find that the only example your group can conceive of where God doesn't seem kind in order to get someone to change would have to do with something pertaining to justice; Where one is hurting/victimizing the other. This is no surprise. A good parent is kind to her children, and kind to the neighbor children. But in the middle of a bloody fight, or where one is tearing toys from another's hand, that parent steps in with appropriate intensity that in the moment doesn't seem kind. But, this is kindness, because doing nothing would be unkind to both kids. Justice will then likely be the only category someone can provide, and it's perfectly common sense. (Keep in mind the above example is an illustration. However, Christ, even in justice issues, seems neither to choose aggression or apathy. Instead, Christ offers and teaches another option, loving enemies, and creatively remaining non-violent when violence seems to be the only option. This isn't a law, but a way always sought by his followers). 

Apply

• In what ways would your practice of faith change if you believed there was kindness for you in God's heart, rather than annoyance, anger and impatience?
• How different would your sharing of faith be if it didn't have angry ultimatums, but was humbly confident that there is grace and kindness for all of us, no matter what we've done or how dogged by guilt and shame we feel?
• What would it look like for you to pass this heart on to others in your life in your attitudes and behaviors?
• How can this group become a place of kindness and change, even in the midst of challenging each other, properly confronting issues, etc?