Sermons

Faith in Crisis- Trusting God (Click for study questions) (Mark 9:14-29)

Hans KrauseHans Krause, March 20, 2011
Part of the Exposition of Romans series, preached at a Sunday Service service

Here are the questions for your home groups based on
Mark 9:14-29.

Jesus had been on Mount Hermon with three of his disciples. There he had
been transfigured, had met with Elijah and Moses, and God had spoken from
heaven, vindicating him as his beloved Son. When the four come down they run
into the scene pictured in the text.

Jesus blames his generation of unbelief. What makes him do so? Where and how
does he see that unbelief in this particular situation?

There are three groups of people described in vs. 14. Who are they, and how
would you describe their belief in or relationship with Jesus? What could
unbelief signify to each of these groups. With would group do you identify
most easily? Do you recognize some of their unbelief in your own life now or
earlier? What do you think, Jesus would say to you about your belief in him?

The father of the demon-possessed boy expresses his faith/unbelief a number
of times. How does he do that? What do you think the father's words and
actions express? Do you recognize his feelings and attitude? Have you been
ever in a situation which has caused similar emotions and doubts? How did
you handle that? How did God handle that?

What does the term "evil spirit" or "demon" mean to you? Do you believe in
the existence of demons? Do you have any experience with evil spirits? What
is the meaning of Jesus' act of casting out the evil spirit? (Look at how he
does it and the words he uses.)

What does the story teach about prayer? How could it affect your own prayer
life or your relationship with Jesus?

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Mark 9:14-29

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (ESV)

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