Monday Night @ Frist B May 22nd

In one paragraph

This Monday evening gathering worked through Mark 10:46-52, the healing of blind Bartimaeus, the last healing recorded in Mark's gospel. The pastor connected the story to the broader thread running through Mark: the kingdom of God is a free gift received by faith, and following Jesus is also costly. Bartimaeus, a poor blind beggar, becomes a vivid picture of both. By the time this passage opens,...

Read together

1. Mark 10:46-52 main passage for the evening, the healing of blind Bartimaeus
2. Mark 10:15 receiving the kingdom like a child
3. Lamentations 3:22-23 God's compassions never fail, new every morning, great is His faithfulness
4. Psalm 32:8 God will instruct, teach, and counsel with His loving eye on us
5. Luke 12:32 do not be afraid little flock, it gives the Father great happiness to give you the kingdom
6. Mark 8:34 to follow Jesus you must give up your own way and take up your cross
7. Mark 10:44-45 whoever wants to be first must be slave of all, the Son of Man came to serve and give his life as a ransom
8. Philippians 2:13 God is working in us giving us the desire and power to do what pleases Him
9. Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord and He answered me, used twice in relation to Bartimaeus calling out
10. Mark 9:24 the father who said Lord I believe, help me in my unbelief
11. Isaiah 42:7 you will open the eyes of the blind and free the captives, noted as a prophecy Jesus was fulfilling
12. Ephesians 3:20 God is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or believe, quoted by Lexi from her ladies Bible study
13. Numbers 6:24-26 the Aaronic blessing spoken over Joni at the farewell

Talk about it

1. Pastor Dan pointed to Jesus being patient with his disciples even when they were slow to understand, and said, 'Thank you for being so patient with them, and thank you for being patient with me.' Where have you seen that kind of patience from Jesus in your own life?
2. Pastor Dan said following Jesus is both free and costly at the same time, and that Jesus never asks us to do anything he has not first done himself. How does knowing that change the way you think about the costly parts of following Him?
3. Bartimaeus kept calling out even when the crowd told him to be quiet, because he knew Jesus could do something about his situation. Has there been a time when you kept crying out to God despite pressure, doubt, or discouragement from others? What happened?
4. Pastor Dan described faith as God's divine persuasion in us, not something we manufacture ourselves, and said it grows as we put it into practice. What does putting faith into practice actually look like in your week-to-week life?
5. After he was healed, Bartimaeus followed Jesus down the road. Pastor Dan said Jesus is not only calling us to believe in Him but to follow Him. What is the difference between those two things in how you actually live?