Clean (2)

Each track is a different way to engage with the content of the episode. You can choose to follow a track for the entire season, or you can choose to follow a track for a specific episode. Come as you are and grow at your own pace.

In this episode, Peter and Gaius work together to address an urgent sewer issue. During their work, they have a conversation about Jewish and Roman religion. Gaius talks about all the gods the Romans call upon for their different needs — whether for safe travel, victory in war, fertility, a good catch of fish or peace in relationships. To Peter, it seems overly complicated, and he responds, “We have one God for everything” [30:37-30:44 min].

What does Peter mean by this statement?
Have you ever encountered someone with a very different perspective on faith or religion? How did that conversation go?
In your culture and time, what do you see people relying on — other than the one, true God – to meet their needs and give them wisdom?

Peter’s remark refers to a line within the Shema, the Jewish declaration of faith. The Jewish people would recite this prayer twice a day to remind themselves of who their God is — a practice that was important considering they lived surrounded by idolatrous cultures.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 6:4-15.

Deuteronomy 6:4-15

What warnings and reminders does this Scripture give to God’s people?
What does it mean for the Israelites to declare that the “LORD is one” as they live in the midst of idolatrous nations?
Read verses 4 and 5 again. What is the connection between the oneness of God and the single-mindedness of the devotion he calls for?
How do the warnings and reminders in this passage apply to your life within your culture today?

Israel’s faith in one God set them apart from the nations around them. God introduced himself to them as the one and only God — the Most High and the absolute ruler over all aspects of life. This was radically different from the polytheistic cultures surrounding them. Knowing and trusting in the one God shaped how they were meant to live, worship and relate to the world around them.

Does your faith in God set you apart from the people in your life? How so?
How does your faith in God shape your life and worship today?
Are there “other gods” or things you rely on instead of fully trusting in God? What might those be?
Think of an area of your life where you still struggle to trust God fully. What would it look like to surrender to God in that area?

In this episode, we see how the arrival of the Messiah impacts Zebedee and his family. For generations, they waited for the Messiah, and now the wait is over. Zebedee meets Jesus, believes in him, and watches his sons make life-changing decisions to follow Jesus. He encourages them and, in his own faith, takes a bold stand — making radical choices that inspire others to follow.

Have you had a personal encounter with Jesus?
How has that encounter impacted your life?

Two other powerful examples of Jesus’ impact are the interwoven stories of Jairus and the woman who suffered from bleeding for twelve years. In The Chosen, her name is Veronica.

Let’s read Mark 5:21-43 together.

Mark 5:21-43

21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake.

22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet.

23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”

24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him.

25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.

26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.

27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,

28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.

33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.

34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.

38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.

39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.”

40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was.

41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).

42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.

43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

What do Jairus and Veronica have in common?
Veronica thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed,” (Mark 5:28) and Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you” (Mark 5:34). What role does faith play in seeing God’s power at work in your life?
Jesus told Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe” (Mark 5:36). Where do you need to turn away from fear and embrace faith?

In this episode, different people meet Jesus, and they all respond in different ways. Zebedee takes bold steps of faith, inspired by his encounter with Jesus, while Eden, Peter’s wife, watches everything from a distance. After experiencing a miscarriage, she feels anything but free, and Jesus does not intervene in her pain.

Are you, like Zebedee, free to take bold steps of faith? What is your “olive grove” — the area in your life where you feel called to take a risk and bring others along with you?
How do you respond when someone around you – or even yourself — watches Jesus “from a distance” but struggles with life and wonders why he hasn’t intervened yet in their (your) situation?
In Zebedee’s family, there were generational expectations that shaped how they lived. Are there similar expectations in your family? • What are the positive aspects of those expectations? • Which of those expectations do you need to be freed from as you follow Jesus, even if it requires making radical changes?

In this episode, Veronica expresses her deep trust in Jesus, saying, “If I could just touch his garment.” The disciples respond sceptically, calling it superstition. But Veronica stands firm, “Maybe for other holy men. But I’m not talking about other holy men. I’m talking about him. I’ve heard what he can do and I saw him give his sermon. I’m talking about him! His garment!” [14:14-14:30 min]

What do you think gives Veronica such absolute trust in Jesus?
Can you say that you trust Jesus this much? Why or why not?

While Jesus is on his way to heal Jairus’ critically ill daughter, his journey is suddenly interrupted.

Let’s read Luke 8:40-48 together.

Luke 8:40-48

What does this woman’s faith reveal about her understanding of who Jesus is?
What do you think it means that Jesus stops and takes time to speak with this woman?
This woman finds healing through her faith and her encounter with Jesus. Where do you need healing in your life? How can you seek that healing?

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself as part of this story. You are walking in the crowd on the way to Jairus’ house. The air is hot, the press of the people is overwhelming, and you can hear snippets of conversations around you. The urgency to keep moving is palpable. Suddenly, Jesus stops, and everything comes to a standstill. Then, he asks, “Who touched me?” The crowd buzzes with tension. You feel it rising in your heart. What is happening? Why are we stopping?

If you were in the story, who would you be? Veronica, perhaps one of Jesus’ disciples (which one?), Jairus, someone in the crowd or maybe a passerby? How are you observing and responding to the scene?
What does it mean to you that Jesus calls this woman “daughter”?
How does this woman’s strong trust in Jesus inspire or challenge you?
In what areas of your life is Jesus calling you to trust him more deeply? What steps can you take to trust him, and who can you bring with you on your journey?

In this episode, we witness the joy of Veronica’s healing and the miraculous restoration of Jairus’ daughter. Yet, alongside these moments of joy, we see Eden’s deep sorrow over the loss of her unborn child. Earlier in the series, we also caught a glimpse of Little James’ quiet struggle with his own longing for healing.

What role does the theme of healing play in your life?
If Jesus were to invite you to ask him a question about healing, what would it be?

Throughout Scripture, we see God bringing healing and restoration in places where hope seemed lost. Yet, even today, not everyone is healed and not every broken situation is restored. This reality raises profound questions. Life often moves at a rapid pace, alternating between joy and sorrow, leaving us grappling with the brokenness of the world.

Paul acknowledges this tension in Romans, while pointing us forward to the ultimate hope we have in Christ.

Let’s read Romans 8:18-29 together.

Romans 8:18-29

What does this passage tell us about suffering and how God works through the brokenness of the world?
What does it mean “that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us”? (Romans 8:18)
What encouragement does this passage give us in the face of suffering?
What does it mean that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him”? (Romans 8:28.) What does it not mean?
What does it look like in your life to trust God’s timing and good intentions toward you when you cannot understand what he is doing through your circumstances?

[Leader: Choose one or both of the following activities, based on your group’s time, materials and setting. Adapt it as needed.]

Option 1: This activity has two parts.

First, you will build a campfire or light a fire pit. Give everyone a piece of paper and pen. They will write their answer to the first response question on the paper and then throw it into the fire.

Second, prepare a large bowl or bucket of warm water with a refreshing scent. Give everyone a towel. Direct them to form pairs. They will pray about the second response question and then wash each other’s feet.

One of the first things Veronica does after her healing is to cut her ropes loose and burn them. Then she jumps into the water and washes herself clean.

Are there things in your life that still keep you bound? What “ropes” do you need to cut and burn today?
What do you need to cleanse yourself from to walk more freely with Jesus? Find a partner and share as much as you feel comfortable. Then pray together, asking God to wash you clean. After praying, wet a towel in this bucket and use it to wash each other’s feet.

Option 2: Invite participants to share their expressions of gratitude with others in the group. For example, your group could compile music into a playlist and share it. If participants have an item at home that symbolises their gratitude, they could bring it next time. Be sure to set aside a dedicated moment for this, so you can all thank and honour God for what he is doing in your lives.

Jairus is incredibly grateful to Jesus for what he has done for him and his family. For Jairus, there are no words to say other than “Thank You.”

What are you deeply grateful to Jesus for?
What ways have you found to express that gratitude? Is there a song, poem, photo, prayer, piece of art or something else that conveys your gratitude to God? Tell us about it.

SEASON 3 - EPISODE 5

Clean (2)

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Initial Reflections

Dig In

Deuteronomy 6:4-15

Respond

Initial Reflections

Dig In

Mark 5:21-43

Respond

Initial Reflections

Dig In

Luke 8:40-48

Respond

Initial Reflections

Dig In

Romans 8:18-29

Respond

Find more on our Reading Plan

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Clean (1)

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Sustenance

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The Last Sign

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Entry

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The Chosen Connect