Calm Before

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In this episode, James and John come to Jesus asking if they can sit at his right and left hand [51:15-52:56 min].

What do you think about their question?
What do you think about Jesus’ response to their request?

In response to their question, Jesus says, “You are thinking like the Gentiles. … That is not how my kingdom works.” He then explains how leadership in his kingdom is completely different from earthly leadership [53:55-56:29 min]. Let’s read Mark 10:35-45.

Mark 10:35-45

What does Jesus teach his disciples about leadership in this passage?
How does Jesus’ vision of leadership and authority differ from what we see in the world?
How can you practise serving the people in your life on a daily basis?

The topic of leadership may seem like it doesn’t apply to you, but you actually have opportunities to practise servant-leadership every day. God has entrusted us all with relationships and responsibilities through which we can serve and love like Jesus.

What opportunities has God given you to serve others?
What do you find challenging about Jesus’ teaching that “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant”?
Who in your life models Christ-like leadership? How do they serve others? How have they impacted you?

Ramah’s death deeply impacts Jesus’ followers. Everyone deals with the loss in their own way. Each has a different perspective and response; yet they continue turning to each other and reminding each other to look to Jesus.

Peter, who recently experienced his own loss, wants to be there for Thomas, but he doesn’t know how. He searches for the right words and wonders how he can support his friend [04:14-07:19 min].

What advice does Jesus give to Peter?
What do you think of how Peter reaches out to Thomas?

Through the pain of losing his child and the challenges of following Jesus, we see Peter’s character being shaped. He wrestles, questions and slowly discovers more of who God is and who he is called to be. His growing spiritual maturity shows in the way he begins to care for others in the group. Let’s read 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?

20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”

22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,

24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,

25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

What does 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 reveal about God’s character?
What does it mean that we can comfort others with the comfort we have received from God?
Can you share about a time when you received comfort from God? How did that impact the way you care for others?
In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, what does it mean that “if one part suffers, every part suffers with it”?
What does this passage teach us about how and why we should care for each other?

Peter checks on Thomas several times throughout this episode: “Are you eating enough? Are you sleeping well? How is your prayer life?”

Thomas admits that he tries to keep praying, but it is hard to really mean the words he is speaking. Peter knows the feeling and shares a psalm that has meant a lot to him through his own loss.

Written prayers can carry us through difficult times, especially when we no longer have words of our own.

Can you relate to Thomas’ struggle with prayer? How so?
What prayers do you turn to when you don’t have your own words?
What kinds of questions do you ask when you want to know how someone is really doing?
How can you support people who are going through seasons of grief?

In this episode, we see Jesus’ followers asking difficult questions as they grieve Ramah’s death. Why didn’t Jesus intervene? Can Jesus still be trusted? What could possibly come from a situation like this?

How do you respond to painful events in your own life?
What do you do with your questions? Do you ask them, and if so, to whom?

Thomas tells Peter that he’s struggling to really mean what he prays. Peter understands. He shares a psalm in which the psalmist describes being so overwhelmed that he can’t speak or sleep. It’s a raw and honest image of faith in the midst of pain. Let’s read Psalm 77.

Psalm 77

1 I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.

2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.

3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.

4 You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak.

5 I thought about the former days, the years of long ago;

6 I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

7 “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again?

8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?

9 Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.

11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

12 I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

13 Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?

14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

16 The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed.

17 The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth.

18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.

19 Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.

20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

What stands out to you about the psalmist’s experience of suffering in verses 1-9?
What does the psalmist do from verses 10-20?
How could remembering God’s goodness and faithfulness help you when you’re going through seasons of hardship?
The psalm seems to have an open ending. What do you think that means?
Reread verse 19. What do you do when you can’t see God’s footprints in your situation?

In the midst of suffering, even though he doesn’t understand everything, Peter has learnt to trust Jesus. “Jesus had a reason for allowing what happened to Eden that I didn’t understand at the time. I may never fully in this lifetime. But I do know it made me desperate for him.”

Peter has also come to recognise his place: “We are Jesus’ students, not his equals. I mean, if we don’t know the answer to something, we can let Jesus speak for himself” [08:40-11:27 min].

Why is it important to recognise that “we are Jesus’ students, not his equals”?
When you don’t have the answers, where do you go? Do you, like Peter said, “let Jesus speak for himself”?
How do you remind yourself of who God is?
How do you help others remember who God is?

In this episode, Gaius has many questions about Jesus. The only reason he doesn’t approach Jesus to ask him about his sick servant is because he feels unworthy, “You don’t know the things I’ve done. I’m an outsider.” To which Peter replies, “One of his favourite kinds of people” [40:56-43:28 min].

Can you think of situations where feelings of unworthiness get in the way of faith?

Gaius isn’t sure what it means to believe in Jesus, but he is sure that Jesus can heal his son. He says, “I am not worthy to have you come into my home. … But you only need to say the word, and he will be healed” [47:20-48:09 min]. Let’s read Luke 7:1-10 and Joshua 24:1-15.

Luke 7:1-10

Joshua 24:1-15

1 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.

2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods.

3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac,

4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his family went down to Egypt.

5 “‘Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out.

6 When I brought your people out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea.

7 But they cried to the LORD for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.

8 “‘I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land.

9 When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you.

10 But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.

11 “‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands.

12 I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow.

13 So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’

14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Both passages capture a moment of decision, a turning point where faith moves from words to action. Each story invites us to choose life, to declare who we trust and serve. They remind us that our choices matter, not just in belief, but in how we live.

What choices did the centurion make in Luke 7?
What do you learn from his attitude (verses 4-7)?
How does Jesus respond to the centurion’s faith?
What choice does Joshua present to the Israelites?
Why does God remind his people of their history before renewing the covenant with them?
How do you choose to serve God and live out your faith on a daily basis?

Gaius immediately acts on his faith in Jesus’ power to heal. Even before he sees it with his own eyes, he takes meaningful steps in his household. He blows out the candles in the pagan shrines in his home. When he sees his son restored, his gratitude overflows, and he introduces his wife and sons to a new word: Shalom.

What are the daily choices you make that express your commitment to Jesus?
How can you respond in faith today?
• Are there any “candles” you need to blow out: habits, rituals or false sources of security you need to release?
• What new words, habits or practices could you begin that reflect your commitment to Jesus?
Who can walk with you in this process?

SEASON 4 - EPISODE 4

Calm Before

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Initial Reflections

Dig In

Mark 10:35-45

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Initial Reflections

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2 Corinthians 1:3-5

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

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Initial Reflections

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Psalm 77

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Initial Reflections

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Luke 7:1-10

Joshua 24:1-15

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Ears to Hear

Sustenance

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The Last Sign

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The Chosen Connect