Bible Study Questions

1. The sermon describes Jesus as "the center of the circle," with crowds constantly gathering around him. What does it look like practically in your daily life to keep Jesus at the center of everything you do?
2. Jesus called the twelve apostles first and foremost "that they might be with him" (Mark 3:14). How intentional are you about simply being with Jesus, and what habits help you stay close to him?
3. The crowd that gathered around Jesus came from many different places and backgrounds. What barriers — cultural, social, or personal — might prevent people from feeling welcome in the circle around Jesus today, and how can we remove them?
4. Jesus redefined family in Mark 3:34-35, saying his true family is whoever does God's will. How has your relationship with the church community shaped your understanding of spiritual family?
5. The sermon warns that following Jesus will lead to being misunderstood and opposed, just as Jesus was accused of being crazy or demon-possessed. Have you ever experienced opposition or misunderstanding because of your faith? How did you respond?
6. The parable of the sower identifies four types of soil — Satan, trials, worldly worries, and wealth — as things that can pull us out of the circle. Which of these is the greatest threat to your own walk with Jesus right now?
7. The sermon describes the kingdom of God growing slowly, imperceptibly, and tenaciously like a seed. Where have you seen quiet, steady spiritual growth in your own life or in someone around you?
8. The disciples were caught completely off guard by the storm on the Sea of Galilee. What unexpected storms have you faced in life, and how did those storms change your understanding of who Jesus is?
9. Jesus told the disciples to have a boat ready early that morning, knowing the storm was coming. How does it encourage you to know that Jesus is never caught off guard by the storms in your life?
10. The disciples grew in their understanding of Jesus because of the storm — moving from calling him "Rabbi" toward calling him "Lord." How have difficult seasons in your life deepened your knowledge of Jesus?
11. Paul writes in Ephesians 2 that Jesus has broken down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles to create "one new humanity." What dividing walls exist in our community or church today, and how can we work to tear them down?
12. The sermon closes with the image of the Lord's Supper as a gathering around Jesus at the table. What does regularly sharing communion mean to you personally, and how does it renew your commitment to keeping Jesus at the center of your life?

Discussion Questions

1. Ken mentioned that some people in the crowd walked over 200 miles through the desert just to get to Jesus. What sacrifices have you made — or would you be willing to make — to draw closer to Jesus?
2. The sermon described members of the congregation rearranging chairs and sitting with a newcomer so no one felt alone. What is one specific and practical thing you could do this week to make someone feel welcomed into your community?
3. Ken described the church as "just a bunch of Christ followers gathered around Jesus." How does that simple definition of church compare to how you have experienced church throughout your life?
4. The sermon mentions that the early church in Acts grew from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria to the ends of the earth, constantly adding new and different kinds of people. How diverse is your own circle of Christian relationships, and does that matter to you?
5. Ken listed preaching, healing, and driving out the devil as the three core callings of those gathered around Jesus. Which of these three do you feel most naturally gifted for, and which feels most challenging?
6. The sermon describes informal opportunities to help and heal people as you go about your daily life. Can you share a recent moment when God brought someone across your path who needed help or encouragement?
7. Ken said "the devil is terrified of Jesus." How aware are you of spiritual opposition in your everyday life, and how does staying close to Jesus change the way you face it?
8. The sermon points out that Jesus's family thought he was out of his mind and came to take him away. Have people who are close to you ever questioned or pushed back on your commitment to following Jesus? How did that feel?
9. Ken described how Texas thunderstorms form when warm Gulf air meets cold fronts from the north — sudden and powerful. What is the most sudden and unexpected storm you have ever faced in life, and who or what was your anchor during it?
10. The disciples were doing everything they knew to do — paddling and bailing — before they finally turned to Jesus. Is there a current struggle in your life where you have been relying on your own efforts before turning to Jesus?
11. Ken said there is always another side of Jesus you haven't yet seen, and that storms often reveal him in new ways. What is one aspect of Jesus's character or power that you have only recently come to understand more deeply?
12. The sermon ends with the image of Jesus wanting to get everyone "to the other side." What does the other side look like for you right now — is it eternity, a new season of life, or a deeper revelation of who Jesus is?