WEEK 31 

MARKED BY PRAYER - PASTOR SAM KNOTTNERUS

  1. Has there been a time in your life since you became a Christian where you struggled with doubt or unbelief? What caused you to struggle? 
  2. Read the quote from Sam's sermon below, then answer the following question below:
    • QUOTE: "Doubts are normal. Questions are welcome, and certainty is not necessary... There are a lot of things I have questions about. There's many things that you struggle with trying to understand, but Jesus doesn't require us to have a boatload of faith - even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains... because it is not about the size of your faith, but the object of your faith. What did the man do that was so key? He had his questions and he brought it to Jesus, and he came to Jesus with the little faith that he had and said 'Help my unbelief.'"
    • ______________________________________________________________________
    • QUESTION: What do you think is the relationship between doubt and faith, and how can bringing our doubts to Jesus in prayer grow our faith?
  3. How does prayer both individually and with other believers help us to become more like Jesus?

READ MARK 9:14-29, THEN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW

  1. What does this passage tell me about God and about people?
  2. If I believe today's teaching is from God and that He loved me so much He sent Jesus to die for me, what is the appropriate way to respond in my everyday life?
  3. Who can I talk to more about this or share this with?

Spend time sharing prayer requests as a group, and close your time in prayer together.

Discussion Questions

Scripture

Mark 9:14-29 (NIV): When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” 19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” "From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”