Title: The Heart of Sanctification
Passage: Mark 1:35-45
Icebreaker: Share your name and something that you like to make. It can be anything: LEGOs, nachos, your bed, music, a playlist, etc.!
Share: What is one thing you are hoping to find at RYM this week?
Reflect: What from the sermon stood out to you? What was challenging, comforting, or confusing?
Review: As a group, come up with a simple definition of “sanctification” that we can use throughout the week.
Sermon Questions:
1. What do you think most defines your identity? What are some things high school students build their identity around? What happens when those things are taken away or don't go as planned?
2. Why do you think the leper was willing to risk everything to get to Jesus? What do you think drove him to do that? Have you ever been desperate enough for help, healing, acceptance, or change that you were willing to risk embarrassment or rejection to get it?
3. What do you usually run to when life hurts? When you're stressed, lonely, insecure, angry, or disappointed, where do you tend to look for comfort or escape? Why do those things seem appealing? Do they actually help in the long run?
4. How do you think Jesus would respond to someone who brought him their worst failures? If you could be completely honest about your mess and sin, how do you think Jesus would react? How does Mark 1:40–42 challenge or confirm your assumptions?
5. Which part of the gospel presented in the sermon is hardest for you to believe? Which of those claims is harder for you to accept—and why? Do you struggle more to believe that you're truly needy, or that God could really love and accept people like you?
Share: What is one thing you are hoping to find at RYM this week?
Reflect: What from the sermon stood out to you? What was challenging, comforting, or confusing?
Review: As a group, come up with a simple definition of “sanctification” that we can use throughout the week.
Sermon Questions:
1. What do you think most defines your identity? What are some things high school students build their identity around? What happens when those things are taken away or don't go as planned?
2. Why do you think the leper was willing to risk everything to get to Jesus? What do you think drove him to do that? Have you ever been desperate enough for help, healing, acceptance, or change that you were willing to risk embarrassment or rejection to get it?
3. What do you usually run to when life hurts? When you're stressed, lonely, insecure, angry, or disappointed, where do you tend to look for comfort or escape? Why do those things seem appealing? Do they actually help in the long run?
4. How do you think Jesus would respond to someone who brought him their worst failures? If you could be completely honest about your mess and sin, how do you think Jesus would react? How does Mark 1:40–42 challenge or confirm your assumptions?
5. Which part of the gospel presented in the sermon is hardest for you to believe? Which of those claims is harder for you to accept—and why? Do you struggle more to believe that you're truly needy, or that God could really love and accept people like you?