Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Read Mark 12:38-13:2 (ESV):
And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
3:1 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
- Share about a time when you misperceived a situation and responded inappropriately because of it.
- How did people misperceive Jesus’s values and the kind of kingdom he was trying to bring?
- What are some ways people try to get honor and status in our culture?
- It’s not a sin to be honored by others, but it can be dangerous. Why is it so dangerous? How can we avoid the dangers that come with being in a place of honor?
- How did the religious leaders’ desire for money and honor cause them to be blind? What did they miss because of it?
- What are some of the dangers of having money? How do we avoid these dangers?
- What was the significance of the widow’s offering? Why was Jesus so impressed with her?
- Talk about some ways we tend to give our “left overs” to God rather than being “all in” like this widow was.
- “What the heart desires, the will chooses, and the mind justifies.” If you’re willing, share how you’ve experienced this tendency in your own life. How can we guard against this?
- Tim Keller said that the most important life skill is the ability to say “I got it wrong. I failed. I sinned. I need help.” Why is this so important?
- What did you sense God saying to you through this passage and this message?
