Joe Rogan Experience #2252 - Wesley Huff

Wesley Huff is a Christian apologist, public speaker, and current Central Canada Director for Apologetics Canada. www.wesleyhuff.com

#30 Mark 15:21-47 "Jesus Crucified" (Good Friday 2022)

#29 Mark 15:1-20 "Jesus Our Substitute"

Palm Sunday Announcements 4.10.17

Good Friday - Join us on Friday, April 15th as we remember and meditate on Jesus' crucifixion on Good Friday for our sins. Rainier Valley Church will be hosting a Good Friday worship service from 6:30pm-7:30pm.

Resurrection Sunday - Mark your calendars as we celebrate victory in Jesus this coming Easter Sunday on Sunday, April 17th at Rainier Valley Church. Please invite family and friends to celebrate with us at 10am at Rainier Valley Church. We will be doing baptisms and a kids Easter egg hunt after the service.

Baptisms - It's time to celebrate baptisms! We believe that baptism is for those who have chosen to put their faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ—a public declaration of an inward decision to follow Christ. We believe that baptizing by immersion in water is a faithful representation of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. If you’re interested in being baptized, please talk with Steve Pratt or Ken Sabalza.

Worldview Apologetics Conference - Pastor Ken Sabalza is organizing a group from RVC to go to the upcoming Worldview Apologetics Conference on April 29-30th at Westminster Chapel with speakers like J.Warner Wallace and Dr. Phil Fernandes. For more information, please follow up with Pastor Ken Sabalza.

Guest Speaker James Rayment - We're excited to welcome James Rayment from the Al-Ma'idah Initiative on Sunday, May 1st. James will be sharing a message on how Christians can engage family, friends, neighbors and coworkers from other religions.

Gospel of Mark #29 - "Jesus Our Substitute"

Sunday, April 10 (Mark 15:1-20)

Discussion/Study Questions

Our King’s Silence (15:1-5) - If Jesus had been primarily interested in avoiding execution, what defense might he have offered before Pilate? Why did Jesus remain silent? How does Jesus' silence ultimately save us? What areas in our life can you practice "passive obedience" like Jesus by not justifying ourselves and not lashing out at others?

Our King’s Substitution (15:6-14) - "Substitutionary Atonement" sounds complicated. How would you explain it to a children's Sunday school class and what would you call it? How does the story of Jesus taking the place of the criminal Barabbas show the powerful truth of substitutionary atonement?

Our King’s Suffering (15:15-20) - What ironies does the Gospel of Mark highlight between the way the soldiers mock Jesus and who he actually is? Jesus was (1) psychologically ridiculed, (2) physically beaten, (3) spiritually abandoned by God, and (4) mortally executed. How do these torments compare? How can we prepare our hearts for this coming Holy Week, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday? What is God teaching you specifically this Easter season? How can we be praying and serving one another this coming week?

#20 Mark 10:32-52 "Jesus The Ultimate Servant"

Gospel of Mark: Discipleship, Servanthood, and Following After Jesus
Mark 10:32-52 “Jesus The Ultimate Servant”
Sunday, February 6thOpening Questions
What was the best and worst part of your last week and how can we be praying for you?
This week we're going to talk about the topic of serving. Why is serving an important aspect of the Christian life?
As you think about your life, what are some of the biggest ways you've personally been served by others?Discussion Questions on Mark 10:32-52
Big Idea: Serving isn’t just something WE DO but it's an aspect of Who WE ARE 

• Prediction - You Must Consider The Cost of Being a Servant (Mark 10:32-34)

Jesus boldly, heroically, and courageously moved towards Jerusalem and towards his own death. The Disciples were both terrified and amazed at Jesus' resolve to go towards his enemies and towards the conflict. How might fear hinder our walk with Jesus? What would are Christian life look like if fear wasn't a constant enemy? What would you do if you weren't afraid?
The Christian life is both privilege and responsibility, blessing and suffering, joy and sorrow. What aspect of the Christian life do you find yourself fearful of or avoiding because of the potential pain? What does it look like for you to be courageous like Jesus in the face of difficulty?  How can we encourage one another to do hard, yet worthy things for Jesus?

• Ambition - You Must Consider The Challenge of Being A Servant (Mark 10:35-40)

James and John respond to Jesus' prophecy about his own death by asking for positions of power in Jesus' Kingdom. This is the third time that Jesus has predicted his death and the third time that the disciples didn't get it and approached Jesus with selective hearing and preconceived ideas.
How can we be careful to pick-up on what God is doing in our lives instead of simply bringing him our own agenda?
How can we model Jesus' patience with those who are consistently difficult in our lives?
Jesus warns the disciples that they will drink of the cup of His suffering and persecutions. How have you had to drink of this cup in your own life?
How can we prepare one another to drink of the cup and have right expectations about the blessings and the difficulties of the Christian life?
Jesus taught his disciples a third time that true greatness is in serving others. How does Jesus contrast the Gentiles with his Followers? What the difference in the way we are to lead others?
How have you seen servant leadership demonstrated in your life? What opportunities do you have to embody and practice servant leadership in your life?

• Submission - You Must Consider The Opportunity for Being A Servant (10:45-52)

Blind Bartimaeus was overlooked and cast aside by the crowds but Jesus heard and responded to him. What sort of opportunities do you have to serve those who are in need around you?
Bartimaeus' cry was that Jesus would have mercy on him. Mercy recognizes that we need God to treat us better than we deserve. What ways do you need God's mercy and in what ways do you need to extend God's mercy to others (Forgiveness, Resentment, Bitterness, Generosity, etc)  Bartimaeus keeps calling for Jesus despite the crowds telling him to shut up. How can we cultivate a holy stubbornness to keep seeking after God in our own lives and what factors distract or embarrass us out of this holy pursuit?
How can we be praying for one another and serving one another this coming week?

#12 Mark (Mark 7:24-37) Jesus for Everyone!

#6 Mark 4:1-34 "Jesus and Kingdom Stories"

The Gospel of Mark: Servanthood, Discipleship, and Following Jesus #5 Mark 4:1-34 "Jesus and Kingdom Stories" Which story is driving your life? Jesus calls his followers to hear, respond to and share the Gospel while sin, the cares of the world, and opposition hinder Kingdom growth but the promise of the Kingdom is guaranteed to grow until it encompasses people from every nation. The stories we believe matter. The stories that we listen to, that we share, and the we believe shape everything about us. Which story will we believe? Which story will we share? Which story will we reject? Which story will shape our lives? Discussion Questions When have you found telling stories (parables) to be an effective way to communicate? What made them effective? Why do some call this the parable of the sower and other call it the parable of the soils? Which do you prefer, and why? How did Jesus' parables give His disciples more understanding without giving any benefit to those who rejected Him? Give current examples of cases where those who already understand the gospel gain more understanding while those who have rejected Jesus remain in the dark. Was it unfair of Jesus to obscure His teaching from those who rejected Him by using parables? Whose fault was it ultimately that they did not understand? why is this parable foundational to comprehending other parables? Is one kind of soil that Jesus mentions more prevalent in our culture right now? Is there a particular way we should present the Word of God that might make people more receptive? How can we change the presentation without changing the message? What part do we play in being good soil for God's Word? What can we do to grow in holiness and to produce fruit by making disciples? The Hardened Hearted - How is actively listening and learning to Biblical teaching an act of spiritual warfare against Satan? The hardened heart can manifest as apathy, annoyance, and antagonism. How have you seen people harden their hearts against Biblical teaching? The Shallow Heart - We need to be careful to avoid a firecracker faith that has a short-term excitement but no long-term roots. How can we grow our roots deep so that we don't change when the environment around us changes? How can we shepherd people going through the honeymoon stage of faith to have realistic expectations about the challenges they will face? Does your spiritual life require constant mountain top experiences and what happens to your faith when you experience suffering, persecution or difficulty. The Profane Heart - How can we guard our hearts to carefully avoid the temptations to get caught up in the cares of the world? What ways can riches be deceitful? How does worldliness choke out godly fruitfulness in your life? The Faithful Heart - What does a receptive, humble, teachable, listening, receiving and learning heart look like? The Gospel of Mark says "Hear/Listen" 14 times in Mark 4:1-34! Questions about Listening to Jesus and Growing Do I Delight or Dread Reading the Bible Throughout the Week? Do I Prepare my Heart to Receive God’s Word or do I Just Show up on Sundays? Do I Lean in to Consider, Take Notes and Actively Listen or Do I Just Passively Watch? Am I Being Shaped to See Jesus as Increasingly More Precious or More Forgetful? Do I Take an Active Role in My Spiritual Development or Do I Expect Others to Do Everything? Would Others Say that I’m Becoming More Humble and Teachable or More Proud and Unwilling to be Corrected? Am I Growing in My Obedience or am I More Careless in Obedience? Does God’s Word Linger in My Life or is it Immediately Disregarded?

#3 Mark 2:1-3:6 "Jesus the Revolutionary"

The Gospel of Mark: Servanthood, Discipleship, and Following Jesus

#3 Mark 2:1-3:6 "Jesus the Revolutionary!"

The first Iphone was released in 2007 and utterly revolutionized how we find information, travel around, take pictures, and surf the web. Revolutions transform the world and change the way we understand everything. As we open the scriptures to Mark 2:1-3:6 we'll see that Jesus is a revolutionary. Love Jesus or Hate Him, everyone took him seriously. Jesus was revolutionary by forgiving, befriending, and healing sinners like you and me. Let's learn about what made Jesus so incredible!

Introduction

How is everyone and what is one highlight from your week? Pastor Kyle opened his message talking about Jesus being revolutionary. What revolutions have you lived through and how have the changed technology, culture, and your life? What makes a revolution so powerfully transformative?

Let's open our bibles to Luke 2:1-3:6 and study how Jesus

Jesus Forgives Sinners (2:1-12) 

The four men carried their paralytic friend to Jesus despite the difficulties and challenges. Which friends are you trying to get to Jesus and what challenges are you facing?

Jesus forgives the paralytic instead of healing him and everyone is shocked and horrified, why is this action so revolutionary?

Why is sin the most important problem in the universe to Jesus?

How are we doing at living in the freedom that God has given us through the forgiveness of Jesus?

Jesus Befriends Sinners (2:13-22)

What's the difference between a crowd and a community, between a decision or a disciple? Why is Jesus calling Matthew the Tax Collector to be his disciple such a revolutionary action? How does Jesus demonstrate his friendship to Matthew? Why is Jesus eating with sinners so revolutionary? Unpack this statement: Sanctification isn't separation but imitation. How can we imitate our Rabbi Jesus as he eats with Tax Collectors and Sinners?

Jesus Heals Sinners (2:29-3:6)

Why is Jesus calling himself the Son of Man and the Lord of the Sabbath such a revolutionary statement? How is the Sabbath a healing gift of God? How do you practice the Sabbath? In what ways have you seen and experienced the healing of Jesus in your life or the lives of those you know?

Prayer Time

How can we be praying for one another? What bold moves do we need to make to get people to Jesus? Let's take some time to pray together.

(You can go popcorn prayer, have everyone pray over the person to their right or whatever works best for your group)

#1 Mark 1:1-15 The Center of the Story - Good News!

The Gospel of Mark: Servanthood, Discipleship, and Following Jesus

#1 Mark 1:1-15 "The Center of the Story - Good News!"

Big Idea: Following Jesus Changes Everything About Us!

What is the advantage of having four Gospels, all telling essentially the same story? How might Mark's consciousness of having a Roman audience affect his selection and presentation of the facts of the Gospel story? How did Mark's missionary work with Paul and Barnabas and his work with Peter prepare him to write his Gospel account?

Jesus Reveals the Truth -

We Can Follow Him (1:1)
What are the implications of of Jesus' title "Christ" in the lives of His followers? What are the implications of Jesus being called the "Son of God" in the introduction of the Gospel of Mark? How does Mark revealing who Jesus is create a ironic tension as you read through the Gospel being the only one, beside the demons, who truly knows who Jesus actually is?

Jesus Fulfills the Scriptures -

We Can Trust Him (1:2-3)
How does the Gospel of Mark connect the Prophet Isaiah with John the Baptist? How does the Prophet Isaiah, writing hundreds of years before Jesus, predicting the events that were to unfold show us God's sovereignty? How does God's sovereignty help foster confidence in the times of difficulty and uncertainty?

Jesus Brings the Spirit -

We Can Be Changed (1:4-11)
How does John the Baptist function as a transitional figure from the Old Testament to the new covenant? How do John and his preaching style compare with current notions of how to gain a following and grow a church? Why do you think John gained a large following? What was his message? How did that message contribute to his popularity and to his death? How is John's humble message about Christ similar to what we should tell others about Christ? How is our message different? God fulfilled His promises to send a messenger and send a Savior. What are some of the other promises of God that have not yet been fulfilled? Why does Jesus choice to be baptized and what is the purpose of the sinless savior entering into the waters of baptism? How does Jesus' baptism show the nature of the Trinity?

Jesus Overcomes the Enemy -

We Can Have Victory (1:12-13)
Why do you think God chooses for us to walk through wilderness seasons in our life? What do wilderness seasons accomplish in our lives? How have you been tested since you gave your life to Christ and what was it like? How can we learn from Jesus' victory over Satan in the wilderness?

Jesus Builds the Kingdom -

We Can Have Purpose (1:14-15)
In what way is the Kingdom of God already here? In what way is it yet to come in the future? How is repentance related to confession and obedience? Compare and contrast the words belief, faith, and trust. Why are these words used in connection with the Kingdom of God?