Bible ReadingMark 9:14-29 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
[01:27] [02:05] [04:16]John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
[09:32]Acts 1:4-8 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”
[18:42] [19:21]John 16:7 “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”
[17:16]Observation questions- What details in Mark 9 show the difference between the confusion around the disciples and the authority of Jesus when He arrives?
- What does the father say to Jesus about his son’s condition, and what words reveal both his hope and his uncertainty?
- What answer does Jesus give when the disciples ask why they could not drive out the spirit? What does He not give them? [15:22]
- In Acts 1, what were the disciples told to do before beginning their mission, even after all they had seen and learned from Jesus? [18:42]
Interpretation questions- The disciples had previously driven out demons, yet they could not do so in Mark 9. What might their failure reveal about relying on past experiences with God instead of present dependence on God? [07:43]
- The father says, “I believe; help my unbelief!” How does Jesus’ response show that faith is not pretending to have no fear, doubt, or unanswered questions? [10:45]
- Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” What is the difference between using prayer, worship, Bible reading, fasting, or ministry as ways to draw near to God and treating them as the source of power itself? [09:00]
- Why would Jesus tell trained disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before carrying out the mission in Acts 1? What does this say about the limits of knowledge, talent, planning, and passion? [18:59]
Application questions- Where might familiarity with church, ministry, prayer, or Scripture make it easy to go through good practices without consciously depending on God? What would deeper dependence look like in that specific area? [05:44]
- Is there a situation where the most honest prayer right now is, “I believe; help my unbelief”? What fears, questions, or unknown outcomes can be brought honestly to Jesus?
- Faith is not about standing confidently on personal ability; it is about resting on the strength of God. Where is there a temptation to place confidence in experience, education, a plan, or a personal track record instead of in God? [12:48]
- Is there something being “surrendered” to God while still expecting Him to give a particular result in return? What would it look like to release that outcome into the hands of the Father without bargaining? [14:08]
- Where has trying harder brought exhaustion—at home, at work, in parenting, in a relationship, or in ministry? What is one practical way to pause and ask the Holy Spirit for direction and strength this week? [21:21]
- Before making a significant decision this week, how could the group or each person make room to pray, listen, and wait rather than immediately relying on plans and instincts? [22:27]
- Salvation cannot be earned through steps, effort, or checked boxes; it is God’s work received through dependence on Him. Is there any pressure to prove worthiness to God that needs to be released into trust in Jesus? [23:19]
