MARK 9:43-48

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. ⁴⁵ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. ⁴⁷ And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

10 POINTS TO PONDER

Sin is anything contrary to the nature of God. It may be actions, attitudes, thoughts, or more. If it falls short of God’s character, it’s harmful for creation and it’s bad for us.

Jesus believed that hell was a real place, and He wanted as few people to end up there as possible.

Sin is not to be minimized (“it’s just a small thing”), excused (“I couldn’t help myself”), or rationalized (“everybody is doing it”). It is to be avoided, detested, and hated

In verse 48, Jesus quoted the final verse of Isaiah. This was his way of tying his teaching to the same themes as Isaiah. In doing so, He made it clear that He was talking about the end times and what happens at the final judgment.

You need to know yourself. If the things you do, the places you go, or what you watch lead you closer to sin… Jesus says cut them out of your life.

If you don’t destroy the sin in your life, then the sin in your life will destroy you.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

Jesus wants what is better for you. It’s better to lose something now and enter life than to keep everything now and lose everything later.

To follow Jesus closely, you must regularly ask yourself, “What do I need to get rid of, and what do I need to hold tightly?”

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. (Mark 8:35)

Faith in Jesus is forward-focused. The sin of your past doesn’t need to rule your future.

When Christians look at their past, they should never see guilt or shame. They should only see Jesus cross.

CUT IT OUT!

Sin rarely leaves on its own. It lingers. It spreads. It promises comfort but quietly steals life. That’s why Jesus speaks so strongly in Mark 9. He loves us too much to let sin slowly destroy what He created and what He redeemed.

The good news is this: you are not powerless. In Christ, you are not stuck. You can make sin difficult. You can weaken its grip. You can choose what is “better.”

Start by removing access. If something consistently leads you toward temptation, create distance. Delete it. Block it. Avoid it. Distance is not weakness—it’s wisdom.

Next, establish guardrails. Decide in advance what you will and won’t do. Guardrails keep you from drifting where you never meant to go.

Finally, invite accountability. Isolation feeds sin. Honest community starves it. Bring someone trustworthy into the fight.

You don’t cut things out to earn God’s love. You cut things out because you already have it. So ask yourself: What is one thing you need to remove today? Then take one step. Start now.

Click on the image to download the DiscipleQuest PDF

The DiscipleQuest PDF includes 7 days of verse study prompts. You can use these seven studies to dig deeper into the following verses about decisively dealing with sin:

• 2 Timothy 2:22
• Colossians 3:5-6
• 1 Peter 2:11
• 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
• James 4:7
• Hebrews 12:1
• 2 Corinthians 7:1

Use these questions as journal prompts or as conversation starters with a group of friends or a Bible study group:

1. When you hear Jesus say it is “better” to lose something now in order to enter life, what comes to mind that feels hard to surrender?
2. In this season, are you more focused on avoiding sin or actively pursuing Christ? What does your daily routine reveal?
3. What does the repeated word “better” (vv. 43, 45, 47) teach us about choice and consequences?
4. Jesus names the hand, foot, and eye. What areas of life do those represent (actions, direction, desires)? Which of these is the greatest struggle for you? Why?
5. What contrast does Jesus create between “entering life” and “being thrown into hell”? How does that shape how we view temporary sacrifices and eternal consequences?
6. Why do you think Jesus uses such radical language? What does that reveal about His desire for your holiness and joy?
7. What patterns in your life make sin easier? What patterns make holiness easier?
8. How does actively building your faith (prayer, Scripture, worship, community) strengthen you to fight temptation rather than just react to it?
9. What is one intentional step you can take this week to remove access to temptation, and replace it with a Christ-centered habit?
10. Who can you invite into your growth so that your pursuit of Christlikeness is not isolated but strengthened by accountability?

MARK 9:33-35

³³ And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” ³⁴ But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. ³⁵ And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

10 POINTS TO PONDER

Just before this conversation, Jesus had predicted His future suffering. He wanted his disciples to realize that the path to greatness ran through the cross, but they weren’t getting it.

We are often quick to dismiss the desire for greatness as bad, but Jesus doesn’t actually say that here. In fact, not only does HE NOT condemn the desire, He actually provides a mechanism by which the desire can be fulfilled. It’s as if He’s saying, “There is a form of greatness or firstness which you should pursue, and here’s how it works.”

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

I must choose to be last, because pushing for first comes naturally. In this statement, Jesus forces us to wrestle with how our desires and our choices are sometimes in alignment and sometimes at odds with one another.

Being “last” is all about relationships. Particularly, my relationship with others. If I want to be FIRST in my relationship with God, I must be LAST in my relationship with others.

Serving others is SANCTIFYING, not REDEEMING. God uses it to shape and form me, but it doesn’t save me.

A cross-shaped perspective means I live to respond to God’s grace by giving grace to others.

Pursuing greatness is not excluded here, but the process is counterintuitive and counter-cultural. I must learn to think of myself last. Seeing myself as a SERVANT will empower me to SERVE others.

Jesus said we must be the servants of all. We don’t get to pick and choose who we serve. God places us where He wants us, and our job is to serve everyone who is there.

Being last is the antithesis of SELFISH ambition. There is a kind of ambition that is good if it is ambition for the kingdom and ambition that doesn’t run others over. That would be ambition rightly directed and rightly expressed.

Being last means working hard for the success and primacy of others.

Be Great By Being Last

We all want to be great. We may not say it out loud, but it’s there. We want our lives to matter. We want to make an impact. The good news is that Jesus doesn’t shame that desire. He redirects it. According to Jesus, greatness doesn’t come from climbing higher—it comes from choosing lower.

Being “last” doesn’t mean being passive or invisible. It means trusting God enough to stop forcing outcomes. It starts with patience. When good things happen to others, choose celebration over bitterness. Rejoicing with others is one of the clearest signs that our hearts are free.

Next, resist the urge to fight, maneuver, or manipulate to get what you think you deserve. That kind of striving may work in the world, but it slowly hardens the soul. God doesn’t need our scheming to accomplish His purposes.

Third, pay attention to how God has uniquely gifted you. Those gifts aren’t just for your success; they are meant to meet real needs around you. When your abilities intersect with someone else’s need, pay attention—that’s often an invitation from God.

Finally, be ambitious—but aim your ambition in the right direction. Be ambitious to help others flourish. In God’s kingdom, the way up is down. And when we choose last place for the sake of others, we often discover that we’re right where God wanted us all along.

Click on the image to download the DiscipleQuest PDF

The DiscipleQuest PDF includes 7 days of verse study prompts. You can use these seven studies to dig deeper into the following verses about how our vertical relationship (with God) needs to be connected to our horizontal relationships (with others):

• Mark 12:29-31
• Matthew 5:23-24
• James 2:14-17
• Micah 6:8
• John 13:34-35
• Amos 5:21-24
• 1 John 4:20-21

Use these questions as journal prompts or as conversation starters with a group of friends or a Bible study group:

Where do you most feel the pull to be “first” right now — at work, at home, at church, or in relationships? What does that look like practically?

When you see good things happen to others before they happen to you, what emotions tend to surface first — joy, frustration, comparison, or something else?

In Gospel of Mark 9:35, Jesus connects being “first” with becoming “last” and a servant. How does Jesus redefine greatness compared to how our culture defines it?

Why do you think Jesus addresses desire (“if anyone wants to be first”) rather than behavior first? What does that reveal about discipleship?

One principle that leaks out from this passage is that our relationship with God cannot be separate from our relationship with others. What happens to faith when those two get disconnected?

Which statement challenges you more right now:
“Be patient when others succeed” or “Don’t maneuver to get what you want”? Why do you think that is?

How might selfish ambition quietly show up in spiritual or “good” activities (serving, leading, volunteering)?

What gifts or strengths has God given you that might be meant more for others’ flourishing than your own advancement?

What would it look like this week to intentionally choose “last place” in one relationship or setting? Be specific.

How could serving someone else more intentionally deepen your relationship with God rather than distract from it?

MARK 8:34-38

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

10 Points to Ponder

In this passage, Jesus acknowledges that the world is not ideal, He identifies the reason why (sin), He describes the solution (acknowledging Him), and He predicts how all win end (with judgment).

We know that we are all going to die. We need not fear death, but we should certainly be prepared for it. The most important event you can get ready for is the moment you step into eternity.

Aligning yourself with Jesus means loving what Jesus loved and hating what Jesus hated. It means seeking what Jesus sought and avoiding what Jesus avoided. Those who live this way will never fit in with a world that is opposed to Jesus.

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Romans 1 describes an adulterous and sinful generation as a society that has chosen to worship itself rather than God. They have chosen to ignore the truth they know about God so that they can pursue their own desires and agenda.

We live in an adulterous and sinful generation. We can’t change or control that. What we can control is whether or not we live as part of this generation or in opposition to this generation.

If your faith never costs you anything, you may not be truly living out your faith… or you may not have as much faith as you thought you did.

If we are judged solely on our own works, we’ll all deserve judgment. We need someone to intervene and to take our judgment for us.

I can never earn my own salvation, and I can never keep my own salvation. I’m not good enough. But Jesus is. And Jesus does!

When we face the final judgment, Jesus will either be the prosecuting attorney or he’ll be our defense attorney. The choice is ours.

Nothing else matters if your name is not in the book of life.

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Courage That Keeps Us From Shame

(Mark 8:38)

Jesus’ words in Mark 8:38 are arresting:

“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed…”

That verse forces an honest question—what keeps people quiet about Jesus?
Often, the answer isn’t doubt. It’s fear. Fear of rejection. Fear of loss. Fear of standing out.

If we don’t want to be ashamed of Jesus, we must learn how to live with courage. And Scripture gives us a clear path.

1. Be Okay with Suffering and Slander

Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy. In fact, He promised the opposite.

In John 15:19–20, Jesus tells His disciples that the world will resist them precisely because they belong to Him. He was hated. He told us to expect the same. Courage begins when we stop being surprised by opposition.

Across the world today, many believers pay a far higher price than social discomfort—thousands are killed each year for their faith. When we experience no tension at all, it’s worth asking whether our faith is visible enough to provoke a response.

Courage doesn’t mean seeking conflict. It means refusing to be controlled by the fear of it.

2. Choose Now to Be Loyal First to Jesus

Peter writes, “In your hearts revere Christ as Lord” (1 Peter 3:15). To revere Christ is to set Him apart—to place Him above every other loyalty.

Marriage gives us a helpful picture. Loyalty isn’t something you turn on and off depending on the room you’re in. A spouse who hides their wedding ring when it’s inconvenient isn’t loyal; they’re compromised.

The same is true with Jesus. When our faith is public on Sunday but hidden the rest of the week, something is out of alignment. Our willingness to speak about Christ is often the clearest indicator of whether He truly holds first place in our lives.

Courage grows when our allegiance is settled.

3. Be Ready With Your Answer

Peter continues:
“Always be prepared to give an answer…for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

Preparation matters. But notice what Peter doesn’t say. He doesn’t require expert-level answers to every question. He points us to hope—to expectation.

You don’t need all the answers. You need your answer.

How has Jesus changed your expectations for life?
How has He reshaped your view of eternity?

A life transformed by Christ naturally raises questions. And when those questions come, courage speaks—not harshly, not defensively—but with gentleness and respect.

Courage Is the Fruit of Conviction

Jesus’ warning in Mark 8:38 isn’t meant to paralyze us—it’s meant to clarify us. Courage doesn’t come from personality or volume. It comes from settled loyalty, prepared hearts, and a willingness to follow Jesus even when it costs something.

And when courage grows, shame loses its grip.

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Click on the image to download the DiscipleQuest PDF

The DiscipleQuest PDF includes 7 days of verse study prompts. You can use these seven studies to dig deeper into the following verses about following Jesus without shame:

• Romans 1:16-17
• 1 Peter 4:16
• 2 Timothy 1:12
• Hebrews 12:1-2
• Galatians 6:14
• Psalm 119:46
• Matthew 5:11-12

Use these questions as journal prompts or as conversation starters with a group of friends or a Bible study group:

How can fear get in the way of living out our faith? What are you afraid might happen if you fully align your life with Jesus’?

Where do I most feel the pressure to stay quiet about my faith? Why?)

What does Mark 8:37 reveal about Jesus’ value system?

In Mark 8:38, what does Jesus mean by “this adulterous and sinful generation”?  In what ways does this description still fit the culture we live in today?

What does it look like—practically—for your life to be aligned with Jesus rather than shaped by cultural approval?

Where am I most tempted to blend in rather than stand firm?)

When I am silent about my faith in Jesus, what am I revealing about myself?

How can Mark 8:38 give me confidence?

What courageous obedience is God inviting you into right now? What is one specific step you can take this week to live more openly aligned with Jesus—at work, at home, or in relationships?

The Most Common Temptation

Not to walk away from Jesus—but to redefine Him

We often reshape Jesus into something more comfortable, useful, or affirming—rather than submitting to who He actually is.

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Common Versions of a Re-Defined Jesus

“Trump Card” Jesus

• Jesus always agrees with me—so you must be wrong
• Used to win arguments, not pursue truth
• Often marked by anger, bitterness, and a constant need to fight

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“Genie” Jesus

• Jesus exists to grant wishes and fix problems
• Faith is transactional: If I ask, He must deliver
• Quickly abandoned when prayers aren’t answered the way we want

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“Birkenstock” Jesus

• Peace, love, and good vibes only
• Uncomfortable with sin, repentance, judgment, or authority
• A Jesus who affirms but never confronts

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“Copilot” Jesus (Bailout Jesus)

• “Jesus, take the wheel” — but only in a crisis
• Invited in after poor decisions, not before them
• Often rooted in disappointment with one’s own mess

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“Activist” Jesus

• Jesus came primarily to tear down oppressive systems
• Always fighting, never resting
• Lacks peace, joy, and hope
• (This was Judas’ expectation of Jesus)

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Bottom Line

Any Jesus who looks exactly like us, agrees with us completely, or exists to serve our agenda is not the Jesus of the Gospels.

The real Jesus doesn’t fit our image—He reshapes it.

MARK 8:27-35

And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.

10 Points to Ponder

Many people think Jesus is a good guy. Few believe He is God. Sadly, the wide road leads to destruction, and there are many who travel that way.

If Jesus claimed to be God (and He did), than He is either a liar, a lunatic, or He is the Lord!

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.
C.S. Lewis)

Your actions, not your words, are a better demonstration of who you truly think Jesus is. If He is Lord, He must be Lord of your life.

Peter’s declaration about Jesus was simple and correct, but incomplete. We will never get every jot and tittle correct, but childlike faith is what gets us to God.

If Jesus did what He said He would do, then we must take seriously what He said about Himself. He is the giver of abundant life. He is the only way to the Father. He holds the keys to eternal life.

Following Jesus means following Him into suffering, rejection, and even death. But it also means following Him into resurrection.

The teaching that Christians won’t or shouldn’t suffer is straight from the pit of hell. Suffering is an expected part of every Christ-follower’s experience.

If I don’t join Jesus in death, I will die for eternity. If I align with Jesus’ death (by dying to self), I will live for eternity.

In every relationship, you are either influencing, being influenced, or a combination of the two. Be wise about who you spend the majority of your time with.

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
(Psalm 1:1-2)

Losing my life means letting go of my own agenda and expectations and clinging tightly to what God has done for me and what He is doing in me.

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Friends are great. Many times, our friends become closer than family. Our friends laugh with us, care for us, and shape us. You’ve probably heard the expression that all of us are the average of the five people with whom we spend the most time.

Sometimes our friends shape us toward joy. When we are with them, their high spirits are contagious. They are full of encouragement, always speaking well of everyone else, and always seeing the positives in every situation.

But sometimes, our friends shape us in a darker direction. We began to adopt their proclivity for complaining. The criticisms they aim at everyone else become a weapon in our arsenal as well. Being with them leads us to see problems and persecution everywhere.

If the people around you encourage anger in you, find a new group of friends. Their negativity is a trap. They’ll snare you with gossip and eventually lead you into depression and despair.

Find friends who lift you up and lift others up. Surround yourself with people who see the best in you and in those around you. You are what you eat and you are like those with whom you meet.

So avoid those who gather to conspire, and instead meet up with people who inspire.

Click on the image to download the DiscipleQuest PDF

The DiscipleQuest PDF includes 7 days of verse study prompts. You can use these seven studies to dig deeper into the following verses about letting go so we can hold more tightly:

• Matthew 16:26
• Philippians 3:7-8
• Hebrews 12:1
• Isaiah 43:18-19
• Colossians 3:8,12
• Galatians 5:19-23
• 1 Peter 2:1-2

Use these questions as journal prompts or as conversation starters with a group of friends or a Bible study group:

1. When you hear Jesus say, “If anyone would come after me,” what emotions or reactions does that stir in you right now—interest, resistance, curiosity, fear? Why?
2. Where do you feel the tension most clearly between following Jesus and preserving your own comfort, preferences, or control?
3. What three commands does Jesus give in verse 34, and how do they build on one another rather than stand alone?
4. According to verse 35, how does Jesus redefine what it means to “save” or “lose” your life? How is His definition different from the world’s?
5. Why do you think Jesus connects self-denial and taking up a cross with following Him, instead of listing beliefs or religious behaviors?
6. What does “losing your life” not mean, based on the context of this passage? What misunderstandings might people bring to this phrase?
7. In what ways can a person actively try to “save” their life—and yet slowly lose it spiritually, relationally, or eternally?
8. How does Jesus’ promise that losing your life for His sake actually leads to saving it challenge the way you define success, security, or fulfillment?
9. What is one area of your life right now where following Jesus would require a real letting go—of control, approval, ambition, or comfort? What might obedience look like there?
10. If someone watched your choices this week, what evidence would they see that Jesus—not self—is the one you’re following? What is one specific step you can take to make that clearer?

MARK 5:21-43

And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. ²² Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet ²³ and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” ²⁴ And he went with him.
And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. ²⁵ And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, ²⁶ and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. ²⁷ She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. ²⁸ For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” ²⁹ And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. ³⁰ And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” ³¹ And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” ³² And he looked around to see who had done it. ³³ But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. ³⁴ And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
³⁵ While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” ³⁶ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” ³⁷ And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. ³⁸ They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. ³⁹ And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” ⁴⁰ And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. ⁴¹ Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” ⁴² And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. ⁴³ And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. Mark 5:21-43

10 Points to Ponder

Fear loses its controlling power when faith is placed in someone truly reliable. “Don’t fear. Only believe” is not optimism—it’s a call to trust Jesus’ character.

Jesus’ command to believe is rooted in who He is, not in how the situation appears. Faith rests on character, not circumstances.

Jesus’ love is not passive sentiment; it is active movement toward people in need. He didn’t stay behind—He went with Jairus.

Jesus’ complete knowledge means nothing in your life is random, overlooked, or misunderstood. The God who numbers hairs and sees sparrows also sees every detail of your fear.

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26)

Because Jesus is all-powerful, even death is not a final obstacle—only a temporary one. The One who holds the keys of death is never intimidated by it.

Because Jesus holds all things together, uncertainty never equals instability. What feels shaky to us is still secure in Him.

Jesus is all-loving. Therefore, he wants what is best for us.
Jesus is all-knowing. Therefore, He knows what is best for us.
Jesus is all-powerful. Therefore, He can do what is best for us.

Every fearful response we choose is an attempt to regain control apart from trust. Anger, anxiety, blame, and control are substitutes for faith.

Fear distracts us by causing us to focus on what might not even be real. Faith keeps us focused by keeping our eyes on what is eternally real.

Faith becomes visible when we choose patience, responsibility, and goodness in ordinary moments. Trust in Jesus is most evident in how we live today.

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Psalm 56:3 is the ultimate WHEN/THEN verse.

Fear shows up in all kinds of ways, and usually at the most inconvenient times. It tends to arrive when life feels uncertain, when outcomes are unclear, or when we’re reminded how little control we actually have. The problem isn’t that fear shows up—it’s what we do next. Most of us have some default reactions. We get angry and want to walk away. We get anxious and pull back. We try to grab control, assign blame, or make excuses. Those responses feel natural, but they rarely lead us anywhere good.

That’s why the when/then principle is so helpful. When fear shows up, then I don’t have to react—I can choose. Fear doesn’t get to dictate my behavior unless I let it. Scripture doesn’t pretend fear isn’t real; it simply redirects it. “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” That’s not denial, and it’s not pretending everything is fine. It’s a conscious decision to shift my focus from what I can’t control to the One who can. Fear becomes the signal, not the driver.

Living this out means building better reflexes. When life feels uncertain, then I focus on today instead of spiraling into tomorrow. When anxiety rises, then I slow down and choose patience. When fear tempts me to protect myself, then I look for good, take responsibility, and try to act more like Jesus. Over time, those small choices reshape how we respond. Fear may still knock, but trust doesn’t have to leave the room.

Click on the image to download the DiscipleQuest PDF

The DiscipleQuest PDF includes 7 days of verse study prompts. You can use these seven studies to dig deeper into the following verses about faith in the face of fear:

• Joshua 1:9
• Isaiah 41:10
• John 14:26
• Romans 8:38-39
• Hebrews 13:6
• 2 Timothy 1:7
• Matthew 6:31-33

1. When fear shows up in your life, what is usually your default response—anger, anxiety, control, withdrawal, or something else?
2. Can you recall a recent moment when fear influenced a decision you made? What did it cost you—or protect you from?

3. What does Jesus’ command, “Do not fear, only believe,” reveal about the relationship between fear and faith?
4. What stands out to you about Jesus calling the woman “daughter,” and why might that moment matter as much as the healing itself?
5. Why do you think Jesus removed the crowd but invited the parents to stay, and what does that teach us about His love and wisdom?

6. How does seeing Jesus as all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful change the way you interpret fearful situations?
7. Which aspect of Jesus’ character—His love, His knowledge, or His power—do you find hardest to trust when fear is high? Why?
8. What does this passage suggest about the difference between reacting to fear and responding in faith?

9. Using the WHEN/THEN framework, how would you finish this sentence:
   When I am afraid, then I will… ?
10. What is one specific, practical way you could choose trust over fear this week—in your relationships, decisions, or mindset?

Mark 2:13-17

He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. ¹⁴ And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
¹⁵ And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶ And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹⁷ And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

10 POINTS TO PONDER

Spiritual health is not measured by behavior alone, but by our awareness of need.

Self-righteousness is often the refusal to let Jesus diagnose our true condition.

Comparing yourself to others will either lead to depression (because you think you don’t measure up) or delusion (because you think they don’t measure up).

Following rules and “doing good” cannot save us. The law reveals our need for salvation. Only Jesus can save us.

Sin is a condition before it is an action—an inward disorder that manifests outwardly. Jesus positions Himself not as a moral consultant or ethical reformer, but as a physician who comes to heal what is fundamentally broken in humanity.

The church was never intended to be a country club; it is supposed to be a trauma center (there are no “members” in a trauma center, only those needing healing and those aiding in the healing). Which are you?

Nobody is perfect. Anyone who thinks churches are full of “good” people has misunderstood the Gospel. We hope that churches are filled with people who are changing because of what Jesus is doing in their lives.

God loves everyone. He loved us while we were still lost in our sins. And He loves those who are still lost in their sins.

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Our job is to point people to Jesus. Our job is never to point our fingers at others in judgment.

No one is so good that they don’t need Jesus to save them, and no one is so bad that Jesus cannot save them. We all need Jesus.

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WHY DO WE POINT FINGERS AT OTHER PEOPLE?

When you were a kid, did anyone ever tell you, “Whenever you point one finger at someone else, there are four pointing back at you”? Never mind that the math doesn’t quite work—especially when you factor in the thumb—it always sounded wise in the moment. And it stuck, because there’s something universally true behind it: no one likes being blamed.

We don’t like being blamed for things we didn’t do. And if we’re honest, we don’t like being blamed for things we did do either. Most of us have at least a little experience trying to deflect responsibility, soften the facts, or redirect attention when we know we’re at fault. Blame is uncomfortable because it exposes us.

So here’s the real question: If we dislike having fingers pointed at us so much, why are we so quick to point them at others? There are many reasons, but a few show up again and again.

Sometimes we point fingers because we feel badly about ourselves. When guilt or shame is heavy, it’s tempting to spread it around. Misery loves company, and so does unaddressed guilt. Pointing at others can feel like relief, even though it never actually heals anything.

Other times, we point fingers because we don’t feel like we measure up. Comparison has a way of magnifying our shortcomings. And when we’re focused on how we fall short, we start looking for someone else to stand below us. Finding fault in others becomes a way to feel taller, if only for a moment.

We also point fingers when we feel threatened. We want to protect what we believe we’ve earned—our reputation, our position, our sense of worth. When someone seems like a threat, highlighting their flaws can feel like a way to secure our own standing.

And at the deepest level, we point fingers when we don’t fully trust God. Blame is often an attempt at control. But the truth is, we can’t control people or circumstances. We can only control our own actions and responses. Trusting God means doing what is right and responsible within our control, and then releasing what isn’t to Him.

Recently, I came across a simple but helpful principle: you are responsible for what is under your control. Pointing fingers is often a subtle way of giving that responsibility away. It shifts the focus outward instead of inward. It keeps us from asking the harder, more helpful questions about our own hearts, choices, and trust in God.

A better path requires humility. It means checking our ego, admitting when we’re wrong, taking ownership where it belongs, and choosing a better response moving forward. That kind of posture doesn’t weaken us—it frees us. It keeps situations and people we can’t control from controlling us.

Instead of pointing fingers, Jesus invites us to come to Him—honest, humble, and open to His healing. And that’s where real change begins.

Click on the image to download the DiscipleQuest PDF

The DiscipleQuest PDF includes 7 days of verse study prompts. You can use these seven studies to dig deeper into the following verses about God’s grace:

• Romans 5:8
• Ephesians 2:8,9
• Hebrews 4:16
• Psalm 103:8
• Titus 2:11
• 2 Corinthians 12:9
• Romans 3:23-24

Use these questions as journal prompts or as conversation starters with a group of friends or a Bible study group:

1. Think about a time when you were convinced you were “fine,” only to later realize something deeper was wrong. How does that experience shape the way you hear Jesus’ words here?
2. When you imagine Jesus describing Himself as a physician, what emotions does that stir in you—comfort, resistance, relief, or discomfort? Why?
3. According to Jesus’ metaphor, what is the difference between those who are “well” and those who are “sick”?
4. Who is Jesus responding to in this verse, and what prompted His statement?
5. What does the word “call” imply about Jesus’ authority and initiative in this passage?
6. Jesus suggests that the real issue is not sickness, but awareness of sickness. Why is self-perception so central to receiving grace?
7. How does this verse challenge the idea that moral behavior automatically equals spiritual health?
8. In what ways can comparison with others distort our understanding of our own need for Christ?
9. What might it look like, practically, to come to Jesus as a patient rather than a performer?
10. How could embracing Jesus as your Great Physician reshape the way you view church, community, and spiritual growth?

MARK 1:14-15

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

10 POINTS TO PONDER

“The time is fulfilled” means God is never early or late—He is always right on time. You can trust His timing, even when it doesn’t match your own.

From Genesis to David to the prophets, God has been telling one story. Jesus wasn’t an unexpected surprise —He brought God’s plan to completion.

I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

The kingdom of God is not a place you go someday—it is a rule you respond to today. Who is functionally ruling your life right now?

“At hand” means near, present, and unavoidable. The wait is over. The journey has begun.

Repentance begins by acknowledging the truth about yourself: “I’m not the king.” 

Real repentance always leads somewhere—it demands change and humility, not just regret or guilt.

Belief is recognizing the truth about Jesus: “He is the King.” If that’s true, what area of your life still resists His authority?

If Jesus is truly King, obedience isn’t a burden—it’s a response of trust.

Serving and partnering with the King means representing Him in everyday life—how you live, love, speak, and decide. Jesus’ kingship touches everything: fun, family, finances, friendships, future, and focus.

The gospel always leads to a question, not a conclusion: What will you do with Jesus? Will you receive Him, repent to Him, or return to Him?

REPENT AND BELIEVE

No repentance + No belief = LIFELESS
This is spiritual unresponsiveness—no turning and no trusting. Paul describes it as being “dead in sin,” alive physically but disconnected spiritually. A biblical picture is the rich young ruler who walked away unchanged when confronted by Jesus; he neither turned nor trusted (Mark 10). Action step: Ask God for honesty. Pray one simple prayer: “Help me see the truth about myself.” Life begins when honesty does.

No repentance + Belief = LIBERALISM
Here, belief exists, but surrender does not. Jesus is admired, discussed, even affirmed—but not obeyed. James said that even the demons believe in God, but their belief doesn’t lead to repentence (James 2). Action step: Identify one area where you believe Jesus is right but still insist on staying in control—and intentionally release it.

Repentance + No belief = LEGALISM
This posture recognizes personal failure but refuses to trust Christ’s sufficiency. It leads to guilt-driven striving and spiritual exhaustion. The elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son obeyed outwardly but never trusted the father’s heart (Luke 15). Action step: Stop trying to earn what can only be received. Say, “Jesus, I trust You with what I can’t fix.”

Repentance + Belief = LORDSHIP
This is the response Jesus calls for in Mark 1:15—turning from self-rule and trusting Christ’s rule. The tax collector who cried out for mercy went home justified because he told the truth about himself and trusted the grace of God (Luke 18). Action step: Name Jesus as King today—in prayer, in obedience, and in one concrete decision that aligns your life with His authority.

Click on the image to download the DiscipleQuest PDF

The DiscipleQuest PDF includes 7 days of verse study prompts. You can use these seven studies to dig deeper into the following verses about obeying Jesus:

• John 14:15
• Psalm 119:9
• Romans 12:1
• James 1:22
• Joshua 1:7-8
• 1 John 2:3-4
• Acts 5:29

1. When you hear Jesus say, “The time is fulfilled,” what emotions or questions surface for you—comfort, urgency, resistance, confusion? Why do you think that is?
2. Which is harder for you right now: trusting God’s timing or responding to God’s authority? What’s happening in your life that makes that true?
3. According to Mark 1:14–15, what does Jesus claim has already happened, and what does He say must now happen in response?
4. How does Jesus’ announcement show that the kingdom is something present and active, not merely future or symbolic?
5. Why is it significant that Jesus doesn’t describe the kingdom first—but instead calls people to repent and believe?
6. What does the long storyline of Scripture (from God’s promises to their fulfillment in Jesus) teach you about God’s faithfulness to finish what He starts?
7. What are the natural responses one might have to the truth that Jesus is king? How does this truth practically impact the way I live?
8. Why do repentance and belief naturally belong together if Jesus truly is King? What happens when one is present without the other?
9. If repentance means recognizing the truth about yourself, what specific area of your life is currently resisting that honesty?
10. 10. If belief means recognizing the truth about Jesus, what would quick, real repentance look like this week if you truly trust His kingship?

Matthew 9:14-17

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

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.

TEN TAKE-HOME THOUGHTS

• A good spiritual practice can become a bad spiritual distraction if it replaces dependence on Jesus.
• A tight grip on yesterday—whether wins or wounds—can keep you from what God wants to do today.
• Jesus didn’t come to be added to your life; He came to transform it by His presence.
• It’s about the wine, not the wineskin—about Christ, not the method that once led you to Him.
• Life is best lived in the present, with an eye on the future, having learned from the past.
• Righteousness is never found in habits, rules, or standards we create—it is found only in Christ.
• Anything that distracts you from abiding in Jesus, no matter how good it once was, must be surrendered.
• Begin and end every day with gratitude.
• Learn from and let go of the past so that you can grow in the future.
• Eliminate everything in your life that distracts you from abiding in Christ.

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Click on the image to download the DiscipleQuest PDF

The DiscipleQuest PDF includes 7 days of verse study prompts. You can use these seven studies to dig deeper into the following verses about the new life:

• 2 Corinthians 5:17
• Colossians 3:9-10
• Galatians 2:20
• John 15:5
• Romans 6:4
• Philippians 4:13
• 1 Peter 2:1-3

Use these questions as journal prompts or as conversation starters with a group of friends or a Bible study group:

1. When you think about your spiritual life right now, where do you sense a tension between what has always worked and what God may be inviting you into now?
2. Is there a habit, practice, mindset, or season from your past that you find yourself clinging to—even if it may no longer be helping you grow closer to Jesus?
3. In Matthew 9:14–15, why does Jesus compare His presence to a wedding celebration rather than a time of fasting or mourning?
4. What point is Jesus making with the images of unshrunk cloth and new wine in old wineskins in verses 16–17?
5. How do these illustrations help explain why the disciples of John and the Pharisees struggled to understand what Jesus was doing?
6. Why do you think it can be difficult for people to recognize when something that was once good has become a distraction?
7. What does this passage reveal about how much Jesus values His presence over religious routines or spiritual performance?
8. How does this teaching challenge the idea that spiritual growth is mainly about adding more discipline rather than receiving new life from Christ?
9. What is one “old wineskin” in your life—something familiar, comfortable, or controlling—that God may be asking you to loosen your grip on?
10. What would it look like this week to prioritize abiding in Jesus rather than relying on methods, habits, or standards that once pointed you to Him?