Mark 6:1–13 (NLT)

¹ Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. ² The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” ³ Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

⁴ Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” ⁵ And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Disciples

Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people. ⁷ And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits. ⁸ He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. ⁹ He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes.

¹⁰ “Wherever you go,” he said, “stay in the same house until you leave town. ¹¹ But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”

¹² So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. ¹³ And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.

REFLECT TOGETHER ON COMMUNITY SERVE DAY

• Gather together with prayer and time of conversation, sharing, or even an ice-breaker. 
• Share with one another as a whole group or in smaller groups, using these prompts only as suggestion: 
• Where did you serve on Sunday? What will you remember? 
• How has CSD connected you more deeply to the message series and the gospel of Mark? 
• How has God shaped you through this CSD experience? 

Matthew 5:1-12 and 1 Timothy 6:17-19

CONNECT WITH GOD (Select the below practice or choose a practice from a previous week.)

• Attending to God through Art 

Alone: Using the artwork to be highlighted on Sunday, March 10th (found here)  spend time reflecting and journaling on what you see in the piece. 

Pray that God quiets the many distractions within you and beyond you in order to focus on the gift of this artwork before you. 

As you focus in on the painting, you might journal your reflections to the following questions:

  -Where am I emotionally and spiritually right now? 

  -Where does God meet me in this painting? 

             -What new perspectives is God shaping within me as I reflect on this painting?

• Practice of Praying With 
• Alone: Read the quote below by Deitrich Bonhoeffer.  Read it at least three times. Focus your mind and body in stillness, paying attention to your breath, and welcoming God’s own presence in your life. 
• After several quiet readings, pray for someone who is a stranger to you, or an enemy, or someone with whom you don’t agree. Let the Holy Spirit guide you and move you into a posture of welcome and compassion. 

“A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses. I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that hitherto may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed in intercession into the countenance of a brother for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner.” 

―Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community

CONNECT WITH SCRIPTURE (As a reminder: this is the Bible passage for the week of March 10.)

• Read Mark 6:30-44  and Use the “Come with Me” card, along with your Mark Bible Journal, to engage with the Scripture passage for the coming week. 
• Observe: Dig into the scripture through doodling, highlighting and note-taking. Pay attention to words or phrases that seem important or raise questions for you. 
• Meditate: Slow down. Read Mark 6:30-44 again and engage your imagination and senses to connect to the passage. Reflect on your experience in your journal. 
• Pray: What prayer of praise, gratitude, or confession arises from your heart and mind as you meditate on this passage? 
• Reflect together (in pairs): Spend time sharing your reactions and reflections of Mark 6:30-44 using this prompt as a guide. 
• Where does your attention go as you read? What words, phrases, or images stand out to you?

DIG DEEPER  (Select 1-2 questions or customize the questions for your group) 

• Where does your attention go as you read? What words, phrases, or images stand out to you?
• How does 6:34 describe Jesus? 
• How does this story connect to the stories and themes preceding it? 
• In what ways is the kingdom of Jesus different from the kingdom of Herod in Mark 6:14 -29?
• Why do you think Jesus gave them more food than was needed? (verses 42-43)
• What part of Mark 6:30-44 are you still wrestling with? 

NEXT STEPS 

• Finish reading Mark 6. Observe. Meditate. Pray. 

PRAYER 

Pray for the people, ministries, and impact of Community Serve Day. Pray that our own hearts have been made tender to God’s love. Share the lessons you have learned and how you desire God to continue to teach you and shape you through CSD.