Faith in judgement
Questions for Home Groups or Private Reflection
Mark 11:1-26
A longer passage this week, with a real developing story to it. One of Mark’s features is here – using one story as ‘bookends’ for another. In this case, the story of Jesus driving the traders from the temple is ‘bookended’ by the story of the fruitless fig tree. We understand one story with the use of the other. See if you can see that through the sermon and the study of the passage.
- The ‘Palm Sunday’ story comes first. What is the main thing you learn from it to encourage you?
- Jesus ‘reccied’ the temple before going off to Bethany for the night. What would he be thinking as he made his way to bed?
- What was wrong with the way people were using the ‘outer courts’ of the temple? It was a big space; how else could it be used?
- Poor old fig tree. Why was Jesus justified in cursing it?
- What does the fig tree stand for – what does it symbolize?
- What is the tie-in from the temple and tree story to Jesus teaching about faith and prayer?
- Why does Jesus link faith to move mountains with the need to forgive?