Discussion Prompts Mark 10.17-31

Introduction

• Did you have opportunity this past week to welcome someone who was among the least? Did you have a chance to experience Jesus’ welcoming embrace?

The Text: Mark 10.13-16 Page 23.22-28

• Read the text aloud to each other.

Discussion Questions:

• How does this story fit within the context of Jesus’ Jesus’ response to the disciples’ argument about greatness.
• Discuss everything you can discover about the man: his approach to Jesus, his character, why Jesus loved him, why he left Jesus in sorrow…By the way, how do you think this man became so wealthy? Does his question about ‘inheriting’ eternal life give us a hint?
• Jesus tells the man ‘you lack one thing’ and then tells the man to do three things! What is the one thing the man lacks? Why does Jesus ask the man to do something that is impossible for the man to do? Does Jesus’ answer sound ‘good’ to the man? What is the man’s mistake?
• Why does Jesus think it is so difficult for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God? Why are the 12 so amazed by Jesus’ statement about the wealthy? How is it possible for anyone to enter Jesus’ kingdom?
• Discuss Jesus’ response to Peter’s statement that we have left everything, ie we are not rich; and look at what we have done for you and your kingdom. How does this fit in the context of this story? And why does Jesus call the disciples ‘children’?
• What is Jesus’ promise to those who have left things for his sake and the gospel?

Application reflections

• Who do you most identify with in this story?
• Is Jesus a good teacher? If so, and if he loves us as he did this man, how can he make such impossible demands?
• Is Jesus asking us to do something impossible, or leave something that seems impossible, in order to participate in the Acts 1.8 plan? How might we experience Jesus’ promised blessings if we do in fact leave our wealth in order to devote ourselves to his kingdom?
• Do we believe that inheriting eternal life is synonymous with entering the kingdom of God? Is that kingdom now? Or only later, after the end times?

Pray