9.20.26 Huddle
Teacher notes! Don’t feel obligated to read through every question with your group. Pick a few that will bring about a good discussion. If you only get to one of the passages, that’s fine! The purpose of this is to help you and your team grow spiritually.
Opening Discussion
Who had a positive impact in your life when you were a kid?
What did you learn from them?
Read and Discuss
Mark 10:13-16
13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.
Why do you think people were wanting Jesus to hold their kids?
What might have been some things they hoped would happen?
What does it mean to rebuke someone?
Why would the disciples rebuke those parents who wanted their children to be close to Jesus?
Why was Jesus indignant with the disciples?
How did Jesus’ treatment of children go against societal norms for that time period?
What does Jesus mean by “the kingdom of God belongs to such as these?”
What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God like a little child?
How can you receive the Kingdom of God like a little child?
What are some ways you have become jaded to church, people, faith, trust, hope, etc. as you have gotten older?
What would it take this week for you to regain some of the childlike wonder of following Jesus?
Hebrews 11:32-12:2
32 And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,34 quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received their dead, raised to life again. Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment.37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. 38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
39 All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.
12:1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What are some ways that people who have gone before you (from creation to now!) have helped you in your faith journey?
Hebrews chapter 11 lists men and women of great faith in the Bible. It then lists the good things that came about from their faith, but also the suffering that came about. Looking at those two lists, how have you seen those things in your own life or in the lives of other followers of Jesus around you?
11:40 gives us a glimpse into the importance of our service to Jesus now. The great people of faith would not be made perfect without us, implying that those who come after us will help make us perfect. What are some things that may need to change so you can view the next generation as people who will help us in our faith?
What are ways you can invest in the faith of the next generation?
Why do some people have a hard time investing in the next generation?
What can you do to help bring others along to serve the next generation?
The author of Hebrews reminds us that this life is a race, something to endure and persevere in, not something to quit halfway through. How can you persevere in reaching children and students with the good news of Jesus?
What’s something our church does well in reaching the next generation?
What’s something we can improve on?
How can you help us improve?
Discipleship Questions
What can you do to experience the wonder of God this week?
What is a way you can keep your eyes on Jesus this week?
How can you invest in the next generation this week?
Memorize it!
Hebrews 12:1-2a
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
Prayer Focus
Spend time in prayer thanking God for the people who invested in you so that you now know who Jesus is. Pray a blessing over their life. Pray that you would have an opportunity this week to tell them about the impact that Jesus made in your life through them.
Ask the Lord for guidance in how you can pour into others’ lives so that they may know the goodness of God and be part of that great cloud of witnesses.