Community Group Guide

> Why We Gather

At The Springs Church, we desire for community groups to be a place where we BEHOLD JESUS, BECOME LIKE JESUS, and BELONG IN COMMUNITY. This means that our primary goal for groups is to gather around the transforming presence of Christ. As we gather around the transforming presence of Jesus, we believe by faith that we will be incrementally transformed into His image and likeness. With that in mind, let's begin in prayer by asking the Holy Spirit to lead our time together, move on our hearts, and help us behold Jesus, become Like Jesus, and experince the gift of belonging in community. Let's pray.

> Give Thanks

Take a few moments to briefly share about anything that you are thankful unto the Lord for? Perhaps you've witnessed God answer a prayer or experienced a moment that strengthened your faith. Feel free to share any recent occurrences that have encouraged you or instances where you've felt God's presence at work in your life.

> Scripture Reading

Have someone read Mark 2:13-17.

> Discussion Questions

A better kind of family

From the earliest period, the church of Jesus Christ was a multi-ethnic and economically diverse body of people. Jesus built a family that cross the social divisions of the culture. Jesus is still doing this today bringing together people across all kinds of social divisions. How is this possible? As we talked about in our previous sermon series on Colossians, Jesus is the life of the Christian. Jesus is not just part of our life, he is Lord of it all. The Christian family is not brought together by their background, their ethnicity, their politics, or their preferences. The Christian family is brought together by their Lord. Our story in Mark portrays this in the way Jesus was willing to associate with people most other Jews deeply hated and resented. Jesus crossed the social divide to bring Levi into his family.

Reflection Question: Who's someone you never expected to become close with, and what broke the ice?

Reflection Question: How has Jesus helped you experience new family in the church? How has Jesus helped heal social divisions or broken relationships for you?

An invitation to the unworthy

Why did Jesus reach out to Levi though he was a traitor to the Jewish people? It is not because Levi was just fine the way he was. Jesus did not condone Levi’s behavior. Jesus was serious about holiness and obedience to God. However, Jesus understood that he had the power to change people’s lives. Jesus related to Levi not based on his past, but based on who he could become through Jesus. Jesus also did not ignore Levi’s past as though it did not matter. Jesus was able to care for Levi in his particular form of brokenness. One of the key forms of brokenness in Levi’s life was his separation from the Jewish people. Jesus offered reconciliation in a way that was previously impossible. We too have new possibilities open to us through Jesus. He welcomes us in and begins a process of healing our particular brands of brokenness.

Reflection Question: If you feel comfortable to, share about a time when you understood that Jesus truly forgave you of your sins.

Reflection Question: How have you recently seen the difference that Jesus can make in your life?

The Pharisee’s questions

Jesus scandalized the religious leaders of his culture by welcoming sinners like Levi. Jesus showed that people are not bound by their backgrounds but could be welcomed into God’s kingdom through repentance. The early Church scandalized the Roman Empire by building a multi-cultural family that united people who were rich and poor, strong and weak, influential and powerless. We want our church to reflect that new kind of family. Some churches today still welcome people in radical ways, but church can at times feel more like being around the Pharisees. As Alberto said, Jesus came only to save sinners, so only those who acknowledge their sin can receive him. We need to work to maintain the radical balance of Jesus to welcome sinners and seek holiness. We want to mourn over sin and party over repentance.

Reflection Question: Do you struggle at times to believe that Jesus truly accepts you into his family? Do you struggle at times to believe that Jesus welcomes people around you into his family? What questions do you have about how Jesus came “not to call righteous people, but sinners.”

Reflection Question: The two things that can keep us from Jesus are our sin or our sense of self-righteousness. We may miss his forgiveness either because we want to keep sinning or we don’t think we need forgiveness. Are either of these things are keeping you from following Jesus?

> Confession and Prayer

Reflect and Pray: As we sit with this passage, ask God to bring to mind anything you need to confess or need prayer for. Take a moment to share and pray for one another. Feel free to split up into pairs depending on the group size.