a. Mark 3:20-21
20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.
21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."
1. Why do you think Jesus' family was upset with him?
2. Has anyone in your family tried to stop you from serving God becase they think you are hurting yourself?
3. What would have happened if Jesus had agreed with them?
b. John 7:1-9
1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life.
2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near,
3 Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do.
4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world."
5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
6 Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.
7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.
8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come."
9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.
1. What did Jesus' own brother think about him?
2. Why didn't Jesus do what his family wanted?
c. Matthew 10:37-39
37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
1. List some examples of ways we can "love" our families more than we listen to Jesus.
2. If someone looked at your life, who would they say you love the most?
Application :
Discuss any pressure you are feeling about family expectations with a strong disciple. Are there any changes you need to make?
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