FOLLOW Follow in Courage – Week 8 ‘Be with Jesus. Become like Him. Do as He did.’ – John Mark Comer Focus Mark—likely the earliest Gospel—is a fast-paced, action-filled narrative. It weaves together a mosaic of public gatherings, crowds, small groups, and intimate encounters, all centred on Jesus. Mark opens with the bold claim: “This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God” (1:1). As we move through His ministry from Galilee to the cross in Jerusalem, we see Jesus reveal the mystery of His Kingdom and what it means to follow Him. Ultimately, we encounter the Suffering Servant who laid down His life and rose again to save many. Mark challenges every reader: Who do you say Jesus is? Study by: Charis Button Sermons can be viewed on the Hope Valley Church YouTube Channel 1. Look Back Sharing Our Journey | 10 – 20 minutes Praise, Thanks and Reflection (Invite people to share from the questions below, either in the whole group or subgroups. You might also include a worship song.) What are you thankful for? Where have you seen God at work? How has God used you? How have you gone living out God’s Word since our last gathering? Where have you struggled to follow the way of Jesus? Has anything happened in the lives of those on your relational map who are far from God? (See the Relational Map video.) Pray In prayer, capture what was shared above and invite any personal needs for prayer or support. 2. Look Up Opening God’s Word | 20 – 30 minutes Setting the Scene In Mark 5:1–20, Jesus, having crossed a stormy sea, confronts a man possessed by a legion of demons—someone utterly dehumanised, isolated, and tormented. With divine authority, Jesus brings calm, dignity, and healing. He confronts chaos, restores what was broken, and commissions the healed man to bear witness. This story reveals Jesus’s compassion, power, and purpose. He seeks out the lost and sets them free. As His followers, we’re invited to trust His authority, receive His restoration, and courageously share our story as part of God’s mission to heal the world. Read: Mark 5:1-20 Take turns reading one verse at a time. Consider the NLT or NASB1995 for their vivid language. Discuss How would you retell the story of Jesus and the demon-possessed man in your own words? What do we discover about Jesus (or God) in this passage? What do we discover about people? What questions do you still want answered? What don’t you understand yet? What does this passage teach us about how we should live as followers of Jesus? 3. Look Forward Living Out God’s Word | 10 – 20 minutes In what area of your life is Jesus inviting you to trust His authority more deeply this week? How might Jesus be inviting you to see your once-wounded places—now healed—as a source of hope and testimony for others? Who needs to hear your story this week? What is one practical way you can follow Jesus’s example of radical compassion by moving toward someone who feels lost, isolated, or broken? Pray Pray for a specific person you know struggling with intense patterns of addiction or other self-destructive behaviours—that they would encounter the radical compassion and transforming power of Jesus. Pray for courage to testify to others about God’s mercy in your life. Pray for those on your relational map. Contacts If you would like more information or further help, please contact: scott.button@hopevalleychurch.com.au