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General Discussion Starters

Simon asks whether we approach God with a script, quietly expecting him to play the role we have written for him — in what areas of your life are you most tempted to dictate to God rather than surrender to him?

Peter correctly identified Jesus as the Messiah but had a completely wrong understanding of what that meant; how might our own cultural assumptions or personal hopes distort the way we understand who Jesus is and what he calls us to do?

Simon draws a distinction between bringing our genuine desires to God in prayer and bringing our demands — what does that difference look like in your own prayer life, and how do you know when you have crossed that line?

Jesus describes taking up the cross not as an advanced option for super Christians but as the baseline of normal Christian discipleship — how does that challenge the way you have understood or practiced your faith up to this point?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote from a Nazi prison cell that when Christ calls a person he bids them come and die — what does dying to yourself look like in the ordinary, daily circumstances of your life right now?

Simon reflects on the tension between the modern obsession with safety and security and Jesus’ call to lose your life for the sake of the gospel — where do you sense that tension most acutely, and what would it look like to trust Jesus with that area?

John Piper’s unpacking of what it means to be ashamed of Jesus points not to momentary failures of courage but to a settled state of the heart — honestly, how would you describe the settled state of your heart toward Jesus and what he has done for you?

The transfiguration reveals the true identity and glory of Jesus to Peter, James, and John at a moment when following him was about to cost everything — how does catching a glimpse of who Jesus truly is change your willingness to follow him into hard places?

Moses and Elijah discuss with Jesus his departure, framing the cross as a new exodus that rescues even the rescuers — how does understanding the cross as liberation rather than merely punishment deepen your appreciation for what Jesus accomplished?

Simon contrasts the brief, fleeting glory of winning a bowls final with the eternal glory that Jesus offers — what earthly sources of affirmation or achievement are you most tempted to pursue, and how does the promise of hearing ‘well done’ from Jesus reframe their significance?

Men’s discussion starters

1. “Who do you say I am?” — Mark 8:29
   Peter got Jesus’ identity right, but misunderstood what Jesus had come to do.
   Question: In everyday life, where are we most tempted to treat Jesus more like a helper/consultant than Lord and Saviour?
2. Control vs surrender
   Simon asked whether we sometimes come to God with “a script” — our own plans, timelines, and preferred outcomes.
   Question: What’s one area where men often find it hardest to let God be in control — work, family, money, health, future, reputation, something else?
3. Prayer without trying to control God
   The sermon raised the tension between “ask anything in my name” and “not my will, but yours.”
   Question: How do we pray boldly and honestly, while still leaving the outcome with God? What helps you do that in practice?
4. “Take up your cross and follow me” — Mark 8:34
   Jesus doesn’t present this as “advanced Christianity” but normal discipleship.
   Question: What does “taking up your cross” look like for a Christian man today — in marriage, singleness, workplace, church, or private life?
5. Temporary glory vs eternal glory
   Simon mentioned that earthly glory — praise, success, achievements — often fades quickly. Jesus offers a glory that lasts.
   Question: What kinds of “temporary glory” are men most tempted to chase, and how can we encourage each other to live for the eternal “well done” from Jesus?

🧔 Men’s Creative Discussion Starters: Step Off the Throne

Main Idea: True discipleship means giving up the illusion of control and letting Jesus call the plays.

• Icebreaker: If you were given total control to script your perfect, stress-free week, what would it look like?
• The Tension: Look at Mark 8:31-33. Peter didn’t doubt Jesus’ identity; he doubted Jesus’ strategy. In what areas of your life (career, finances, family, or personal habits) do you find yourself saying, “Lord, I trust you, but I’d prefer if we did it my way”?
• The Cost: Read Jesus’ words in Mark 8:34: “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.” What is one specific right, preference, or “script” you are holding onto tightly that you need to intentionally hand over to God this week?
• Prayer Focus: Pair up or pray together as men. Confess the areas where you are feeling the heavy weight of trying to “run the universe,” and intentionally leave those outcomes at the altar.

Women’s discussion starters

1. “Who do you say I am?” — Mark 8:29
   Peter knew Jesus was the Messiah, but still wanted Jesus to fit his expectations.
   Question: In what areas of life do we most need to let Jesus be Lord, not just comforter, helper, or adviser?
2. Coming to God with a script
   Simon asked whether we sometimes bring God our preferences, timelines, and definitions of success.
   Question: What does it look like for us to lay down our “script” and trust God when life isn’t going the way we planned?
3. Prayer and surrender
   Jesus invites us to ask boldly, but also teaches us to pray, “Not my will, but yours.”
   Question: How can we pray honestly about our hopes, fears, family, health, and future — while still leaving the outcome in God’s hands?
4. Taking up our cross daily
   Jesus said following him means denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following him.
   Question: What might “taking up your cross” look like in the ordinary places of life — home, work, caring roles, relationships, church, or unseen sacrifices?
5. Temporary glory vs eternal glory
   The sermon reminded us that earthly praise and success fade quickly, but Jesus offers lasting glory.
   Question: What “temporary glory” are we tempted to chase — approval, security, image, achievement, being needed — and how can we encourage one another to live for Jesus’ eternal “well done”?

👩 Women’s Creative Discussion Starters: Letting Go of the Script

Main Idea: Surrendering our preferred timelines and comfort levels to trust the sovereignty and goodness of God.

• Icebreaker: Are you naturally a planner who loves a strict script, or do you prefer to wing it? How does that affect your prayer life?
• The Tension: In the sermon, we looked at how Peter panicked when Jesus’ path involved suffering and rejection rather than immediate comfort. When a season of life gets difficult, painful, or unexpected, how do you typically react? Do you try to force control, or do you find it easy to trust?
• The Shift: Consider Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s quote: “When Christ calls a man or a woman, he bids them come and die.” What does “dying to self” practically look like in your daily routine, your worries for your loved ones, or your expectations for the future?
• Prayer Focus: Pray for one another to have the courage to hold your desires with open hands, anchoring your heart in God’s loving character rather than your own predictions of how things should turn out.