Introduction: 

Life doesn't always go the way we expect, and sometimes the circumstances we face can leave us wondering where God is and whether he really cares. In Mark 4:35–41, the disciples find themselves in a terrifying storm that challenges their faith, but what they discover about Jesus is far greater than the miracle they witness.

Read Mark 4:35-41 out loud in your group.

Discussion Questions:

Part 1: When Life Gets Out of Control

Mark 4:35-38

1. Think about a time when something you expected to be simple or straightforward turned into a much bigger problem. What happened, and how did you respond?
   
   

2. Jesus told the disciples to cross the lake, yet following his instructions led them straight into a storm. Why do you think we sometimes interpret difficult circumstances as evidence that we've made a wrong decision?
   
   

3. The disciples don't simply ask Jesus to save them. They ask, "Do you not care that we are perishing?" Why do you think difficult circumstances can cause us to question God's character rather than just his actions?
   
   

4. Read Psalm 13:1-6. What are some things that stand out to you about the way David speaks to God? How can this Psalm help us think about what it looks like to wrestle honestly with God while continuing to trust him?
   
   

5. Do you think that vocalizing complaints to God is the same as disrespect or a lack of gratitude? Why or why not? 

Part 2: What does it Mean to Have Faith?

Mark 4:39-40

6. The disciples had every reason to be afraid of the storm. So why do you think Jesus challenges their fear? What was he expecting from them?
   
   

7. Sometimes Christians talk about faith as though believing strongly enough will guarantee a particular outcome. Jesus’ notion of faith in this story challenges that view. He rebukes them for a lack of faith after He’s already done the supernatural. For Him, their faith was lacking because of their view of Him being less than good, i.e. “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” This is important to understand because Biblical faith is not about confidence in an outcome, but confidence in a person- God.
   
   Have you ever heard someone suggest that a prayer wasn't answered because a person didn't have enough faith? What's problematic about that way of thinking?
   
   

8. How can our expectations about what God should do reveal what we're actually placing our faith in?
   
   

9. Have you ever been confident that God would do something, only to have things turn out differently? How did that experience affect your faith?
   
   

Part 3: Who Then is This?

Mark 4:41

10. Read Psalm 107:23-30. Compare this Psalm with Mark 4:35–41. What parallels do you notice, and what do they reveal about who Jesus is?
    
    

11. The disciples had already witnessed Jesus perform miracles. Why do you think this particular miracle left them asking, "Who then is this?" What would it have told them about Jesus?
    
    

12. Think about a situation in your life right now where you don't know what God is doing or how things will turn out. What would it actually look like to trust Jesus in that situation, even if he doesn't change the circumstances?