The Sacrifice of Ministry Part Two

How should we respond when we face hardship that seems meaningless? Join us at CrossWinds Church in Spencer as we look at the death of John the Baptist and the confidence that we can have that meaning is found in Christ, not our circumstances.

Sermon Discussion Questions

1. Pastor Jordan mentioned two pitfalls facing us when thinking of ministry: naïveté and cynicism. With which one do you struggle more?
2. What is one highlight from the sermon and one question that you had after hearing the sermon?
3. Read Mark 6:14–15. Mark’s primary concern in the first half of his Gospel is to get us to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” What were some of the responses people gave to that question in the first century? Flip through the stories of the first half of Mark. What do these stories communicate about who Jesus is?
4. Read Mark 6:16–20. Herod was plagued with guilt for the murder of John the Baptist. What do these verses teach us about what God does with the guilt of our sin when we trust in Jesus? (cf. Psalm 103:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Psalm 32:5; Acts 2:38)
5. Herod had a bit of a love-hate relationship with John. He enjoyed listening to his preaching, but he never actually took to heart his message. What are some ways that we can act the same with the message of the gospel today? How do we combat this half-hearted Christianity?
6. Read Mark 6:21–23. Describe Herod’s state when he makes his oath to Salome (Herodias’s daughter). What can we learn about how our environments affect our judgment?
7. Read Mark 6:24–28. John’s death seems to be completely meaningless, all because of Herod refused to let go of his pride. What are some ways that we sometimes suffer hardship that seems meaningless/pointless?
8. Read Mark 6:29–30. How does the end of this story give us hope that there is no such thing as meaningless suffering for those in Christ?
9. What can we learn from Herod in this story? What do you need to keep an eye on in your own life?
10. What can we learn from John in this story? How are you encouraged by his life?