Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Mark 5:1-20), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [1-5] The “man with an unclean spirit” was uncontrollable, frightening, and dangerous to himself and others. Society had no place for the man. Whose fault was that: society’s, the man’s, or the unclean spirit’s? Do you know people for whom society has no place (maybe in less extreme circumstances)? Do you ever feel like society has no place for you?

• [6-9] The unclean spirit recognized Jesus for who he really was—”Son of the Most High God”—and was compelled to bow before him. Even an army of demons is powerless to resist the mere words of Jesus. Is there any hope at all for the enemies of Jesus to overcome his rule and authority? What does this mean for people who willfully oppose him?

• The demons control the man and use his voice to answer Jesus’ question, “What is your name?” Thus far the man’s identity has been determined by what oppresses him. Has your identity been determined by things that oppress you? What are things common to our culture that oppress people and determine their identities? What are some new “names” Jesus gives you by his grace when he frees you from oppression and restores you to right relationship with God?

• [11-17] Jesus’ wonderful salvation of the man is also extremely disruptive and disturbing to the society. How does his salvation wreck our “normal”? How does the world see the church as disruptive and disturbing? How do you feel about that?

• The demons begged Jesus (10, 12), and he permitted what they requested. The people from the region begged Jesus to depart (17), and he gave them what they wanted. The restored man begged to stay with Jesus (18), but Jesus gave him a mission instead. What might these different responses of Jesus to begging say about our prayers and the ways God answers them?