In this message from Mark 5, we see two distinct stories woven together: a synagogue leader named Jairus pleading for his dying daughter, and a woman suffering for twelve years with a condition no one could heal. Through these intertwined stories, Jesus reveals both the deepest need of the human heart and God’s answer to that need. In the delay before healing comes, we encounter the mystery of Jesus, whose timing is often very different from our own. In the healing of the woman and the raising of Jairus’s daughter, we witness the power of Jesus. And in the tenderness of calling the woman “daughter” and speaking gently to the little girl, we see the compassion of Jesus on full display.
The sermon reminded us that many of us come to God wanting Him to fix our immediate needs—but beneath every surface struggle is a deeper longing: the need to know we are loved, close to God, and never abandoned. Jesus touches the unclean, restores the forgotten, and raises the dead, revealing that through His cross and resurrection He came to cleanse, adopt, and restore spiritual orphans into the family of God. Through delay, interruption, suffering, and unanswered questions, Jesus invites us to trust Him. He is wise, He is able, and He is willing.
SCRIPTURE
Mark 5:21–43, 2 Peter 3:9 Colossians 1:15–20, Zechariah 2:10, Isaiah 62:11, Hebrews 13:5-6
HOW TO USE THIS DISCUSSION GUIDE
As you lead the discussion, we follow a discipleship framework that helps move us from learning to transformation:
Head → Heart → Hands → Share → Check-In
Leader Reminder: There are multiple questions in each section. Leaders should prepare ahead of time and use discernment to choose the questions that best serve their group. The goal of this discussion is not just conversation but transformation. Encourage participation, honesty, and practical obedience.
ICE BREAKER
- Have you ever had to wait much longer than expected for something important? What was that experience like?
- What’s one small thing that instantly makes you feel cared for or comforted?
HEAD
What does the scripture show?
- In Mark 5:21-43, who was Jairus, and why did he come to Jesus? What happens while Jesus is on the way to Jairus house?
- What news did Jairus receive and how does Jesus respond to this news?
- What does Jesus encounter when He entered Jairus’ house? What does He do? What does this reveal about who Jesus is?
- Describe the woman who comes to Jesus for healing. How does Jesus respond to her, and what does this show about His character?
HEART
What do we believe?
- What do you think Jairus was thinking and feeling when he heard that his daughter had died? How do you typically respond when God seems delayed, and prayers seem to go unanswered? What might God be revealing about your heart in those moments?
- The sermon described Jesus as wise, powerful, and compassionate. Which of those truths do you most need to trust right now? How would your life look different if you truly believed Jesus was powerful on your behalf?
- Jesus stopped for the woman everyone else considered unclean and called her “daughter.” How do you respond to the truth that Jesus sees you, cares for you, and stops for you personally?
HANDS
Practice Together in Community
- What is one area of your life where Jesus may be inviting you to trust His timing instead of demanding immediate answers?
- What practical step could help you stay aware of God’s closeness during difficult or uncertain seasons?
- How can this group help one another move from anxiety and control toward deeper trust in God this week?
- What do you need from the group right now—prayer, encouragement, wisdom, or accountability?
SHARE: MISSION
Living Out the Message This Week
Intercede
- Who is one person you will pray for every day this week? Say their name out loud in the group.
- What is one specific request you will bring to God on their behalf?
Share (Mission & Obedience — Individual)
- Who will you share this takeaway with this week?
- Ask God for one opportunity this week to pray for someone in real time.
Action Steps
- Complete this sentence: “This week, I will live out this sermon by __________.”
- Continue to use the King Jesus Devotional to read carefully, understand faithfully, and respond personally to this week’s chapter in the Gospel of Mark. LINK
NEXT WEEK CHECK-IN
- Encourage the group to return next week ready to share how they practiced the HANDS step and how they lived out the SHARE: MISSION step.
- Ask, what is one takeaway from your study of this past week’s chapter in Mark?
PRAYER
- Pray for deeper trust in Jesus’ wisdom, power and compassion—even when we do not understand His timing.
- Pray for strength, restoration, and renewed hope for those weary in the waiting.
- Pray that our church would become a community that reflects the compassion and closeness of Jesus to a hurting world.