Use one or both of these questions to introduce the lesson:

1. What is the worst storm you have ever experienced? Was it a tornado, a blizzard, hailstorm, or hurricane? Describe how you got through it.

2. What is the worst figurative storm you have experienced? Was it an illness, family issue, job loss, or something else? Describe how you weathered your figurative storm.

Read Mark 4:35-38.

1. Notice in verse 36 how Mark described Jesus’ condition at the end of the day. Try to imagine what Jesus’ day was like, based on Mark 4:1. Jesus was fully human as well as fully God. Knowing that, what questions about Jesus’ condition in verse 38a come to mind?

2. What seemingly random piece of information did Mark include in the last half of verse 36? Why might that be relevant? How has experiencing a personal crisis made you self-centered, not thinking about others facing a similar crisis?

3. What question did the disciples ask at that time (v. 38)? Was it a reasonable question? Why or why not? In what ways can a crisis cause your heart to overrule your head? 

Read Mark 4:39, 40.

4. What two questions did Jesus ask after calming the storm (v. 40)? Although the questions seem to be rhetorical (not expected to be answered aloud), how might the disciples have answered them in their own minds?

5. Contrast the disciples’ reaction to a storm at sea to the apostle Paul’s reaction in a similar situation (Acts 27:21-26). What are the results when you allow faith to conquer fear?

Read Mark 4:41.

6. How does an insufficient understanding of who Jesus is affect the way we handle the storms of life? Refer to the question the disciples asked each other (v. 41). Keep one finger in your Bible at Mark 4:41 and another at Peter’s answer to that question in Mark 8:29. Skim the pages between those verses to list some events that prompted Peter to give that answer.

7. Prepare your personal weather report for the coming week. What figurative storms might be coming your way? How can your faith in Jesus shape your reaction to a specific anticipated difficulty?