MGP Camp Bible Study (6.25.26)

Object Lesson:

Do exploding bag object lesson

Baking soda and vinegar aren’t scary by themselves.

But together... something crazy happens.

Very quick and violent reaction

Sometimes life gets crazy...

God can use those crazy times to draw us closer to him.

And no matter what happens, Jesus will still be there for us.

INTRO

Song lyrics: “Do you ever feel like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?”

Life gone crazy!

We feel like the object lesson

What do you do when life crashes around you?

What do you do when your plans fall through, when you lose someone you love, or when the thing you hoped would happen never actually happens?

Good news: Jesus is there for you.

And if Jesus is there, you know that things are bound to get better.

Jesus met many people who were having “plastic bag” moments.

Jesus lent a hand to save them.

Mark 5:1–20 NLT

1 So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. 4 Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones. 6 When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. 7 With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.” 9 Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” 10 Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place. 11 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. 12 “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.” 13 So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. 14 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. 15 A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 16 Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. 17 And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone. 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” 20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

MAIN POINT

Jesus met a man whose body was possessed by demons.

“Legion” = Roman army

Evil spirits = plastic bag

Then Jesus came along...

No one could help… until Jesus came along

There is no situation He cannot control. T

The wind obeys, the demons obey...

Life may get out of control for us, but Jesus is always in control.

DRIVE IT HOME

When out of control… we try to fix it ourselves

But sometimes there’s nothing we can do

Share examples

It’s tempting to let our frustrations build up in our hearts.

Like the plastic bag… we explode

That’s when we need to call on Jesus.

Lay it at His feet

The minute we do, Jesus takes control.

Peace in the craziness

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting in the wind?

Do you ever feel like the bag about to explode?

Don’t try to take control on your own.

Give your hurts and your pain and your disappointment to Jesus.

He is always there for us, and he will help us through every tough time we face.

Trust your troubled times to Jesus. Let him take control.

PRAY