Recommended Time: 100 minutes

1. Watch The Chosen Episode 2.6. (45 min)

2. Quietly reflect or journal on either of the sets of questions below or combine them to fit your group’s needs. (15 min)

1. Matthew quotes Psalm 139:8 as he descends to the bar with Simon Peter in search of Mary of Magdala: “If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” He is trying to remind himself of the belief that there’s no Godforsaken place, that God is with us wherever we go. Have there been any difficult places or times in your life where you sensed or struggled to sense God present with you? What was that like?
2. Is there something in your past that prevents you from following Jesus more fully at this time? Mary of Magdala thought she had to overcome her struggle in order to follow Jesus. Yet, it was helpful for her to admit that she “can’t live up” to her idea of following Jesus. If you could have an honest conversation with Jesus, what would you share about your struggle of “living up to” your ideal of following him?
3. Is there anything else from the episode that puzzles, moves, or surprises you? How so?
1. Mary of Magdala is disappointed that she went back to her old ways before her conversion. She can’t face Jesus because she “broke again”. Jesus reassures her that he and the Father “just want [her] heart, which [she] already [has given].” He invites her to “look up” at him and forgives her. How might Jesus invite you to “look up” at him, given any sense of brokenness, messiness, or unfaithfulness you may be experiencing at this time in your life?
2. Is there anything else from the episode that puzzles, moves, or surprises you? How so?

3. Break into small groups and share answers to your questions above. (30 min)

4. Reconvene with the large group and discuss the following large group questions below. (10 min)

Is there an insight that came up from your small group that you think the large group can benefit from?
Is there a question you’d like to pose to everyone in the large group?