Why do you think the religious leaders are so upset at Jesus?  Why are they so interested in where his authority comes from?  (Or rather - why are they so invested in exposing that Jesus does not have the authority to teach like he does?)

What areas of your life do you find it most difficult to obey the commands of Christ?  In what areas is discipleship and obedience the most costly?  Why? 

Why does Jesus answer their question (20:2) with a question of his own (20:3-4)?  How is Jesus’s question about John relevant to the conversation at hand about his (Jesus’s) own authority?

How do the religious leaders respond to Jesus’s question?  (20:5-7)  Why do you think that they respond like this?

What heart posture(s) do you think might be behind the religious leaders’ reluctance to say that John’s authority was from heaven?

Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to operate out of pride, instead of humility?  (And if so, what are they?)  Why?

What heart posture(s) do you think might be behind the religious leaders’ reluctance to say that John’s authority was from man?

Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to operate out of fear, instead of faith and boldness?  (And if so, what are they?)  Why?

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