NOTES: 1] God has power over evil in any guise. 2] The area of the Gaderenes / Gerasenes / Gergesenes was probably Gentile territory, given the pigs. 3] Demons' may be understood as external evil forces, the faces of evil in ourselves, or, both. 4] 'Legion' takes his name from the Roman military force, then about 6000 men. 5] For 'abyss' (31) see REV 20:3.

WARMING UP: Does our own name, given or family, mean much to us?

TREASURES OLD & NEW: Afterthoughts from, follow-up to last week’s Group, or since?

EXPLORING GOSPEL:

26-29    Is our common uneasiness in the presence of mental illness primarily one of self-preservation (fear), embarrassment, helplessness, inability to communicate, or something else? Is the fact that many see mental illness as threatening in itself an admission of: a) lack of trust in God's power to protect us? b) lack of expectation that we (or, God?) can do anything for the person who's ill? c) both? d) something else? Does the fact that Jesus calmly takes control of the situation offer any hope that we might pluck up courage to face hard cases in his strength, or is that territory only for the professionals these days?
             Are we ever called on to cope with people who've been excluded so far from society as someone like Legion? Or, again, is this territory for professionals only? Who says so? Is it best left that way? If we can't 'get in there', how can God get in to help & heal in some way? What does God 'have to do with' (v.28) people who're different, difficult, excluded, etc.?
             Does the fact that Jesus deals (effectively!) with Legion's 'possession' in terms of 1st C. understanding mean that 21st C. people must act on that same basis? Should we just accept that some situations are in the 'too hard' basket? Even for God?

30-33   How important is it to us to 'give people a name & a face'? Are we ever conscious of having as many people 'inside' us as Legion thinks of himself as being? What's the best way to get rid of demons these days? Is the 'abyss' any help? Though this is a very primitive story, &, some would say, a very primitive understanding of 'demons', what can it still teach us about God / others / ourselves / demons today? Do we have any 'pigs' that need to be cast out of us by God's grace? One, two, or Legion?

34-39  How long is it since anyone went racing off to tell people about something good that's happened in Jesus' name today? Is it that we don't expect much of God (or ourselves) anymore? Is that reversible? What do we need to do to make Jesus present to people like Legion & others? How can we play our part in accepting them, healing them, etc.?
           How might we react if the local community asked us to 'shut up shop', 'go away' from them, because they were scared?
           Given that Jesus challenges Legion to be a 'missionary' at home, among his own people, is it time for us to re-assess what Jesus wants us to do in our own neck of the woods now? If we once had a missionary thrust, what happened to it? If what happens in Legion's life doesn't happen any more, what are we on about? What do we have that we could tell others about? Do we have an experience of a changed life (as Legion has) to tell about?Where & when do we start?