DISCUSSION LESSONS FOR THE GOSPEL OF MARK
GOSPEL OF MARK (The Wilderness Experience)
Chapter 1:1-13
Discuss our concept of “wilderness.”
Trees—no toilets—few roads—no luxuries
Our focus is the wilderness experience.
What is God’s purpose for a wilderness experience?
**We define a wilderness experience by where we’ve been.
God defines it by where we are going.**
Have you had a wilderness experience?
A wilderness experience is never fun.
Examples:
John the Baptist Mark 1:4
Moses Exodus 2:15
Hagar Genesis 16: 7-16
Israelites Numbers 14:30-35
Jesus Mark 1:12
Finish this sentence:
We can be driven into the wilderness by:
(disobedience—our own mistakes; God—a time for
preparation—other?
Finish this sentence:
A wilderness experience is a time for:
Rest
Reflection
Listening to God
Meeting God
Experiencing the miraculous
Preparation
Other?
Finish this sentence:
A person coming out of a wilderness experience:
Speaks with power and anointing
Is prepared for ministry
Other?
John was coming out of the wilderness to baptize Jesus, who
was going into the wilderness. Why do you think Jesus allowed John to baptize
him?
Is there a principle from this that we can apply to our
ministry in the church to one another?
What were the three types of temptation Jesus faced? See
Matthew 4:1-11 and I. John 2:16.
1. How do these three areas of temptation apply to me?
What are some examples I have had to struggle with?
How can I achieve victory over temptation?
GOSPEL OF MARK LESSON TWO
Chapter 1:14-34 (read)
(Think: Do I pray with authority?
What limits my
authority when I pray?)
v. 15 What was the “good news?”
v. 34 Why did Jesus not allow the demons to tell the people
who he was?
Our focus today is on authority.
Do we have the same authority as Jesus?
Do I pray with authority?
What limits my authority?
Overhead:
Matthew 18:18
Binding
Is this being over-spiritual?
Do you see a demon behind every rock? Is there one?
Matthew 18:19-20
Why must there be two or more?
What happens in heaven?
II Cor. 3:12
Boldness
What is the opposite of bold?
Why are we bold?
Who in the Bible was bold?
When were you bold?
Ephesians 3:19
Believe
What is promised to those who believe?
Ephesians 3.20 Power
What determines how much power is at work in me?
How much power is available?
Ephesians 6:10-18 Armor of God
(list each piece of armor) Discuss its purpose.
Romans 8:16, 38-39 Position
What exactly is our position?
Do you ever doubt your position?
Laying on of Hands: 3-fold purpose—
Acts 9:17-19 Healing
Acts 6:6 Power for ministry
Acts 8:17 Gift of
the H.S.
Gospel of Mark Lesson Three
Chapter 1:35-45
Why do you think Jesus needed to get alone?
What are the advantages of getting alone?
What attitudes do we see in the man who came to Jesus?
What are the opposite attitudes?
What motivated Jesus? What motivates Jesus today?
(the same yesterday, today, and forever)
(use object lesson of a gift package)
Our desire is to have everything in a nice package. You want
to get saved? Quote this prayer. You want to be successful? Follow this
formula.
God can’t be packaged. So rather than attempt to put healing
doctrine into a nice package, let’s declare some facts:
1. Matthew 8:16-17 If anyone becomes a Christian, it is
because of the atonement. If anyone is healed, it is because of the atonement.
2. James 5:13-16 The prayer of faith will heal the sick
(elders, oil, laying on of hands, forgiveness of sins).
3. Everyone is not healed. (It’s not a nice little package)
Two extremes in the Christian community—from a nice package,
to God doesn’t heal.
The big question: Why isn’t the package neat?
(Why isn’t everyone healed)
1. I don’t know (God is sovereign) consider Job
2. Hebrews 12 God’s discipline (healing follows)
I. Cor. 11: 31-32 chastening
3. Mark 6:5 lack of faith (distinguish between miracles and
healing)
4. Other?
“Healing is the dinner bell to salvation”
If you never see another person become a Christian, will you
still believe in salvation?
If you never see another person healed, will you still
believe in healing?
Appropriating Faith (taking and using what God offers)
Faith: We have a responsibility to appropriate faith.
Numbers 21:4-9
What do you see in this scripture that we can do?
(look and live)
Romans 4:18-21
What did Abraham do?
He looked at the promise and did not waiver in unbelief.
Joshua 6:20
The people shouted before the walls collapsed.
What walls are you facing?
Mark 11:24
Ask in prayer—believe you have received—it will be yours
F.F. Bosworth says…”To faith, the word of God is the voice
of God.”
Luke 17:11-14 the ten lepers
What happened in this story?
(they put their healing in the past tense by acting on their
faith)
Our responsibility is
to believe.
God’s responsibility
is to heal.
Summary: We can get caught up in a spiral of doubt and
unbelief, but the fact is that our job is to pray the prayer of faith as shown
James 5. God’s job is to heal. Sometimes we think it is our job to heal.
Gospel of Mark Lesson Four
Mark 2:1-12
(Think: What draws people to Jesus?)
Which is easier to say? (v.9) (a rhetorical question)
(both are equally impossible to man—easy for God)
Whose faith was active in this story?
Application?
(we can minister to one another by having faith)
(no man is an island)
What did Jesus prove to them by healing the man?
Why did his forgive his sins first?
(sins are our deeper need)
**God is always more interested in our spiritual success
than our physical comfort** Examples: Jonah
Moses
(other?)
What does this tell
me about my expectations for my future? Is my future committed to God? What if
you could see the future and it was mostly depressing. Would you turn away from
your faith? Just why are you a Christian?
Why did they consider it blasphemous that Jesus forgave his
sins? (he was claiming deity)
Our Christian faith from the time of Christ has taught that
Jesus is totally man and totally God. Why do we believe that?
Give me an example in the Bible of each manifestation.
Totally man: in the
garden
Totally God: as
creator (Heb 1)
Passing before Moses
v. 13-17
Verse 13 implies Jesus went often to the lake. Why do you
think he did?
Who seemed more drawn to Jesus, the spiritual leaders of the
day, or the worldly? Why?
What draws people to Jesus?
(What drew you to
Jesus?)
Do you fear eating with sinners?
Should we try to associate with people who are not
Christians? Is there a line in the sand I cross where I would compromise my
commitment to Jesus?
(example: trip to Vegas)
Gospel of Mark Lesson Five
Chapter 2:18-21
Explain Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees’ question in verse
18.
Why the illustration about old and new wineskins (v. 21
& 22)?
Fasting: What is it? How do you do it?
Why fast?
1. I Kings 21:27
Humility
Ahab was very wicked;
yet God honored his humble spirit.
2. Daniel 10:2, 12
To gain understanding and humble himself
Notice in verse 2 it was a partial fast
3. Luke 4:1-2
To enter an ordained work (ministry)
4. II Samuel 12:15-20
To plead with God
Did God change His mind?
5. Leviticus 23:32
To commemorate a special day before the Lord
6. Matthew 9:14-15
Longing for the 2nd coming of Christ
7. Ezra 8:21
To obey the spiritual leadership
8. I. Samuel 7:6
Repentance and confession
9. Ezra 8:21-23
To seek God’s protective covering
10. II Samuel 1:12
Mourning for those who have died
11.Nehemiah 1:3-4
Mourning the result of sin on a nation
12. Mark 9:29
To build faith for spiritual warfare
Gospel of Mark Lesson Six
Chapter 2:23
through 3: 6
For clarification, what is the Sabbath?
When was it observed?
(Exodus 20)
When did we change to Sunday?
What is Jesus telling us about the Sabbath?
Why was Jesus angry in verse 5?
Colossians 2:16-17 …let no man judge you…
If the Sabbath is a shadow, what is the reality?
Hebrews 3:7 to 4:13
The Sabbath Rest. Definition—(resting from our work)
How do we enter the Sabbath Rest?
(by obedience; kept out by unbelief)
What is required to enter the Sabbath Rest? (faith)
How do I know if I have entered the Sabbath Rest?
What would keep me from entering? (relying on my own works
for salvation)
Gospel of Mark Lesson Seven
Chapter 3:7-12
What drew the crowds?
What draws the crowds today?
(Where is the Lord God of Elijah?)
I want to see God move in our midst. A manifestation of
God's power should accompany His Word.
Chapter 3:13-19
The appointing of the 12 apostles.
What was Jesus’ preferred method of teaching his disciples?
(discuss mentoring vs. classroom)
Do we have apostles today, or was it just for that day?
Ephesians 4:11-13
Chapter 3: 20-30
What does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit?
(in this context, giving credit to Satan for what God has
done)
Chapter 3:31-34
What is the message Jesus was telling them?
Mark 4:1-20
List the four types of people who receive the Word.
GOSPEL OF MARK LESSON EIGHT
4:21-23
Explain the example of the lamp.
4:24-25
What is Jesus making reference to?
4:26-29
What is the seed? The soil? The grain? The harvest?
Chapter 4:30-34
What does the parable of the mustard seed tell us about the
Kingdom of God?
4:35:41
What lesson did the disciples learn?
Who sent the storm?
Another storm occurred in Jonah 1:4. Is there a difference
in the purpose of the two storms? Can you see a purpose behind storms in your
own life?
Gospel of Mark Lesson Nine
Chapter 5:1-20
Why do you think the people did not want Jesus to stay?
Do we ever react to Jesus in this way? Can you give an
example?
How did Jesus respond?
Mark 5:21-24
What attitudes did Jairus have which prompted Jesus to
accompany him?
What are some of my attitudes? What do they tell Jesus to
do?
Gospel of Mark Lesson Ten
Mark 5:25-43
Why did Jesus only allow Peter, James and John to accompany
him into the home of Jairus?
Whose faith healed the woman? Whose faith healed the child?
Refer back to Mark 2:5. Whose faith healed the paralytic?
Tell me how we can apply this to ourselves—what if you have
a serious issue going on in your life but don’t feel like you have the faith to
get through it?
What are the implications for us in ministry to each other?
v. 43 Why do you think Jesus did not want anyone to know
about this?
What do your bible footnotes say?
Perhaps he did not want to die prematurely? Is that possible?
Mark 6:1-6
What prevented great miracles in his home town?
How sad that a prophet has no honor in his own city. What is there about human nature that makes
this so?
Is it possible that this could happen with us in our
church?
What attitudes do I have to guard against to keep this from
happening?
What is the difference between a healing and a miracle?
Have you experienced either?
What in my life prevents Jesus from doing all he can do?
--unbelief
--pride
--stubbornness
--fear
--etc
Mark 6:7-13 Lesson Eleven
Why in pairs?
There is something about having a partner in an
endeavor. Have you ever tried to
exercise by yourself?
What were they preaching?
Has the Gospel message changed?
(the most powerful gospel message is your personal testimony
about what Jesus has done in your life)
Can you see yourself doing that?
Mark 6:14-29
What was going on in Herod’s mind?
Why didn’t God deliver John the Baptist for Herod’s
execution? (He delivered others)
What is the message to us in this passage about God’s
deliverance?
Discuss God’s sovereignty in all circumstances; we cannot
predict how or if we will be delivered.
Do you think John the Baptist failed to exercise faith?
When we find ourselves at the bottom; is it because of a
lack of faith?
Mark 6:30-44
When Jesus landed, what was his physical condition?
Compare man’s logic vs. God’s logic. (v 36 & 37)
What is unusual about God’s logic?
Can you think of any practical lessons in this passage?
1. feed the people
2. go with what you have
3. people need leadership
4. etc.
How do I apply these principles to being obedient to God
now?
What kind of authority do people respond to?
Gospel of Mark Lesson Twelve
6:34
How are we like sheep?
--easily influenced
--we need
encouragement
--we need a shepherd
--other
Being a sheep is better than being a goat.
What are goats like?
--headstrong
--willful
--other
Mark 6:53-end
Why did they have to touch his cloak?
Why was it a springboard of faith?
Do we have springboards of faith?
What gives those springboards their ability to heal?
Mark 7:1-23
What mistake did the Pharisees make?
Do we have “outward observances” today?
Should they be avoided? (Col. 2:17 “these are a shadow…”)
Do they have value?
What was Jesus’ main complaint about the Pharisees?
Mark 7:24-30
Why did Jesus treat her like that?
Mark 7:31-end
What did the people want Jesus to do?
(lay on hands)
Mark 8:1-13
What motivated Jesus to feed the people?
Why was it wrong to ask for a sign?
When is it permissible to ask for a sign? What about Gideon? Was that wrong?
Gospel of Mark Lesson
Thirteen
Mark 8:1-10
We have talked about how
Jesus attracted crowds in previous lessons.
What attracted this
particular crowd?
v. 2 What was there about this crowd that
generated compassion in Jesus?
(he saw future suffering)
v. 3 What did Jesus use to meet the need?
He used what he had on hand.
Application: When we see a need, God expects the same of
us—to work with what we have.
We pray…”God, do something…”
God says… “Use what you have
and I’ll multiply it.”
How would we apply this here
at church—
Teaching Sunday School
Encouraging someone
Other—
v. 11-13
Here is a little passage that
doesn’t seem to fit.
Mark is known for being brief
in his writing.
Why did Jesus sigh?
(We have a question
requesting proof of his divine nature from unbelievers who already were
witnessing miracles!)
Ps 90:1-4 and Ps 14:1
We have evidence of God all
around us, and yet, what does the world say?
It’s the same old argument—we
need proof!
Did he sit down and attempt
to logically change their mind?
No, they already had all the
proof needed to make a decision, so he left.
What is the lesson for us in
this story?
(don’t cast pearls before
swine)
(It’s better to walk away
when you perceive an attitude of unbelief with no repentance. If they are argumentative, or are only
interested in convincing you of their viewpoint, don’t take the bait.)
Mark 8:14-21 Lesson 14
As we read this passage, look
at the two viewpoints represented.
Were the disciples in total
understanding and agreement with Jesus?
What were the two
perspectives?
Jesus—abstract, God can do
anything
Disciples—concrete, what I
see I believe,
One loaf of bread
What is our perspective when
we approach each day like Jesus?
--anything is possible
--remembering past answers to
prayer
--Remembering past miracles
--looking at future
possibilities based on what Jesus has done in the past
What is our perspective when
we approach each day like the disciples?
--what I see is what I get
--nothing is possible beyond
what I can see
--prove it to me and maybe
I’ll believe
Application—
What is my single loaf of
bread?
Have you experienced
this? (share)
Mark 8:22-26
Do you see anything unusual
about this passage?
1. He lead him
outside the village
2. He touched him twice
3. He used saliva
4. He told him to not go back into the village
Everything about this story
is strange!
What practical things can we
learn from this story?
--We can’t count on God to
ever do things the way he did before
--Any attempt to put God in a
box fails miserably
So we pray, expecting God to
answer our prayer a certain way. That’s
not very likely!!
Mark 8:27-30 Lesson Fifteen
Matt 16:17-20
v. 27 Who do people say that I am?
What is going on here?
Do your bible footnotes have
any comments?
How are two two passages
different?
“What about you?” Jesus’ question to us individually.
Mark 8:31 through 9:1
Do you have a favorite verse
in this passage?
v. 33 Why was this such a stern rebuke?
(perhaps because it was a
true temptation from Satan)
What was the alternative to
crucifixion?
(the triune God would have
divided)
That would have made a real
mess—to have Jesus doing his thing on earth and not being one with the Father.
v. 34-35 What does Jesus mean …deny himself?
How do we do that? Give me some practical examples of people you
have seen deny themselves.
How do I “deny” myself? Can it be different for each Christian?
9:1 who was he speaking about?
Mark 9:2-13 Lesson sixteen
The Transfiguration
Why Elijah and Moses?
(Elijah was taken up on a
chariot; God buried Moses)
Do you have any bible
footnotes on this passage?
Cross ref: Rev 11:3-6 the two witnesses
Discuss this passage and who
bible scholars say they were.
How long do they witness in
the last days?
v. 2 six days after what?
What is the prophetic meaning
of six?
What else in the bible
happened after “six?”
--God rested
--other?
v. 5 & 6
Did Jesus respond to
Peter? Why not?
Does he respond to us every
time?
v. 8 where did they go?
Can you think of other places
in the bible where someone disappeared?
Gospel of Mark
Lesson 17 Mark 9: 14-50
The boy with the evil spirit
Mark 9:14-32
What is Jesus saying when he
quotes back to the father “if you can”?
Is there anything impossible
for God? How did the father’s ability to
believe factor into the healing?
How do we make sure belief is
not a hindrance when we are asking God for something?
1.
ask according to
the Word, not our own desires (James 4:3)
2.
confess your sins
one to another (James 5:16)
3.
(husbands) treat
your wife correctly (I Peter 3:7)
4.
other?
Mark 9:33-37
Why did Jesus ask them what
they were arguing about when we know that he already knew? Why did he do that?
v. 35 the concept of hierarchy in the kingdom of
God is different than on earth. The
night before he was crucified he washed their feet as an example. Why this emphasis?
v. 38-50
define “hyperbole” --a figure of speech that exaggerates to make
a point
What point was Jesus making
here about defeating sin?
(we have to get serious with
ourselves and with God)
v. 50 What is the spiritual symbolism of salt?
Gospel of Mark
Lesson 18 Mark 10:1-12
What was God’s original
intent for marriage?
How is that different from
the Jewish practice of the day?
Mark 10:13-16
How do you receive the
kingdom of God like a little child?
Mark 10:17-31
What was this young man’s
problem?
Is the lesson here that all
rich people should give all they have away?
(if they did we would go into a great recession and no one would have a
job)
v.29 what is the reward for following Jesus?
v. 32-34
do you think the disciples
understood what was going to happen?
Do we ever find ourselves in
such a situation, where Jesus is telling us what is going on and we can’t
comprehend it?
v. 35-45
the theme of this passage is
v 43 & 44. Servanthood.
How is this different from
the value system of the world?
v. 46-52
What strikes you most about Bartimaeus’
approach to Jesus?
Did it get results?
What was responsible for his
healing? (his faith)
What is the lesson for us in
this passage?
Lesson 18
Mark 10:1-12
What was God’s original
intent for marriage?
Let’s think of some words
that describe God’s intent—
(Unifying, blessing, bonding,
permanence….)
v. 13-16 The Little Children
what are the similarities
between children and the kingdom of God?
1.
openness
2.
receptivity
3.
honesty
4.
received as a
gift
5.
lack of
reciprocity
v. 17-31 The Rich Young Ruler
What is there about wealth
that decreases your chances of following God?
Were there any righteous
wealthy men in the bible?
Do you know of any righteous
wealthy men more recently?
What is the lesson in this
passage for us today?
v. 32-34 Jesus Predicts his Death
Did they understand what he
was saying?
v. 35-45
What does this passage tell
us about the spiritual understanding of James and John?
What were they specifically
lacking in their understanding?
What makes the concept of
“servanthood” so hard to grasp in our natural understanding?
v. 46-52 Blind Bartimaeus
Tell me about his
persistence.
What can we learn from his
attitude?
Lesson 19
Mark 11 1-11
The Triumphal Entry
Where did Jesus go upon
entering Jerusalem?
Where did the people expect
him to go?
v. 12-14 and v 20-26 The withered fig tree.
What is the message for us
about faith?
Why is forgiveness of others
and forgiveness by God so tied in with faith?
(V. 26 was evidentially added from Matt 6:15)
I’ve never heard of anyone
removing a literal mountain, what do you think Jesus was talking about? (remember the passage about cutting off your
hand)
v. 15-19 Jesus clears the temple.
Let’s compare the message of
Jesus to the people with the attitude of buying and selling at the temple. What is the contrast?
If we identify the
differences, we should be able to see why Jesus was so angry.
Was he sinning by being
angry? Did he have an anger problem?
When is it ok to be
angry?
Eph 4:26 How does this
scripture apply to us?
v. 27-33 Jesus’ authority questioned
Why didn’t Jesus answer them
plainly?
What was the plain answer?
Lesson 20
Mark 12: 1-12 the parable of the tenants
V 12 they knew he was speaking about them. What exactly was he saying to them?
(the Jews had rejected the
message, so it would be given to others)
Who do the servants
represent? (the prophets)
v. 13-17 Paying taxes
Are there any questions about
Jesus’ position on taxes?
(Romans 13:6)
Sometimes you will meet a
“Christian” who says they don’t have to pay taxes. Sorry, they are wishing they didn’t have to
pay and looking for excuses not to.
v. 18-27 Marriage at the resurrection
Looking at this passage; what
will our relationship be to one another in heaven?
We will be like the
angels--
Will we have wings?
Will you be with your spouse?
v. 28-34 The Greatest Commandment
Jesus quoted these scriptures
from:
Deut 6:4-5
Lev 19:18
Jesus told him he was “not
far from the kingdom”
What was remaining for him to
do?
(believe in Jesus)
v. 35-40 Whose Son is the Christ?
What attitudes in this
passage does Jesus despise?
(pride, hypocrisy…
So you are having a quiet
time with your bible and prayer and you become aware of pride in your heart.
What is the solution to get
it out?
What is the solution to
remove hypocrisy?
v. 41-44 The Widow’s Offering
What is the principle in this
scripture?
1.
God looks at the
relative sacrifice
2.
our reward in
heaven is not necessarily in direct proportion to how we measure things on
earth.
3.
other…
Lesson 21
Mark 13 Signs of the end of the age
Let’s list the signs:
1.
false Messiahs
2.
wars and rumors
of wars
3.
nation against
nation
4.
earthquakes
5.
famine
6.
persecution
7.
world evangelism
8.
rebellion
9.
hatred of
Christians
(so
far all these are the beginning of the end)
v.
14 the abomination that causes
desolation
Dan
9:25-27
(now
we’re getting close to the end)
time
to flee—false Christs—false miracles
v.
23 “I have told you everything ahead of
time”
darkened
sun
moon
will not shine
stars
will fall from the sky
heavenly
bodies shaken
v.
26 “at that time…”
v.
27 he will send his angels and gather
his elect
v.
30 this generation will not pass away…
What
generation?
v.
32-37
No
one knows the day or the hour.
Yet
how many “prophets” have incorrectly called the day?
v.
36 a warning—do not let him find you
sleeping.
What
does that mean?
Lesson
22
Mark
14: 1-11 Jesus anointed at Bethany
The theme is waste. WASTE
(Watchman Nee wrote about this passage)
A costly vial of perfume (a year’s wages) is poured on Jesus. Jesus said this
story would always accompany the gospel, so there is something Jesus intends
for us to understand.
Be thinking about that as we read: Matt 26: 6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12: 1-8
What do you think Jesus intends for us to understand?
(he wants people to waste themselves on him)
The immediate reaction of Judas is that it could have been sold and money given
to the poor.
The word we want to focus on is: Waste.
Waste simply means giving too much.
If you eat a $5 meal and leave a $5 tip, it is a waste.
Waste means you give too much for what you get back.
Parents get angry when they invest their lives in their kids and get nothing
back.
When you lose your quarter in the machine, you say “what a waste.”
“waste” means what you are receiving is not worth as much as you give.
Now let’s look at the disciples reaction: Judas led the attack.
Remember Judas had never accepted Jesus as Lord of his life.
To Judas, anything poured out, even water, would have been a waste.
Judas represents the world. He wanted to channel money into social programs. I
have nothing against good social programs, but let’s keep our priorities
straight.
If you do expend any energy on spiritual things, the world considers it a total
waste. “You go to church every Sunday? …Wednesday night???”
Have you ever heard this one: “It’s too bad that man is a preacher…he would
have been a real success in the business world.”
The fact is, if the Lord is worthy, then how can it be a waste?
He is worthy to be served.
He is worthy to be worshiped.
Worthy is the lamb!
Jesus replied…”don’t bother her”
So let’s not be bothered by the world.
When our eyes have
been opened to how worthy Jesus is, then nothing is too good for him.
What about the other disciples?
We don’t mind too much what the world says, but we do care what our fellow
Christians say.
The other disciples joined in the chorus. They didn’t understand what she was
doing either. “This could have been sold and given to the poor.”
But Jesus approved of Mary wasting all she had on him.
It is important to use our talents for worthwhile activities, but has Jesus been
satisfied? It is not a question of whether the poor have been helped or not.
We’ll take care of the widows and orphans, but Jesus comes first. Remember what
Elijah said to the widow” Feed me first.
Our service to the Lord is not to be measured by tangible results!!
The Lord’s first
concern is with our position at his feet and our anointing of his head.
What did Jesus say about what Mary did? (Mark 14:8)
“She did what she could”
What exactly did she do?
She wasted her all. That’s all he wants! He wants you to pour all you have on
the alter of God. God will never be satisfied without our wasting ourselves on
him.
The principle of
waste is the principle of power.
What is your position at the feet of Jesus?
Are you kneeling, pouring yourself out, or standing, pointing out to God where
he can use you?
If we are standing, then the danger is that we will be destroyed by spiritual
pride.
Let’s talk about waste from a different angle:
Did you ever find your ministry in the church put on the shelf?
God dares to put
his greatest ambassadors behind bars (why?)
God has every right to suspend our ministry, in order to discover whether we
are captivated by the ministry, or captivated by Jesus.
The apostle Paul could have prayed from prison …”Oh God, use me again as you
did in times past.”
What was his attitude” “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content…”
Back to the story…What brought this whole issue to the attention of the
disciples? (the fragrance)
John 12:3 It filled the house.
When you meet someone who is wasting themselves on Jesus, there is a fragrance
about their life.
The fragrance of Mary is in the church today. Not what we do, but what we are.
Those who have the
fragrance of Mary create a hunger in others to know Christ. (2 Cor 2: 15-16)
Let’s pray that our lives would have the fragrance of Mary.
Lesson
23 The Lord’s Supper & Gethsemane
Mark
14:12-31
This
takes place the evening of Jesus’ arrest.
What do you think was going through Jesus’ mind? What would be going through your mind if you
knew you were going to die tonight?
(refer
to John chapters 13-17, an expanded account)
v.
22-24 this is the first communion, also
called the Lord’s supper. Why do we
continue this tradition? (Luke 22:19
Jesus tells us to)
How
do you respond to a question from a non-believer about the significance of the
blood? What does it mean? The flesh?
What
is the other sacrament we practice?
(Baptism)
All
other observances are a shadow that point to Jesus. (Col 2:16-17)
v.
32-42
Here
we have the disciples sleeping on the eve of the greatest historical earthly
event. Have you ever been overcome by
slumber when you couldn’t help it? How
many times did he return? (three)
Have
you ever been in a spiritual slumber and Jesus keeps coming back to wake you
up? What do you say? (the disciples did not know what to say)
Lesson
24
Mark
14:43-72 Jesus Arrested; Before the
Sanhedrin;
Peter
Disowns Jesus
v.
43-51
Read
this section, and tell me about crowd behavior.
--they
were armed
--they
were authorized by the “authorities”
--they
were most likely in a “fever”
--the
more excited of them used his weapon
--the
violence subsides with a soft answer (Matt 26:52-56)
--those
the crowd oppose tend to panic in the face of
overwhelming odds, but there will be an
occasional brave
fool (Peter)
v.
53-65 Before the Sanhedrin
some
interesting things about this passage:
--the
leadership stuck together (v. 53)
--Peter
(the impetuous one) followed at a distance
--the
leadership kept at it until they had “legal” grounds for prosecution
--Jesus
answered truthfully, and with elaboration
--Jesus
did not fight back
v.
66-72 Peter Disowns Jesus
--even
though he followed at a distance, a direct confrontation brought denial.
--repentance
was brought on by remembrance
Application: what things do we remember that bring on
repentance?
How
can we keep our hearts tender towards God?
Lesson
25
Mark
Chapter 15 Trial, Crucifixion, Burial
v.
1-5 Before Pilate
(Also
Matt 27:14) (Luke 18:36-37)
apparently
the answer Jesus gave in v 2 is the same
as his expanded affirmation in Luke, but then he refused to defend himself and
Pilate became quite frustrated.
Why
no answer? Is there wisdom in silence?
What
does the bible tell us to do when we are brought before the judge in response
to our faith? (Luke 21:14-15)
v.
6-15
what
can you tell me about this crowd?
Have
you ever experienced crowd hysteria?
There
is a phenomenon called crowd behavior.
You can without warning be emotionally swept away into participating in
something you would not normally do. Our
early history had lynching.
Can
you think of any such behavior today?
What
is the safeguard to protect us from being participants in a crowd behavior?
v.
16-20 The Soldiers Mock Jesus
We grieve over this passage because of how
they treated Jesus.
What
were the soldiers lacking? (empathy)
How
can we make sure we don’t fall into the same trap?
Can
you think of examples where we culturally look at another people group the same
way the soldiers perceived Jesus?
v.
21-32 The Crucifixion
thoughts
on this passage?
v.
21 the ordeal of Simon. Sometimes when
we are forced to do something against our will we can look back and see that it
was the greatest thing that ever happened to us.
We
think, “I wish I could have carried that cross” yet things happen to us where
our faith is challenged or we are stretched in some way and we gripe and
complain because we don’t see the greater picture.
We
are commanded to bear one another’s burdens.
Do we do it grudgingly or cheerfully?
Do we avoid those among us who have burdens because it would mess up our
positive day?
I think
Simon’s day was totally messed up.
We
need to pray and ask God to mess up our day.
v.
31 “he can’t save himself” We know he
could have come down off the cross anytime.
He said “I lay my life down and pick it up again.” Crucifixion was his choice. They misunderstood.
Do
we have choices to lay our life down for Christ? Of course!
Just
as Jesus laid his own life down, so we willingly surrender our will to
God. He sits on the throne of our
life. We are no longer in charge.
v.
33-41 The Death of Jesus
thoughts
on this passage?
What
is the symbolism of verse 38?
v.
40&41 Where were the men?
Was
it the custom of the day for women to prepare a body for burial?
v.
42-47 The Burial
thoughts
on this passage?
Lesson
26
Mark
chapter 16 The Resurrection
v.
1-3
Jesus
died on Friday, the tomb was empty Sunday morning.
The
early church began meeting on the first day of the week.
(acts
20:7) Throughout Acts they continue
going to the Synagogue on the Sabbath (Saturday) because that is when all the
Jews were there and that was the best opportunity to share the Good News. However the Christians began meeting for
communion on Sunday. (Pentecost was on
Sunday as well)
Consequently,
we meet on Sunday. Muslims meet on
Friday, Jews on Saturday, Christians on Sunday (except a handful of
denominations still meet on Saturday)
(However,
remember things like observing certain days are a shadow.)
v.
4-8 the Angel
when
an angel appears in the bible, they usually say, “don’t be afraid”
Why?
v.
9-20
thoughts
on this passage?
do
you see a common thread of unbelief running through these accounts? (v. 14)
Is there a lesson for us here?
Jesus’
last words…”go…”
