Tag Archives: Mark

Bible Readings for April 25 – May 1

Posted on by

Mark 15

Why do you think Jesus responded to Pilate’s question by simply saying: “You have said so”? How do you think you would have responded if you found yourself in that situation?

How do you think Simon of Cyrene was affected by his role in Jesus’ crucifixion? Why do you think Mark (as well as other gospel writers) chooses to mention Simon?

Why did it take courage for Joseph to request the body of Jesus?

Mark 16

We often begin Easter Sunday in full joy and celebration. How does this mood compare to what we see demonstrated by Mary, Mary, and Salome? How can we remember not only the joy of the resurrection, but also the fear his followers had immediately after his death?

What reasons did the women have to be afraid?

If we assume the gospel of Mark ended with verse 8, do you think this was intentional and if so, why would Mark have ended his story here?

1 Thessalonians 1

Who are people in your life that you give thanks for their “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of home”?

In what ways have you seen God’s message demonstrated in you with power and conviction?

How can you be such a person of faith that you are imitated by others?

1 Thessalonians 2

Describe a time when you have had to be bold in your proclamation of the gospel. In what ways did you encounter conflict as a result of your boldness? Did this conflict cause you to consider not being bold?

What sort of life must you live to demonstrate a “motherly affection” for the people you are trying to reach for Jesus? Would you say you often have this sort of attitude? Why or why not?

1 Thessalonians 3

Has there ever been a time when you were worried sick over the spiritual health of someone? How did you respond to this worry?

Pray this prayer for someone today: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as I do for you.”

Bible Readings for April 11-17

Posted on by

Mark 5

Why do you think people were afraid to see the healed demoniac sitting calmly in his right mind? How do we typically respond to a demonstration of the power of God?

How desperate was the woman who touched Jesus’ cloak? What do you think you would have done if you had been in a similar situation and why?

What power or authority does Jesus NOT have? In what ways should our lives be different knowing the power he has?

Mark 6

Why do you think the people of Nazareth went so quickly from amazement at Jesus’ teaching to taking offense at what he was saying? How do you respond to Jesus’ teaching?

What would have been going through your mind if Jesus sent you out with nothing for your journey except the clothes on your back?

What does it tell you about Jesus that he had compassion on the crowd hearing him teach? And that he feed them?

Mark 7

What traditions might we hold that cause us to focus more on the tradition than on honoring God? How can we focus more on honoring Him?

Why do you think Jesus spends so much time telling people not to tell others about the healing and miracles he was doing?

Mark 8

Why do people want signs from God even in the midst of all of the great things Jesus is doing? How have you seen Jesus’ actions at work in your own life?

Do you think Peter knew what he was saying when he said that Jesus was the Christ? What does it mean to you that Jesus was not just a man, but was actually the Christ, the Messiah?

Mark 9

In what ways are you listening to Jesus? How do you make an effort to hear him better?

Do you think you would have understood Jesus’ saying he was going to be killed if you had been one of his disciples? Why do you think this is the case?

Why do we care so much about being the greatest … at almost everything!? In what ways do you seek to serve others instead of trying to be the greatest?

Bible Readings for April 4-10

Posted on by

2 Peter 3

In what ways might it be easy for us to assume that the promise of Christ’s return might have been overlooked? What reminder do you hold on to in order to not forget Christ’s coming return?

How does the slowness of Christ’s return and the desire of God to see people come to repentance motivate you to help people find faith in Jesus?

What are you looking forward to most about God’s promise of a new heaven and a new earth?

Mark 1

As you read through Mark 1, what is different about the start of this gospel in comparison to the other three? Why do you think this is the case?

Are you surprised at the first recorded words of Jesus here? What might you have expected if not these words? How would you have started your public ministry if you were in Jesus’ shoes?

Why do you think Jesus—the Son of God—felt compelled to go off to a solitary place and pray? How can you schedule more time for solitude and prayer in your life?

Mark 2

What sort of relationship do you think the paralytic had with the four men carrying him? Why do you think this is the case? How does this compare to the relationships you have with others?

Three (at least) of the stories in this chapter involve the Pharisees. Why do you sense the Pharisees were so focused on rule-keeping and maintaining holiness versus Jesus’ desire to call to him those who were lost? Which of these categories would you say you fit into?

Mark 3

The story of the man with the withered hand is the only place in the gospels where we are specifically told that Jesus was angry. What’s it take to make Jesus angry? How does this compare to what makes you angry and what might need to change in your life based on this reflection?

We often talk about belonging to the “family of God.” What does Jesus say it takes to be a part of his family? How “family” are you and how can you be even more so that way?

Mark 4

In what ways have you felt like each of the four different soils Jesus describes in this parable? What are you doing to try to be as healthy a soil as possible?

How is it that Jesus could sleep in the middle of this storm?

Why do you think “do not fear” is one of if not the most often used command Jesus tells others? How has knowing Jesus reduced fear in your life?

Mark 2.1-12 – October 20, 2020

Posted on by

Mark 2.1–12

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”  (Mark 2:1–12, NIV)

What kind of friends do you have? The kind that have enough faith to do whatever they need to to get you to Jesus?

Thought Questions:

What do you think the friends of the paralyzed man thought about him? He obviously could not do everything they could, but do you think they thought less of him because of it?

Why would the religious elite think so poorly of Jesus’ actions which healed a man? Wouldn’t you think they would rejoice that healing came to someone who needed it?

How important is the faith of your friends to you? How does that faith impact your own?

Mark 9.42-50 – September 24, 2020

Posted on by

Mark 9:42–50

If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where 

“‘the worms that eat them do not die,
and the fire is not quenched.’  

49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 

50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”  (Mark 9.42-50, NIV)

How does your life influence others in positive ways? And are you watching out that you do not cause harm to others?

Thought Questions:

What situation can you think of that might be an example of causing “little ones” to stumble or sin?

In what was does it seem harsh that Jesus would advocate cutting off a hand or plucking out an eye that causes you to sin? In what ways does it seem a perfectly normal reaction to sin?

How can we influence others to peace?

Mark 1.16-20 – August 1, 2020

Posted on by

Mark 1:16–20

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him. 

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.  (Mark 1:16–20 , NIV)

 

How would you start the process of gathering people who would help spread your good news to the entire world? And how crazy would your request for them to follow you sound?

Thought Questions:

What sort of things would you need to hear in order to give up everything to follow someone, including Jesus?

Notice that the new followers of Jesus left everything “at once,” and “without delay.” Is this surprising to you? Why or why not? How do you think would you would have responded?

What questions were left unanswered (or even unasked) by Jesus when these disciples began to follow him? What should we understand by this lack of questions and answers?

Mark 4.35-41 – July 8, 2020

Posted on by

Mark 4:35–41

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:35–41 , NIV)

It’s interesting that the power of Jesus to calm was what prompted his disciples to be frightened. We do not know what to make of amazing power, do we?

Thought Questions:

In what ways do we try to control the fears we face on a day-to-day basis? How do storms, literal storms, challenge our assumption that we can control things?

Why do you think Jesus was able to sleep during this storm? What causes you to have peace during the storms of your life?

What is the best response we can give to Jesus for his power to calm storms? How does this response compare or contrast to the response of the disciples?

Mark 4.21-25 – April 20, 2020

Posted on by

Mark 4:21–25

He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”
24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” (Mark 4:21–25, NIV)

What’s the purpose of a lamp? To shine light. What’s your purpose? Are you fulfilling it?

Thought Questions:

How crazy is it to think one would buy a lamp and then hide it so no-one could see the light from it? Why do people try to hide those things they have–ability or message?

How difficult is it for you to understand what you have been given and your ability to use those gifts?

Why do you think people who “do not have” will have what they do have taken from them?

Mark 1.35-39 – March 16, 2020

Posted on by

Matthew 1.35-39

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. (Mark 1:35–39, NIV)

Someone once said the greatest single argument in favor of prayer is this: Jesus prayed.

Thought Questions:

How does the start of Jesus’ day compare to the typical start of your day? In what ways might you make your day more like Jesus’?

What do you sense Simon’s thinking was in trying to find Jesus? What was most important to him? What was most important to Jesus?

How are prayer and “preaching” related? What might you pray to better help you share the message of Jesus with others?

Afraid – March 12, 2019

Posted on by

Numbers 16.41-18.32; Mark 16.1-20; Psalm 55.1-23; Proverbs 11.7

Your Bible probably mentions in a note or by using italicized typeface that verses 9-20 of Mark 16 are not in the most reliable of our Bible manuscripts. I think for some, the fact that the women come to the tomb, Jesus is not there, and they leave “trembling and bewildered, and … frightened” just seems like too strange of an ending. Yet, if you have been reading Mark’s gospel closely, it makes perfect sense. In a way, Mark is just identifying the reaction many of us would have had if we found ourselves in these women’s shoes. He also leaves us with an important question: These women ran in fear. What are you going to do?

Questions:

So let me get this straight. The Lord punishes Israel for grumbling against Moses and Aaron, people are killed over their complaints, and then the very next morning … the people start to complain all over again. What’s wrong with these people?

What does the fact that the women brought spices to anoint Jesus tell us about their understanding of the situation at hand?

“Give your burdens to the Lord and he will take care of you.” (Ps. 55.22) What burdens do you need to give God today?

What is the connection between wickedness and relying on our own strength?