Category: Mark

June 7, 2015 – Morning Worship

Monday – Mark 12:18–27

How are the Sadducees waging a PR battle with Jesus here? Where do you see their skeptical spirit in the world today and in your own heart? How does Jesus’ answer challenge this?

Tuesday – Matthew 3:7; 16:1; Acts 4:1-2; 5:17–18; 23:6–10; Mark 12:14

How would you describe the Sadducees based on the Bible’s description of them? What types of people / attitudes in our day might be like them and how might Jesus’ response apply?

Wednesday – Deuteronomy 25:5–10; Leviticus 18:16; 20:21; Ruth 1:1– 18; Mark 12:18-23

The Sadducees’ theoretical dilemma is based on the OT law of “levirate marriage” described in Deuteronomy? How do other laws in Leviticus show the absurd nature of their question and how might these laws have been important for protecting the weak and powerless in Israel?

Thursday – Job 19:25–26; Psalm 73:23–24; 88:5; 115:17; Isaiah 26:19; 38:18; Dan 12:2;

Many scholars today argue that the Sadducees view of the resurrection actually reflects the OT, where they see no evidence of a “resurrection theology”? What do you think?

Friday – Mark 12:24, 2–27; Romans 1:1-6; Philippians 3:8–11; Revelation 20:6

Jesus challenges our view of marriage and resurrection here? How does his teaching about the resurrection power of God offer you comfort and hope today?

Saturday – Mark 12:24–25; Ephesians 5:22–32; Revelation 19:6–10; 21:1–10

Jesus’ teaches that human marriage is temporary for this life (i.e. “until death do us part”? Why is that? What is the real significance of human marriage, and what is the glory and wonder and joy that it points us to?

January 25, 2015 – Morning Worship

Monday – Mark 8:27-9:1

This is both the center of the book of Mark and commonly recognized as the “hinge” or turning point of the book of Mark? Why is that and what makes it so important? How does that apply to you?

Tuesday – Psalm 2; Mark 8:27-29; 14:53-65

“Christ” means “anointed” (it’s Greek for “Messiah”; John 1:41), so what does Peter mean when he calls Jesus “the Christ”? How do psalms like Psalm 2 help us answer that?

Wednesday – Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Mark8:31

Why is it so important that Jesus predicted his own death? How ought that be a comfort and assurance to us?

Thursday – Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 8:32-33; Romans 8:1-11

How is Peter speaking satanic words in rebuking Jesus for predicting his suffering? How are we tempted to set our minds on the “things of man” rather than on the “things of God,” and how might we avoid it?

Friday – Psalm 49; Mark 8:34-38; 2 Timothy 2:8-15

A theme in the book of Mark is the cost of discipleship. Why does Jesus tie in his teaching about the cost of discipleship with his suffering, death, and resurrection? How might we apply this?

Saturday – Daniel 7:13-14, 23-27; Mark 9:1; 16:1-8

What did Jesus mean when he promised that some would not taste death before seeing Kingdom of God coming with power? How does that make our perspective on life different as Christians from the rest of the world?

December 28, 2014 – Morning Worship

Monday – Mark 8:1-21

What is Jesus doing here and who is he doing it for? How might that encourage us today? This coming year?

Tuesday – Psalm 75:1; Mark 6:30-44

Notice the many repetitions between the two different crowd-feeding episodes. Why did Jesus do that and why does Mark repeat it? What is so important about it?

Wednesday – Isaiah 61; Ezekiel 12:1-6

What is the significance of having eyes and not seeing? Why is Jesus so concerned about this for his disciples? What did they need to understand about Jesus (see Mark 8:27-31)? How can we “understand” this and live according to it?

Thursday – Luke 12:1-7; 1 Corinthians 5:1–8; Gal. 5:9

What is the “leaven of the Pharisees” and how can we “beware” of it? How can we as a church apply this in the coming year? You personally?

Friday – Mark 8:18; Revelation 3:1-8

Forgetting is a constant danger to God’s people. What is it that we must remember, and why (v. 3)?

Saturday – Mark 8:1-21

In what ways are you slow to understand and believe what Jesus is doing in the world and in you? How might this passage both challenge and comfort us this coming year?