The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 19:
This
week’s Bible Study of Mark’s Gospel will again include questions for you to
answer. Once you finish the lesson on your own. You can look at my answers.
Anytime you do Bible study ask yourself these 3 questions:
3 questions:
·
What is this passage about?
·
What do I learn from this passage?
·
How can I apply what I have learned to my life?
Scripture to meditate on
before you do this week’s Bible study:
Romans
1:16 NIV
I
am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation
of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
This Week’s Bible
passage from the Gospel of Mark:
Read the passage below:
Mark
4:30-34New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 Again he said, “What
shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to
describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the
smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows
and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the
birds can perch in its shade.”
33 With many
similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could
understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a
parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
.....................................................................................................................................
Answer
the questions below:
1.
Content: What is this passage about?
·
Who are the people if any?
·
What are they doing?
·
Where does this take place?
·
When does this take place?
2.
Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?
·
Is there a warning, command or promise?
·
Is there an example to follow or not to follow?
·
What is/are the main truth/truths of this passage?
·
Is there a lesson or principle that is a universal truth?
·
Why did God put this passage in the Bible?
What does
the passage reveal about the character of God?
·
His Attributes/Characteristics (ex. loving, caring, Holy, Merciful etc.):
·
His ways of relating/Communicating to people:
·
His emotions:
·
His views:
·
Reasons for us to love God more:
3.
Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?
·
Can you think of a current situation in your personal life, home life,
Church, or business which is similar to what you are learning?
·
How can I apply what I am learning to my current circumstances?
·
Are there specific things in to which to pray about?
·
Is there a new thought to me? An encouraging thought?
………………………………………………………………………………………
Mark
4:30-34New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 Again he said, “What
shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to
describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the
smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows
and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the
birds can perch in its shade.”
33 With many
similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could
understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a
parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
………………………………………………………………………………………
Here is my layout for Mark 4:30-34
1.
Content: What is this passage about?
Jesus’ parable
compares the kingdom’s growth to the phenomenal growth of a tiny mustard seed
Who
are the people if any?
·
Jesus,
Jesus’ disciples and others.
What are they doing?
·
Jesus is teaching
Where does this take place?
·
In
Galilee
When does this take place?
·
Early
in Jesus Ministry around the time He taught The Parables of the Sower, lamp on
a stand & growing seed.
.....................................................................................................................................
2.
Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?
Small, hidden
beginnings can have tremendous growth and bless many when God’s power is within
them
Note:
The
Parable of the Mustard Seed can also be found in Matthew 13:31-32 & Luke
13:18-19
Is
there a warning, command or promise?
·
Jesus
describes the kingdom of God.
·
The
Kingdom of God is Like a mustard seed
·
Through
God’s Word & divine power the kingdom of God has grown in an amazing way
and will continue to reach the ends of the earth.
Is
there an example to follow or not to follow?
·
If
we want a deeper understanding of God’s Word we need to spend time
studying
it and asking the Holy Spirit to teach us its meaning. We will need
the
strength from the Holy Spirit to help us apply it to our lives.
·
Like
the disciples we need time alone with Jesus.
·
Spending
time in prayer and God’s word is important for spiritual development.
What
are the main points in this passage?
·
The
kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. (the smallest seed you plant in the
ground)
·
The
smallest seed becomes the largest of all garden plants.
·
The
Mustard plant becomes so large that birds can perch in its shade.
·
Jesus
spoke God’s Word to His followers.
·
Jesus
used parables to teach.
·
When
Jesus was alone with His disciples and others, He helped them understand the
parables.
Is there a lesson or principle that is a universal truth?
·
When we become followers of Jesus and we plant
ourselves in the Word of God, we will grow in our relationship with God and in
our knowledge of God’s Word.
·
In
turn, as we plant the seeds of hope in others, we can see how God will use our testimony
and sharing of the Gospel to help others become as followers of Jesus.
·
God
waters the seeds in a person’s heart and over time we will see incredible
growth in a person’s faith and trust in God.
From a faith that starts out the size of a “mustard” seed to then a
faith as large as a full grown “mustard plant”.
·
Historically
God’s Kingdom started small. After Jesus began teaching the Word of God, the truth about God’s Kingdom
began to spread throughout the world.
·
Why
did God put this passage in the Bible?
·
To
inspire us to look deeper into His word for deeper truth and meaning.
·
To
inspire us to share the Gospel with others.
What
does the passage reveal about the character of God/Jesus?
A.
His attributes: Teacher:
Jesus helped His disciples understand the parables
B.
His ways of relating/communicating to people: Through
parables. Jesus explained the parables to His disciples.
C.
His emotions:
Jesus loved and cared about His
disciples.
D.
His views: The Kingdom of God will continue to grow. God
wants us to take part in the miracle of helping others receive a new life in
Jesus by sharing the Gospel with them.
E.
Reasons for us to love Him more: Jesus opens the door to God’s Kingdom for us. Followers of Jesus have received the Holy Spirit
who teaches us God’s
Word. We then have the privilege of sharing
God’s Word others.
3.
Life Application (Personal):
·
What
“small thing” is Jesus entrusting to my care now?
·
How
available am I for God’s use in the growth of His kingdom?
·
Will
I begin now to ask God daily to explain His word me?
…………………………………………………………………………………….....
My prayer for you:
I pray you will take
God’s Word to heart and ask God to help you apply what you have learned. I hope
and pray that this Bible Study helps you grow spiritually by deepening your
faith, trust and love for God.
Jesus declared that if we seek God, he will take care of the rest
of the things in our lives:
Matthew
6:33 New Living Translation (NLT)
Seek
the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you
everything you need.
In
your life, put God first and He will take care of "all these
things."
Also, remember the
importance and impact of embracing of God’s Word in light of how we are to be
God’s Ambassadors and Teachers, as well as to live abundantly in a fallen
world:
1 Peter
3:15 NIV
But
in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer
to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do
this with gentleness and respect,
2 Timothy
3:16-17 NIV
All
Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped
for every good work.
Psalm
119:105 ESV
Your
word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
John
8:31-32 New International Version (NIV)
To
the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are
really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you
free.
Daily
Application ideas:
·
Pray. Ask God to
help you understand the passage of scripture you are reading.
·
Pray. Ask God to
help you apply what you are learning.
·
Write down your
thoughts and prayers. Seek to
understand what God is trying to teach you.
·
Begin to make changes
in your patterns of behavior in accordance to God’s teaching.
·
Act on God’s answer to prayer.
·
Put God first in your life in every area of your life (Marriage,
Parenting, Ministry, Work etc.).
·
Be determined to make quality & quantity time for God in
your life (ex. Quiet time, prayer time, Bible reading/study).
Helpful
Hints for this Bible Study:
·
Not everything
we read will contain enough info to answer all the questions.
·
Other questions
may come to mind as you read.
·
The questions
are just helpful guidelines.
·
Following the
reading of the passage of scripture take a moment to write down your thoughts.
·
After you have read
the above questions, answer the questions
specifically.
·
Refer back to
above questions when you need to.
·
Then concentrate
on a couple of things that are meaningful to you personally.
·
Then go to the
application section.
·
Think through
the application questions and journal your
thoughts and prayers.
Just Sayin……………..Dave
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