The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 39

 

The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 39:

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 6:22-23 NIV
 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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This Week’s Bible passage from the Gospel of Mark:

Mark 8:34 - 9:1

Read the passage below:

Mark 8:34-9:1 New International Version   The Way of the Cross 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” 9 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”

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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?  

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Here is my layout for Mark 8:34 – 9:1

1.    Content: What is this passage about?

Jesus tells His disciples and the multitude the cost and gain of being His Follower.

Who are the people if any?

·         Jesus and His disciples. A crowd of people.

         

    What are they doing?

·        Jesus is speaking to His disciples and a crowd of people.

           

Where does this take place?

·        Possibly around the villages of Caesarea Philippi.  

When does this take place?

·        After Peter’s confession of Christ.

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2.    Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

In order to find true fulfillment one must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Christ.

Is there a warning, command or promise?

·        If we want to follow Jesus (take up our cross) we will suffer.

·        If we choose to put God’s kingdom as the priority in our lives there will be a price.

·        Jesus said that if we want to save our life we need to lose it. In other words we exchange the “old self” (life our way, unrepentant sin) for the “new self” (forgiven, Jesus is Lord and Savior) given to us in Christ.

Is there an example to follow or not to follow?  

·        With God’s help we need to exchange the life we used to live (our old selves) for one that is filled with the Holy Spirit (our new selves)

Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

·        We must not be ashamed of the Gospel.

·        What good is it to have material wealth if we are going to forfeit our soul because of it?

 What are the main points in this passage?

·        Jesus tells His disciples along with a crowd of people to take up their cross and to put God first before all other things in life.

·        We need to lose our former way of life for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel in order to save it.

·        There is nothing apart from Christ that can give us our salvation.

·        We should not be ashamed of Jesus and His teaching.

·        If we are ashamed of Jesus He will be ashamed of us.

·        In Mark 9:1: Some in the crowd (Peter, James & John) would be witness to Jesus’ Transfiguration. A glimpse of the Kingdom of God.

Is there a lesson or principle that is a universal truth?

·        A follower of Jesus needs to put God and His purpose first before all other things.

·        We must recognize that we need a savior in order for us to begin the journey toward salvation.

·        Once we receive Christ, once Jesus becomes the object of our faith, we are part of God’s family, we have eternal security and we are no longer under God’s wrath.

·        Those who deny Christ will get what they desire, an eternity

          separated from God.

·        Following Jesus means giving up all right to myself in order to do  whatever He asks, no matter how hard or painful.

 Why did God put this passage in the Bible?

·        To show us what we need to do in order to be a follower of Jesus.

What does the passage reveal about the character of: God/Jesus?

A.   His attributes: 

·         Teacher

 

B. His ways of relating/communicating to people:     

·         With His teaching. God’s Word.

C. His emotions:    

·           

D. His views:

·        We must give up our old way of living and receive a new life in Christ.

E. Reasons for us to love Him more:  

·         Jesus gives us a way to have an abundant life now and eternal life in the future.

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3.    Life Application (Personal):

·        Is following Jesus the goal of my life?

·        What is Jesus asking me to deny myself today?

·        What is He asking me to take up (my cross) in order to accomplish His purpose for my life?

        

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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 provide everything we need to live the abundant life, providing for us physically and spiritually:

Matthew 6:32-33  Living Bible (TLB)

 “So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.

John 10:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Philippians 4:19 New Living Translation (NLT)

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

John 14:26 (NIV)

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

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  (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 asked yourself the above Template 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