The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 44:
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:
Matthew
23:8-12 NIV
"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Romans
8:6-8 NIV
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
Matthew 5:13 NIV
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
This
Week’s Bible passage from the Gospel of Mark:
Mark
9:33-50
Read
the passage below:
Mark
9:33-50 New International Version
33 They came to
Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing
about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way
they had argued about who was the greatest.
35 Sitting down,
Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the
very last, and the servant of all.”
36 He took a
little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said
to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in
my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one
who sent me.”
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
38 “Teacher,”
said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to
stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop
him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next
moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not
against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives
you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will
certainly not lose their reward.
Causing to Stumble
42 “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.”
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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?
………………………………………………………………………………………
Here
is my layout for: Mark 9:33-50
1. Content: What is this passage about?
Jesus,
knowing the disciples’ thoughts, warns against a quest for power, judgment of
other Christians and causes of sin.
Who are the people if any?
·
Jesus
and His disciples.
What are they doing?
·
Jesus
is teaching His disciples.
Where does this take place?
·
Capernaum.
When does this take place?
·
Sometime
after Jesus teaches the disciples that He would be killed and then rise from
the dead.
.....................................................................................................................................
2. Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?
True greatness is in serving not self-seeking.
Is
there a warning, command or promise?
·
If
anyone wants to be first must be the very last and a servant of all.
·
Whoever
welcomes a child in Jesus’ name welcomes Him.
·
Whoever
welcomes Jesus is actually welcoming God.
·
Anyone,
who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will
certainly not lose his reward.
·
Whoever causes a little one to sin will be
punished.
·
Jesus
taught that whatever is causing someone to sin should be eliminated from that
person’s life.
·
Unrepentant
sin will separate us from God’s kingdom.
·
Separation
from God is Hell.
·
Be
at peace with one another.
Is
there an example to follow or not to follow?
·
We
should not argue about who is worthy enough to be a follower of Jesus. None of
us are worthy but through God’s grace we have been adopted into His family.
·
Jesus
became a servant of all men. We too need to have an attitude of putting others
above ourselves.
·
We
should not judge others service to God.
·
Seeking
greatness should be in service to God not in service to our own exaltation.
What
are the main points in this passage?
·
Jesus
overhears His disciples arguing over who of them was the greatest.
·
Jesus
teaches the disciples about humility and servant hood.
·
Jesus
teaches that those who do good in God’s name are not the enemies of God.
·
Whatever
causes us to sin must be eliminated from our lives.
·
The
Holy Spirit adds salt to the lives of those who are true followers of Jesus.
·
Be
at peace with other believers.
Is there a
lesson or principle that is a universal truth?
·
Whoever
wants to be first he must be the very last, and the servant of all.
Here
are some principles from Jesus’ teaching we should take to heart:
Matthew 20:28 NIV
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
·
Whoever
welcomes these children in my name welcomes me.
·
Whoever
welcomes me does not welcome me the one who sent me.
·
Whoever
is not against us is for us.
The
Holy Spirit is an integral part of the living the Christian life, and serving
God:
·
Have salt in
ourselves.
For us as followers of Jesus salt, is the way we are flavored by the Holy
Spirit. The depth of our faith, the amount of grace, mercy and love we have for
others impacts out world.
·
Salt can
function in a variety of ways.
·
First, it can
preserve meat from rotting. Second,
it adds flavor to the meat. Third,
salt is white symbolizing purity. Fourth,
salt makes people thirsty.
·
When
we believe in Christ and receive the Holy Spirit we are no longer under God’s
wrath. (Preserve from rotting)
·
The
Holy Spirit flavors us to be the salt in this world. The Holy Spirit teaches us
about God’s Word and adds a richness and flavor to our lives. (Flavor)
·
The
Holy Spirit gives us the strength to not act on temptation to sin. (Purity)
·
The
Holy Spirit gives us the desire to be like Jesus and life a holier life. The
Holy Spirit gives us the thirst for God and His Word. (Thirst)
·
We
need to be at peace with other believers.
Why did God put this passage in the Bible?
·
To
show the wisdom behind Jesus’ teaching.
·
To
give us an example of servant hood.
·
To
teach us about the consequences of sin.
·
To
inspire us to get rid of our sinful ways and be more like Jesus.
What does the passage reveal about the character of : God/Jesus?
A.
His
attributes:
·
Teacher.
B. His ways of
relating/communicating to people:
·
Through His teaching and His example.
C. His emotions:
·
D. His views:
·
We
should be Humble. We should serve God and others.
We should not be self-serving. We
should avoid sinful behavior.
Sin separates us from God. We should not judge others as a way to prove
that we are better than they are. We
all fall short of the Glory of God.
E.
Reasons for us to love Him more:
·
Jesus
gives us great teaching on how to live a humble life filled with kingdom
purpose and set apart to God.
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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
