Wednesday, July 29, 2015

The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 49:



The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 49:
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:

Philippians 2:3-4 New International Version
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others

Matthew 28:18-20 New International Version  
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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

Mark 10:28-31

Read the passage below:

Mark 10:28-31 New International Version
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Read also these:

Scripture links:   Matthew 19:27-30 & Luke 18:28-30
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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 10:28-31


1.    Content: What is this passage about?

Jesus blesses a hundredfold those who follow Him on earth and promises them persecutions now but more blessing in heaven. 

Who are the people if any?
·        Jesus and His disciples.
         
    What are they doing?
·         Jesus continues to teach His disciples. 
      
Where does this take place?
·         Still unsure of the exact location. 

When does this take place?
·         According to the Gospel of Mark After the teaching of “Childlike” faith.


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

·        Jesus rewards abundantly now and in eternity those who leave all to follow Him.
·        One cannot out give Jesus.


Is there a warning, command or promise?
·        Those who follow Jesus will inherit eternal life.
·        When we put Jesus first over all other things, what we will receive from Jesus will be a hundred times better than all our earthly possessions and family relationships. 
·        We will be persecuted in this present age because we follow Jesus.
·        But many who are first will be last and the last first.

These are the blessings that Jesus taught about in the Beatitudes (declarations of blessedness made be Jesus). The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus' preaching and are distinguishing characteristics and privileges of those who are His disciples (Disciple: one who follows the teachings of Jesus).

Matthew 5:2-12 NIV
 and he began to teach them saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Is there an example to follow or not to follow?  
·        We need to put Jesus first in all areas of our life.
·        We should be fully devoted Followers.
·     We need to be obedient to God’s calling.

   What are the main points in this passage?
·        The disciples leave everything to follow Jesus.
·        Those who follow Jesus will inherit eternal life.
·        Those who follow Jesus will be persecuted.
·        The rewards for following Jesus will be received in this present age as well as in heaven.
·        Many who are first will be last, and the last first

Those who are rich in material wealth and status in this present age
will have a more difficult time giving up what they have for the riches of salvation. Those who are not consumed with worldly things will have an easier time receiving the riches of Christ because they will serve only one master.  

Is there a lesson or principle that is a universal truth?
·        Followers of Jesus will inherit eternal life. (Read Below)

John 6:47 TNIV
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life.

Romans 10:9-10 NIV
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

·        Followers of Jesus will suffer and be persecuted. (Read Below)

2 Timothy 3:12 NIV 
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Philippians 1:29 NIV
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,

Luke 6:22-23 NIV
Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.

·        There are earthly and heavenly rewards for following Jesus. (Read Below)

Philippians 1:6 NIV
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 6:8 NIV 
because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

Colossians 3:24 NIV 
since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Ephesians 2:8 NIV 
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

Romans 6:23 NIV 
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 1:13 NIV 
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

·        We cannot serve two masters. (Read Below)

Matthew 6:24 NIV
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

·        Those who love the riches of this world more than God will have a more difficult time receiving God’s gift of salvation. (Read Below)

John 12:25 TNIV 
Those who love their life will lose it, while those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Why did God put this passage in the Bible?
·         To remind us what our treasure should be. (Read Below)

Luke 12:34 NIV 
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Meditate on these verses:

2 Thessalonians 2:14 NIV 
He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Matthew 10:37 NIV
"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;

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

A.   His attributes: 
·         Lord and Teacher
 
B. His ways of relating/communicating to people:     
·        Through His Godly wisdom and understanding of the human condition.

B.   His emotions:
·         

D. His views:
·        When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior we will inherit eternal life.
·        We will be rewarded for being a follower of Jesus.
·        We will also be persecuted.

     E.  Reasons for us to love Him more: 
·        Jesus has made it possible for us to have eternal life in heaven.


3.  Application:  How can I apply what I have learned to my life?
·        Have I ever consciously decided to leave all to follow Jesus? Will I do so now?
·        What or whom am I holding onto that hinders my following Jesus?
·        Do I have eyes to see the hundredfold abundance God has given?
        

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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