The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 56

The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 56:

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 3:22 NIV  
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,

Matthew 18:19 NIV
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

Matthew 6:15 NIV 
But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Romans 5:1 NIV  
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

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

Mark 11:20-26

Read the passage below:

Mark 11:20-26 NIV The Withered Fig Tree     20In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"     22"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Scripture Link:    Matthew 21:19-22 (Check out the scripture link for some more details about this passage)

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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 11:20-26

1.    Content: What is this passage about?

·        Jesus teaches about faith, prayer and forgiveness from the example of the withered fig tree.

Who are the people if any?

·        Jesus, His disciples (Peter).

       

    What are they doing?

·        Jesus and the disciples are taking a walk together in the morning. 

      

Where does this take place?

·        Near Jerusalem.

When does this take place?

·        After Jesus clears the temple.

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

·        Answered prayer is the fruit of faith in God.

Is there a warning, command or promise?

·        Jesus tells His disciples to have faith in God.

·        Jesus tells His disciples to believe that they will receive what they ask for in prayer.

·        Jesus tells His disciples to forgive others so that God would also forgive them.

Is there an example to follow or not to follow?

·        Faith in God is what will put us in right standing with Him.

Genesis 15:6 NIV
Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Galatians 3:11 NIV  
Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."  

Proverbs 15:29 NIV
The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

·        Our prayers should be aligned with God’s will, with the right heart, and with the right spirit. And when they are, we can expect some kind of answer from Him. An important part to the way we pray should be based on our belief that God can and will answer our prayers.  The answers however will be in God’s perfect timing and what is best to fulfill His purpose in us.

(Read the scripture below for confirmation)

James 1:5-8 NIV
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Ephesians 6:18 NIV 
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Ecclesiastes 3:17 NIRV

 I said to myself, "God will judge godly and sinful people alike.  He has a time for every act.  He has a time for everything that is done."

Romans 8:28 NIV
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose

Philippians 2:13 NIV 
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

·        We need to forgive those who trespass against us. (read below)

Matthew 6:9-15 NIV

"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,  your will be done  on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.    Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 18:21-22 NIV
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 

Luke 17:3-4 NIV
So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

What are the main points in this passage?

·        As the disciples are walking with Jesus Peter sees the withered fig tree and states that the fig tree Jesus had cursed truly withered.

·        Jesus tells the disciples the importance of having faith in God especially when it comes to prayer.

·        God answers sincere spirit filled prayer.

·        Jesus reminds the disciples about the importance of forgiveness.

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

·        We must have faith in God.

·        We must not doubt the power of God.

·        We must pray in accordance with God’s will.

·        If our hearts are truly aligned with God’s will we can expect an answer to our prayers.

·        We must forgive others who sin against us in order for God to forgive us in the same way.  

  Why did God put this passage in the Bible?

·        To remind us that Jesus has the power to cause a fig tree to wither.

·        God is in control of nature.

·        Jesus’ teachings are valuable and necessary in order to walk in the ways of God.

·        To teach us about faith, prayer and forgiveness.

Things that can hinder our prayers to God:

·        Disobedience (Micah 3:4; Deuteronomy 1:43-45; Jeremiah 11:10).

·        Arrogance (James 4:6-10; Job 35:12-13).

·        Hypocrisy (Mark 12:38-40; Matthew 15:1-9).

·        Refusal to help the poor (Proverbs 21:13).

·        Unconfessed sin (John 9:31; Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 66:18).

·        An unforgiving spirit  (Mark 11:25)

·        Doubt  (James 1:5-7 Luke 1:5-23)

·        An improper husband-wife relationship  (1 Peter 3:7)

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

A.   His attributes: 

·        Teacher, Powerful, Sovereign  

  

B. His ways of relating/communicating to people:     

·         Through His teachings, by the example of His power.

     C. His emotions:

·          

D. His views:

·        We need to have faith in God.

·        We need to pray expectantly.

·        We need to forgive others.

     E. Reasons for us to love Him more:  

·        Jesus teaches us about how we can live a life that is honoring and faithful to God.

3.  Application:  How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

·        What “mountains” in my life does God want to remove?

·        Where in my life is an unforgiving spirit toward another blocking God’s power to and through me?

·        How will I show I believe that answered prayer is the fruit of faith in 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