Gospel of Mark

THE GOSPEL OF MARK - 10

 Liar, Lunatic or Lord

Mark 3:20-35

“Really a young atheist cannot guard his faith too carefully. Dangers await him on every side. In the Trinity term of 1929, I gave in and admitted that God was God and knelt and prayed that night…perhaps the most reluctant convert in all of England.” - C.S. Lewis

 “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. . .. Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God.” - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity 

THREE RESPONSES TO JESUS

1. Those who viewed him as _______.

Mark 3:13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.

Mark 1:16-20 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”^{[a] 18} And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰ And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

Mark 3:35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

1. Those who viewed him as a ____________.

Mark 3:20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat.

Matthew 12:22-23 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.²³ And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”

Mark 3:21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

Mark 3:31-32 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. ³² And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.”

Mark 3:33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”

1. Those who viewed him as a ___________.

Mark 3:22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.”

Mark 3:23-25 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.²⁵ And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

Mark 3:26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end.

Mark 3:27 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

Mark 3:28-29 Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, ²⁹ but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”

Hebrews 6:4a (NLT) For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—

Hebrews 6:4a+b (NLT) For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven

Hebrews 6:4 (NLT) For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit,

Hebrews 6:5 (NLT) who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—

Hebrews 6:6 (NLT) and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.

Hebrews 6:6 (NASB) and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

Hebrews 6:6c (NLT) by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK - 9

 What It Means To Be A Disciple

Mark 3:7-19 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. 9 And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, 10 for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. 11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.

Mark 3:13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired,

Mark 3:13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A DISCIPLE OF JESUS?

1.  You are __________ by Jesus.

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Mark 8:34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 

Mark 3:14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons

2.  You are given a new __________.

●    to ____ _________ Him. 

●    to be ____ __________.

Mark 3:14-15 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast Where does the authority come from?

3.  You are __________by Jesus.

Mark 3:16-19 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus , and Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 17:6 …“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also

●    Given a ____ ________.

Genesis 1:5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Genesis 1:8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

Genesis 1:10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK - 8

Jesus’ Bad Habits on the Sabbath

Mark 2:23-27; 3:1-6

Mark 2:23-27 ²³ One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. ²⁴ The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” ²⁵ He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? ²⁶ In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” ²⁷ Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

1. The Disciples ____________________ the Sabbath.

Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 

Jesus and the disciples broke the _______-__________ tradition only.

2. Jesus gives ________________ reasons to pick the grain.

Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath.

Mark 2:27 ²⁷ Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Mark 3:1-6 ¹Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. ² Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. ³ Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” ⁴ Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. ⁵ He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. ⁶ Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

3. Whom the Savior ________________.

A man with a withered _______________ and men with withered _______________.

4. What the Savior ________________.

The letter of the law ______________, but the Spirit gives ______________.

5. What the Savior _______________.

He was ____________ and ________________.

Mark 3:5 ⁵ He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts…

6. What the Savior ________________.

________________ the withered hand and _________________ the withered hearts.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK - 7

Jesus Is Better Than Religion

Religion: man’s attempt to know God by means of certain rules and regulations designed to restrain evil and demonstrate good.

Mark 2:18-22 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees

fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

1. Jesus brings ___________- religion brings ___________.

Mark 2:14-16 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. 15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

2. Jesus brings new _____ - religion offers inadequate ___________.

Mark 2:21 (ESV) No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made.

Mark 2:21 (NLT) “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

Mark 2:21 (MSG) He went on, “No one cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want fabrics that match. And you don’t put your wine in cracked bottles.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

3. Jesus brings an ever ______ life - religions offers a________ life

Mark 2:22 (ESV) And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

Matthew 13:33 (NLT) Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little

yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

Mark 4:26-27 (NLT) Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the

seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.

Luke 5:39 (NLT) But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK - 6

The Worst Sinner in Town

Mark 2:9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed, and walk.?”

Mark 2:13-14 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. ¹⁴ As he walked along, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

Mark 2:15-17 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶ When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹⁷ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Seeing the whole text of chapters 1-2:

Romans 3:9-26, 5:8, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

● Jesus hung out with the party crowd because they were ____ and they _____ ___.

● Jesus avoided the religious crowd because they were ____ and wouldn’t ____ __.

● Christianity is the only club where you have to be _________to get in.

What Jesus was all about:

●    Jesus came to do ___________, not _____ _____.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

This is good news for the _____who want to _____.

This is bad news for the _____who won’t _____ __.

Romans 3:10 There is no one righteous, not even one.

Where are we in the story?

Matthew 5:13-16, Philippians 2:14-16, 1 Peter 3:15

• We don’t play the role of _____, we just introduce people to the _____.

• We are the _____ _____who have an opportunity to see _____ _____, or just get _____ _____.

 “No true Christian goes to heaven alone.” - J.C. Ryle

THE GOSPEL OF MARK - 5

Our Greatest Need

Mark 1:40-42 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

The way Jesus dealt with ________________:

● Is the way he deals with______________.

● Is the way we should deal with _______________.

When we approach Jesus, we enter into his __________________ not his ________________.

Mark 1:43-45 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”45 Instead… he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

Mark 2:1-12 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man,carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Daniel 7:9-14 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority but were allowed to live for a period of time.) 13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Our greatest need is to _______________, not to get our _______________.

Truly understanding _________________ is the key to our:

● ___________

1 John 4:7-10 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

● _________________

● ______________

● _________________

 THE GOSPEL OF MARK - 4

The Secret to Prayer

Mark 1:25-28 ​​“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits, and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Mark 1:29-39 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to wait on them. 32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Three dangers at the start of the journey: 

●    ________ can actually keep us from ________.

●    Chasing the ________, not the ________.

●    Seeking God for ________, not ________.

The secret to prayer:

The secret to prayer is simply having _________ _______.

Prayer is:

●    Not something ___ ____, it’s someone ________ ________.

●    Not about getting what ___ ________, but connecting with who we are ________ ____.

●    Both ________and ________.

●    The key to ________with God, and ________from the enemy.

●     More about changing ___ ______, not changing _____ _____.

Two things to consider:

●If we are only coming to God to get _______ ____ _______, he may be ________from us.

●Prayerlessness may be our greatest ___, because of what it says about who we really think is ____ ________.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK - 3

Welcome to the Kingdom of God

Mark 1:14-15

The kingdom of God is both the _________ and _________.

● It is a _____ and a _______.

● It is both a _________ and a _________.

● A king’s _______and _______determine his kingdom.

Mark 1:16-20

A citizen of the kingdom (disciple) is called to:

● _________

● ____________

● ____________

Mark 1:21-28

WARNING: This will be _______ than you _______.

Looking back at Mark 1:1-28

God has _____________________.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK - 2

Baptized, Empowered and Tested

Mark 1:9-13 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Three Key Events

1.    Baptized by ________

 Mark 1:9/ Matthew 3:11-15/ Luke 3:2-3/ Matthew 28:19-20/ Romans 6:1-5

●      John’s baptism was a public statement of _______________ in order to be ______________. 

●      Our baptism is a public statement of _________________________ because we’ve ___________________.

Matthew 28:19-20 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 3:11-15 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

2.    Empowered by the ______ __________

Mark 1:12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness,

Luke 4:14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

Luke 5:17 …They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.

Mark 6:4-6 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.

John 16:7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

3.    Tested by __________

Mark 1:12-13 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.

1 Corinthians 15:45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.

Hebrews 2:17  For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

 Matthew 4:1-11 & Luke 4:1-13/ 1 Corinthians 15:45, Hebrews 2:17 & 4:15 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24 & Isaiah 53:5

Three Life Lessons

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

1.      It’s not a sin to be _________.

           It’s a sin to _______.

Mark 1:13/ Hebrews 4:15

2.    Sometimes the _________ of God’s will is in the ___________ of a __________.

●      Obedience takes us where we _______ to be be, not always where we ________ to be.

Mark 1:12/ Mark 4:35-41/ Exodus 14:1-31/ Psalm 23:1-4/ 1 Peter 4:12/ Hebrews 5:8

 3. A __________ life is not necessarily an _______ life.

Waddling to Bethlehem

No room in the inn

Poverty

Refugee

Scorn and Rumors

Widow

Watched her son be brutally killed

Acts 14:22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Luke 1:28/ Luke 2:4-7/ Luke 2:22-24/ Mathew 2:13-15/ Luke 3:23/ John 19:25 

THE GOSPEL OF MARK - Week 1

The Good News of Jesus

Mark 1:1-5 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way”— 3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” 4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Where Do You Start the Jesus Story?

The beginning:

3 questions that have to be asked:

Mark 1:1-5, Luke 3:1-18

● What is the _______________?

“Jesus”: The Good News was a __________ ___________.

“Christ”: The Good News is that we __________________.

“Son of God”: The Good News is that ________________________.

● How do I get this ______________?

Luke 3:7-18

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” 15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[b] water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

This Good News comes by ________________ and __________________.

● When did my ________________ begin?

The result of this Good News:

Mark 1:6-8 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me

comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Our life will point to our ______________, not our _______________.