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BIBLE READING: Mark 16 DISCUSSION                                                                    After Jesus was crucified in Mark 16, we read of his resurrection.   We also read of three women that were there when Jesus was crucified, and when he was resurrected.   These women were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome.   In vs 2 we see the day after Jesus was buried in the tomb, they got up very early in the morning to anoint him with spices.   They loved Jesus and were true followers of Him.   The devotion of these women is an example for us all.   Women can have such an impact in the Church today.   Devotion and love for Jesus, that’...

BIBLE READING: Mark 15 DISCUSSION                                                                                                In Mark 15: 1-15 Jesus is handed over to Pontius Pilate, the governor of Rome.   He was in a powerful position.   We see where Pilate asks Jesus a question “Are you King of the Jews?’   Jesus replies, “as you have said.” He asked again and Jesus doesn’t reply. It says in vs. 5 that Pilate was amazed at Jesus.   Pilate knew that Jesus had done nothing wrong.   I’ve always wondered in the position he was in why Pi...

BIBLE READING: Mark 14 DISCUSSION                                                                              We read in Mark 14 of many things that occur right before Jesus’ death.   He institutes the Lords Supper, tells of Peters denial, and we also read of Jesus’ betrayer and His arrest.   This chapter is packed with so much that we sometimes underestimate the significant lesson at the beginning of the chapter. In vs. 3 we see how a woman anoints Jesus with a very expensive anointment.   Well, what’s the big deal about that right?   It was a very big deal.   For this woman, the alabaster flask was likely a treasured poss...

BIBLE READING: Mark 13 DISCUSSION                                                                                                  In Mark 13 vs 32- 37 Jesus is explaining to his disciples the end of times.   A word phrase that Jesus uses in these verses is stay awake. He uses this phrase 4 times!   Why do you think he uses these words? Does he mean that there will literally be people asleep when he returns?   Absolutely not.   When I read this, I’m reminded of being in Spanish class in high school and my teacher telling me I needed to st...

BIBLE READING: Mark 8-12 DISCUSSION                                                                                     This week’s reading has spanned a time of Jesus’ earthly teaching and ministry, to his entry of Jerusalem for his eventual death on the cross. In Mark 9 we see a very crucial moment in this process. The transfiguration was an important landmark leading to his death. This was the “crowning” of his first part of his mission, realizing perfect life. Had it not been for that, the second part could not have been accomplished. Jesus’ death would have been invalid for the redemption of ...

BIBLE READING: Mark 12 DISCUSSION                                                                           Text: Mark 12:41-44 The story of the widow’s offering, or “mite”, as many of us learned growing up, is a well-known part of scripture. This bible story is so memorable for young children in bible class because they can relate to putting in a penny or some coins into the offering at some point in their young life. We really don’t know much about this woman, other than she was a widow. That fact alone tells us much about the likelihood of her life and what she didn’t have. The treasury was in the inner part of the temple where coffers were place around th...

BIBLE READING: Mark 11 DISCUSSION                                                                           The headings most bibles start Mark 11 with, is the title “The Triumphal Entry” or something very close. Jesus was walking from Bethany, toward Jerusalem, which would end with him being nailed to the cross and dying. No doubt Jesus had a lot on his mind as he was walking with the disciples. One thing on his mind was food. Jesus was hungry. Naturally, he looked where anybody from that area would have looked, a fig tree. A fig tree in this region begins to have early or smaller figs that grow from the previous year’s sprout. These early figs would typically appear at about the same time or even before the new year’s...

BIBLE READING: Mark 10 DISCUSSION                                                                          Text: Mark 10:46-52 Many in our society today struggle with disabilities. Some have mild disabilities, such as learning struggles, but sadly we know others that deal with various serious disabilities. Whether physical or mental, we understand that life can be very difficult for the individual and their families. In our text for today, we are introduced to someone with a disability. Bartimaeus, or Blind Bartimaeus”, as our children may have been taught in bible class, is the central character in verses 46-52. Bartimaeus literally means “son of Timaeu...

BIBLE READING: Mark 9 DISCUSSION                                                                                                 Text: 9:43-44 Jesus had a way with words, no doubt! I’m pretty sure the things he said in our text probably turned some heads and caused people to say, “did he really just say that?” Cut off your hand! Cut off your foot! Tear out your eye! Wow! The truth is, Jesus was the only one speaking about sin like this because he was the only one who truly understood the horrible consequences of it. He knew just how horrible the eternal punishm...

BIBLE READING: Mark 8 DISCUSSION                                                                       Text: Mark 8:27-38 I would imagine we have all asked the question, “how much does it cost?”, at some point in our life. Most likely, we hope the answer is “not that much.” Throughout Jesus’ life he gives the answer that most of us wouldn’t want to hear. Following Him costs “a lot!” By Mark 8, it was becoming increasingly obvious that this man, Jesus, was different and special. The natural result for many was to follow him or want to be with him. The problem came in the amount it would cost them to be followers of his. And just like Luke referenced in Luke 14:28-33, on...

BIBLE READING: Mark 3-7 DISCUSSION                                       As a young man I can remember putting myself out there when I would confess what I thought was my undying love to the young girl of my dreams by sending her that note that read, “I like you! Do you like me, yes or no?”  I can vividly recall the increasing speed of my heart and I anticipated her response, only to open the note to see “NO!”.  No one wants to be rejected, yet it is a fact of life that we will all be rejected.  When it comes to the Gospel, it seems that we are dealing with rejection more times than not.  So, how are we to handle it?  Don’t people understand that we have the greatest gift that the world has ever and will ever know in Jesus Christ?  Don’t they understand that they are missing out on a...

BIBLE READING: Mark 7 DISCUSSION                                                                                          Jesus quotes Isaiah when talking to the Pharisees and describing their vain worship. The Pharisees were great at keeping the law, but the law had no deeper meaning because they did not have love. They were guilty of going through the motions. Their legalistic mindset and rule-following helped them to feel holy, but they had no true, personal relationship with God. The same can be said of us when we try to check all the boxes of “religion.” We may try to honor God with ...

BIBLE READING: Mark 6 DISCUSSION                                                                           In chapter 6 when Mark says that the disciples’ hearts were hardened, this means the disciples did not realize Jesus’s true power. They had not taken in the true power Jesus had to feed the thousands. Jesus’s true identity was hidden to them because they did not truly grasp his. If they had realized it, then Jesus walking on water would not have surprised them. For them, Jesus’s previous miracle of multiplying bread was not enough for them to realize just how much power and authority He had. It's like Pharaoh. When Moses’s staff became a snake, Pharaoh...

BIBLE READING: Mark 5 DISCUSSION                                                                     In Mark chapter 5 Jesus has sailed to the other side of the sea and a great crowd has gathered to see his power. After Jesus has healed a demon-possessed man the crowd grew even larger. As he was making his way through the crowd this is when the woman with the issue of blood reached out and touched Jesus. Her healing and the raising of Jairus’s daughter both were reliant on the faith these people had in Jesus’s power. The power of Jesus’s touch is even greater now. The power of Jesus’s cleansing touch at baptism gives us power over sickness and death because it gives us eternal l...

BIBLE READING: Mark 4 DISCUSSION                                                                          The Mustard Seed – the smallest seed of all….right? As any master gardener could tell you, the mustard seed is not actually the smallest seed in the plant world. There are several orchids and other plant seeds that are smaller. So why use the mustard seed as an example?   I believe the reason to be twofold. First, in the Middle East 2,000 years ago that was about as small of a seed as they had. So to their knowledge – yes everyone got the illustration. Second, the mustard tree is not the biggest tree. In fact, it is more of a shrub. It is not the most...

BIBLE READING: Mark 3 DISCUSSION                                                         In Mark chapter three Jesus chooses the men that he will spend the next three years of his life with. He will lead these men, pray for them and ultimately pass on his mission to them. So, why them? Why did he choose these specific twelve Galileans? The answer: because he could work with them. Jesus knew these men were not too proud to pattern their life to fit God’s plan. In Isaiah 64:8, the prophet talks about how we are formed by God’s hand. None of us are created as a finished product. Jesus chose these twelve men because they were open to change. They were open to allowing the Potter to continue crafting his workmanship. These men were not the ...

BIBLE READING: Matthew 26-Mark 2 DISCUSSION                                                                                          The story of Barabbas has always intrigued me.   He is only mentioned in the story of the cross, but he is mentioned in every one of the Gospels.   Honestly, if we have no mention of him or his story; the story of Jesus is still the same.   Jesus would have still been arrested, still scourged and still hung on the cross for our sins.   None of those primary aspects of the Gospel would change at all, so why did God see fit to intertwine His st...

BIBLE READING: Mark 2 DISCUSSION                                                                        Mark 2 Recently I was part of a conversion regarding a recent sermon. The point of the sermon was that we might have to start sitting in the smoking section. One of the participants in the conversation said, “but I don’t want to sit there because I don’t want to smell like smoke – it makes me sick!” Of course I took the opportunity to inform her and the group that I was pretty sure the speaker was being figurative rather than literal. We all had a good laugh and I think we were all on the same page from the beginning anyways. Jesus did not mind “sitting in the smok...

BIBLE READING: Mark 1 DISCUSSION                                                                        Mark 1 In Mark chapter one Jesus begins in ministry. He begins in Galilee by proclaiming what prophets of old predicted: “the kingdom of God is at hand.” Next, Jesus calls his disciples and now that he had a following, he begins healing and casting out demons. The entire point of demon possession was to show that Jesus had power over all things – both physical and spiritual. However, he didn’t only heal, he taught the people and crowds that gathered. This is evident when we read what happened after Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. Following healing her, scripture ...

BIBLE READING: Matthew 28 DISCUSSION                                                              Matthew 28:18-20 Before He returned to His Father in heaven, Jesus had one final task to complete: to assign the job of carrying on His work on the earth.   His parting charge, often called "The Great Commission," was given first to the apostles, but it was intended for His church "to the end of the age"(28:20). It is interesting to note that in the beginning of Matthew's Gospel that Jesus is called Emmanuel, being interpreted, "God with us."   Jesus was going to be with those who followed His commands.   He is with us.   At the end of that same Gospel, Jesus says He will be with us to the end o...

BIBLE READING: Matthew 27 DISCUSSION                                                                             Matthew 27:26 I dare say there is no Christian anywhere who could not describe the crucifixion of Jesus in detail.   However, many might not comprehend the severity of the beating Jesus received, because it is not described in any of the four Gospel accounts.   It was unnecessary to do so, for the ancient people were quite familiar with such scenes.   Like the term "crucifixion," the mere mention of the word for "scourging" was sufficient to draw a mental picture. Pilate, having determined Jesus' innocence, suggested...

B IBLE READING: Matthew 26 DISCUSSION                                                                                                   Matthew 26:14-15 Judas was a man that had some of the best opportunities to live for and serve the Lord.   There is no indication in scripture that Judas was any different from the other apostles. But sin crept in, and as it usually does, led to Judas committing other iniquities. The sad conclusion is that this man became an enemy of God and tried to destroy Jesus and His ministry on earth. Ho...

BIBLE READING: Matthew 21-25 DISCUSSION                                                                        I can remember as a young adolescent in the garage making a futile attempt at souping up my bicycle late one evening.  As I looked up into the stars, I noticed a huge glow peeping out from one of the clouds.  I normally would not have given it a second look, but I could have sworn that the image was moving and getting brighter and brighter.  It caught my attention so much that I had to stop what I was doing and just stare at it as it appeared to get bigger and bigger, drawing closer and closer.  My mind immediately began to think of...

BIBLE READING: Matthew 25 DISCUSSION                                                                                    Matthew 25:13   If Jesus had told us exactly when He was coming, who would not be ready?   How many would try to lead sinful lives just before His coming and then change their lifestyles just before He returned?   This can be seen in so many ways in our daily lives.   If you are driving down the road and you meet a car whose driver is flashing his lights, you know there is a police officer up ahead waiting to catch us speeding.   We drive along and then see ...