THE GOSPEL OF MARK,Ch.10,v.14ff.

v.14…Is it possible for a young child , e.g about 5 years of age, to trust and love God, even if the child’s knowledge about God is limited to one or two truths ?- 1 Samuel, ch.3; Luke,ch.18,v.15-17.

v.15.. To be “ like a little child” means to have certain characteristics of mind and emotion which are….?

v.19-20…What were the commendable qualities in the man ?

.v21-22…What 2 commandments had the man opted-out of  or failed to keep ? ( Exodus, ch,20,.v3,4, 17.; Deut,ch5,v.7,8,21  What was his “god.” ?

   Is it possible to inherit eternal life by trying to obey all the commandments, even if there is some failure in the effort to do so ?  Romans, ch.3,v.21-23; Ephesians, ch.2,v.4-10; Galatians,ch.3,v10-14.  Is eternal life a gift offered by God in response to a man’s faith, or is it a quality achieved by Godly living ?

v.23…What hindrances may rich people face if they wish to enter eternal life or receive eternal life ?- Matt.ch.13,v.22

THE GOSPEL OF MARK,Ch.8,v.22ff.

v22-26…Why did Jesus lead the blind man outside of the village ?

   Would a gradual restoration of sight be more helpful for this man?

   Does the gradual process of healing have a parallel in anyone gaining spiritual insight  ?

Do instant conversions ever occur, or are there always spiritual promptings before this happens ?-Acts, ch8,v.26-40; ch.9,v.1-19.

v.29..If an assertion of faith is never sought, is permanent faith ever established in a “believer” ?-Romans,ch.10,v.9-10 .

Was Peter’s answer the result of guesswork, or was there another source ?- Matt.ch.16,v.17

v.31…Did Peter realize then the full purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world and His total ministry- (example, teaching, works of power, sufferings,death burial, resurrection, ascension, exaltation.) ?

Did he understand much more of the truth later ?-1 Peter,ch.3,v.18.

v.32..Did Peter and the other disciples accept at that time that the Son of Man would need to suffer in God’s will ?

v.35…What kind of commitment does Jesus ask of a follower ..self-determination, independence, self –centred living, or a life centred only on Jesus and His purposes ?

Does Jesus ever ask a follower to do something He never faced Himself ?

What kind of commitment does Jesus ask first in anyone who would follow Him .. our gifts, our money, our service, our abilities, or our self-life ?

v.38.. Why could a follower of Jesus ever become ashamed of Him ? Would the reason be the manner of His death ? Or might the reason for shame be a shallow commitment to Him personally and a superficial response to Him ?-Matt.,ch.13,v.20-22.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK,Ch.8,v1.ff.

v.1..Jesus and His disciples were now in the region of the Decapolis, a Gentile area. The feeding of the 5000 had occurred in Israel proper.

   Why had a crowd gathered already to meet Jesus ? –Mark,ch.5-v20.

  Does Jesus have a concern for the Gentiles as He has for people of His own race ?

v.2.- Is there an order in His response to human need ?  See ch.9,.v 19-27.

    Is the sequence .. sight- feeling- action.?

    Do we see others with Jesus’ eyes, do we hear others needs with Jesus’ ears, do we want to respond as Jesus did as far as we are able ?

v.4…Had the disciples forgotten the miracle of the feeding of the 5000, or was it that they lacked faith in His power ?

v.5..  Is the challenge for us one of faith, so that we use whatever we have in the situation and act in faith with it ?

v.10… Dalmanutha  is near the west coast of the sea of Galilee, and here the Pharisees again confront Jesus to test Him.

v.11..The Pharisees ask for proof of His authority and identity as the divine Son of man ( Mark ch.2,.v.10ff.)

   They ask for proof by way of a miracle before they believe in Him. Is that the basis for true belief , or should we believe on the basis of God’s word or promise ?- 1 Peter,ch.1,v.8; John,ch.20v.29.

v.15.. What was the danger of the “yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod “ ?- Matt,ch.16,.v12; 1 Cor.ch.5,v.6-8

Leaven or yeast in Jewish thought was seen as a symbol of evil influence.

Leaven of the Pharisees is evident in their attitude in Mark,ch.7,.v.3-8.

Leaven of Herod was evident in the love of power and prestige..Luke,ch.23,v.6-12.

v.16-17..Did the disciples understand the meaning of Jesus’ reference to the leaven ?

v.18-21.. Had the disciples remembered Jesus’ signs of power and authority shown to everyone with the spiritual eyes to see them in miracles of the 5000 and the 4000 ?

    Do we read the lessons of our own experiences of Jesus’ power in our own lives, and go from faith to more faith , or do we retreat into doubt or unbelief ,as the disciples did on this occasion ?

THE GOSPEL OF MARK,Ch.7,v.24ff.

v,24..Why do you think Jesus sought some privacy ? Should we seek privacy on occasion, apart from the need for prayer ?-Mark,ch6,v.31.

Jesus and the disciples were now in Gentile territory which should have taken and occupied as a part of the tribe of Asher (Joshua, ch.19,,v28)

v27…Who were the “children” who should have the first claim to the bread ?

   When Jesus referred to “their dogs”, was He speaking of household pet dogs or the wild , ferel dogs ?

  Was Jesus testing the woman’s persistence and faith, or trying to deter her from asking for a miracle?

v.28…Was her reply a sign of real faith and humour?

    Does God always give an immediate “Yes” to our requests, or does He wish us to examine ourselves to see how genuine and earnest our prayer is ?

   Does the miracle of the healing of the Gentile’s daughter have a symbolic meaning … showing how Gentiles will seize the blessings God has, while the Jews often carelessly throw them aside ?

v.33.. Why did Jesus take the man aside to give him this double healing ?

v.34… Why did He look up ? Jesus commanded the healing to take place . Did the disciples follow this example or point to Jesus as the Healer ?- Acts,ch.3,v.6; ch.9,v.34; ch.16, v.18.

The Aramaic word of command which Jesus spoke shows that Peter was present and repeated this when he recounted his gospel to Mark, while in Rome.

   Why did Jesus sigh, or rather “groan “. Was it because of weariness or anger with the enemy for the effects of sin in human life ?

v36… Why did Jesus ask for no publicity ? Was this to spare the man’s feelings, or to avoid  undue excitement ?

THE GOSPEL OF MARK,Ch.7

v.3 …When we compare the “tradition of the elders “ with the original laws prescribed , are these traditions extensions of the laws or simply customs adopted to make them understandable ?- Lev.ch.11..dealing with foods; ch.12…relating to childbirth; ch.13 dealing with skin diseases; ch14…dealing with cleansing from skin diseases; ch.15…relating to discharges from the body. Numbers, ch.19…water for cleansing.

   Was the uncleanness about which the Pharisees complained to do with health precautions ,or for ceremonial and ritual customs ?

   Were the laws in the O.T. designed to guard against ill health in the wilderness >

v.6… Is true faith in God an attitude of heart and mind , or a careful observance of correct behaviour and thought ?

v.11…Anything declared “Corban” is something set apart for God and therefore made untouchable. Could this vow or intention of separating a valuable thing for God alone become an excuse for ignoring a human need which is immediate ?

v.14- 23.. Does real  uncleanness  consist in  the thoughts and inner attitudes, or in a person’s  actions ?

Does this list  of the sources of uncleanness course us to examine our own hearts daily – Isaiah ,ch.29,v.13-14.

Is a mere obedience to civil laws and customs and moral standards sufficient in God’s sight for living a godly life , or is a change of heart needed first..a change from self and sin to  a heart given over to God alone ?

Is it possible to avoid all these immoral and evil actions  and yet give time to entertain and fantasise the thoughts which sponsor them-Matt.ch.5,v.21-22; 27-28.

Is the human heart naturally good through and through, or is it in need of a deep change to incline towards God and goodness ?- Eccles, ch.7-20; Romans ch.3,v.10-18; 1 John ch.1,v.8-10.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK,Ch.4,part 2.

  v.21…Where might we gain spiritual insight and light ?..Exodus,ch.13,v.21; Psalm 18,v.28; Psalm 119,v.105; Proverbs 6,v.23; John ch.1,.v.9; 2 Corin.ch.4,.v.6.

   How may light or insight be shared with others who are in darkness ?…Eph.ch.5,v.8-14;Acts, ch.13,v.47; Psalm 37,v.6.

v.22..Is there any purpose in concealing a truth once it is received ?…Psalm 44, v.2; Psalm 139,v. 11-12; Jer. ch.23,v.24; Eccl. ch.12,v.14.

v.23… Does the person who receives good news or a truth have a responsibility in sharing this with others ?..2 Cor.c.4,.v.13-15.

v.24 and v.25… What could result if a person who has received good news, or a talent or an ability and then fails to use these ?…Matt.ch.25,.v.28-30; Luke ,ch.19,.v26

v.26… What are some of the evidences of belonging to the Kingdom of God ?…Luke,ch.6,v.20; Luke,ch.17,.v.20-21; John,ch.3,.v3; Romans,ch.14,v.17; 1 Cor.ch.4,.v.20.

v.27…Does the seed of the Kingdom grow without any human intervention ?..2 Cor.ch.4,v.7.  But does God call every believer to work with Him  ?..Phil.,ch.2,,v.13.

v.28.. Is God’s Kingdom growing continuously, quietly and without interruption ?

v.29..Is it God’s purpose and plan for a final gathering or harvest of all who belong to His Kingdom ?…Matt.ch.25,.v.31-33; 2 Peter,ch.3,v.10-13;  Heb.ch.12,v.28.