April 25, 2021 - Mark’s Good News about Jesus – Holding on to What We Have

Holding on to What We Have

Jeremiah 7:1-11a - New International Version (NIV)

¹ This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Stand at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message:

“‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. ³ This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. ⁴ Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” ⁵ If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, ⁶ if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, ⁷ then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. ⁸ But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.

⁹ “‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, ¹⁰ and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? ¹¹ Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you?

What word came to Jeremiah (verse 1)?

Where is Jeremiah to stand to proclaim “this message” (verse 2)?

What do the people of Judah need to do for the Lord to let them “live in this place” (verse 3)?

In your opinion, what would the people of Judah meant if they said “this is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord” (verse 4)?

What four ways and actions are listed that the people of Judah need to change (verses 5 and 6):

1)

2)

3)

4)

How is “this place” where the Lord will let them live if they change described (verse 7)?

What worthless things are they trusting in (verse 8)?

In your opinion, what is the conflict between the stealing, murdering, committing adultery, committing perjury, burning incense to Baal, and following other gods; and standing before God in His temple and saying “we are safe” (verses 9 and 10)?

What does the Lord ask if “this house, which bears my Name” has become (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Mark 11:12-25 - New International Version (NIV)

¹² The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. ¹³ Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

¹⁵ On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. ¹⁷ And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

¹⁸ The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

¹⁹ When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

²⁰ In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. ²¹ Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

²² “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³ “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

How did Jesus feel when they left Bethany (verse 12)?

Why was there no fruit on the fig tree (verse 13)?

What did the disciples hear Jesus say (verse 14)?

Where was Jesus when He “began driving out those who were buying and selling there” (verse 15)?

In your opinion, why would Jesus quote the passage from Jeremiah here (verse 17)?

Who began to look for a way to kill Jesus and why (verse 18)?

What had happened to the fig tree (verse 20)?

Who remembered the cursing of the fig tree and said “Rabbi, look!” (verse 21)?

In your opinion, what mountain was Jesus looking at when He said “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea’” (verse 23)?

In your opinion, what can we learn about prayer from verses 23, 24 and 25?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how are the people of Judah in Jeremiah 7:1-11a and the chief priests, teachers of the law and sellers of Mark 11:12-25 similar?  How are the words of God through Jeremiah and the actions of Jesus in Mark similar? 

Acts 14:1-7 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. ² But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. ³ So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. ⁴ The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. ⁵ There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. ⁶ But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, ⁷ where they continued to preach the gospel.

Where did Paul and Barnabas go “at Iconium” (verse 1)?

Who believed because of their effective speech (verse 1)?

What did the “Jews who refused to believe” do (verse 2)?

How did God confirm “the message of his grace” (verse 3)?

How did the people of the city respond (verse 4)? 

In your opinion, why was there “a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews” (verse 5)?

What did Paul and Barnabas do when they found out about the plot (verse 6)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is the conflict God’s call to reform to those entering the temple in Jeremiah 7:1-11a also shown by the division in the synagogue and city in Acts 14:1-7?

In your opinion, is there anything in the success of Paul and Barnabas in Acts 14:1-7 that helps us understand the teachings of Jesus about prayer in Mark 11:12-25?

Revelation 3:7-13 – New International Version (NIV)

⁷ “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. ⁸ I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. ⁹ I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. ¹⁰ Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

¹¹ I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. ¹² The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. ¹³ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Who is the One who opens and no one can shut or shuts and no one can open (verse 7)?

What have the Christians in Philadelphia done in spite of having little strength (verse 8)?

Who do “those of the synagogue of Satan” claim to be (verse 9)?

Why will the Philadelphian Christians be kept from “the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth” (verse 10)?

In your opinion, what does the command to “hold on to what you have” mean (verse 11)?

Who will be a pillar in the temple with a new name written on them (verse 12)?

Who is to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (verse 13)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what is the difference between the people who are entering the temple where Jeremiah stands giving God’s warning in Jeremiah 7:1-11a and those who become pillars of the temple in Revelation 3:7-13?

In your opinion, what does the victory of those who have little strength but are able to keep Jesus’s word in spite of the synagogue of Satan in Revelation 3:7-13 help us understand about Jesus’s teaching of prayer in Mark 11:12-25? 

In your opinion, how would the synagogues in Iconium in Acts 14:1-7 and in Philadelphia in Revelation 3:7-13 being in opposition to Christians have effected people making decisions about Christ? 

In your opinion, what do these passages from Jeremiah, Mark, Acts and Revelation teach us about how those who frequent ‘holy’ physical buildings can become hostile to God and His people?

In your opinion, are there ‘holy’ physical buildings or ‘holy’ groups who have become hostile to God today?  How can we be victorious in today’s challenges?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

April 18, 2021 - Mark’s Good News about Jesus – The Formation of a Kingdom

 

The Formation of a Kingdom

Zechariah 9:9-12 - New International Version (NIV)

⁹ Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
    righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
¹⁰ I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
    and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
    and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
    His rule will extend from sea to sea
    and from the River to the ends of the earth.
¹¹ As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
    I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.
¹² Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope;
    even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

Why are “Daughter Zion” and “Daughter Jerusalem” to rejoice and shout (verse 9)?

Who was “lowly and riding on a donkey, or a colt, the foal of a donkey” (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to “take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken” (verse 10)?

What will the King proclaim “to the nations” (verse 10)?

Why will the King “free your prisoners from the waterless pit” (verse 11)?

Who is to “return to your fortress” (verse 12)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Mark 11:1-11 - New International Version (NIV)

¹  As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, ² saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

⁴ They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, ⁵ some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” ⁶ They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. ⁷ When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. ⁸ Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. ⁹ Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

¹⁰ “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

¹¹ Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Where was Jesus when He sent the two disciples (verse 1)?

How is the colt that is tied in the village described (verse 2)?

How are the disciples to answer if anyone asks “why are you doing this” (verse 3)?

Where was the colt (verse 4)?

Who ask “what are you doing, untying that colt” (verse 5)?

What happened when the disciples “answered as Jesus had told them to” (verse 6)?

When did Jesus sit on the colt (verse 7)?

What did people spread on the road (verse 8)?

Who shouted “Hosanna” and “blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David” (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what were the people who shouted “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David” (verse 10)?

Where did Jesus look “around at everything” (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9-12 linked to the circumstance described in Mark 11:1-11?  What do you think the people who shouted “Hosanna” expected to happen next? 

Acts 2:1-13 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

⁵ Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. ⁷ Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹² Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

¹³ Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

When were “they all together in one place” (verse 1)?

What “filled the whole house where they were sitting” (verse 2)?

Where did “what seemed to be tongues of fire” come to rest (verse 3)?

How were they all filled (verse 4)?

Who was in Jerusalem (verse 5)? 

Why was the crowd bewildered (verse 6)?

In your opinion, why was the crowd “utterly amazed” that the Galileans could speak is a way that everyone heard their native language (verses 7 and 8)?

What did they ask each other (verse 12)?

What did the ones who made fun of them say (verse 13)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-13 a beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9-12 to break the battle bow and “proclaim peace to the nations” while extending His rule?

In your opinion, how is the “coming kingdom of our father David” that the people were shouting was “blessed” in Mark 11:1-11 related to the sound like the “blowing of a violent wind” and “what seemed like tongues of fire” in Acts 2:1-13?

1 Peter 1:1-2 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, ² who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

How does Peter describe himself (verse 1)?

Where are “God’s elect” (verse 1)?

How have the elect been chosen (verse 2)?

What kind of work does the Spirit do (verse 2)?

In your opinion, why does Peter say the elect are to be both “obedient to Jesus Christ” and “sprinkled with his blood” (verse 2)?

What does Peter want the elect to have “in abundance” (verse 2)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how are the people “who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood” in 1 Peter 1:1-2 a part of the extending of “His rule” that is prophesied in Zechariah 9:9-12?

In your opinion, could those who shouted “Hosanna” (save) and spread the cloaks and branches in Mark 11:1-11 be some of those who are exiled “throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia” in 1 Peter 1:1-2?  Why would they need the “grace and peace” that Peter blesses them with? 

In your opinion, how could the events of Acts 2:1-13 have helped those who are exiled in 1 Peter 1:1-2 to understand that they have the unity of family or kingdom even though they might not be in the same location as others who are exiled?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Zechariah, Mark, Acts and 1 Peter teach us about who the citizens of the Kingdom of our Lord are?

In your opinion, how can we move from living as scared prisoners of a world that is doomed to being citizens of the Kingdom of God filled with an abundance of grace and peace today?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

April 11, 2021 - Mark’s Good News about Jesus – Shouting and Salvation

 

Shouting and Salvation

Joshua 6:6-16 - New International Version (NIV)

⁶ So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” ⁷ And he ordered the army, “Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”

⁸ When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them. ⁹ The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. ¹⁰ But Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!” ¹¹ So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there.

¹² Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. ¹³ The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. ¹⁴ So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

¹⁵ On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. ¹⁶ The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! 

What are the priests to do (verse 6)?

Where is the army to march (verse 7)?

What went ahead of the ark (verse 8)?

When did the trumpets sound (verse 9)?

In your opinion, why was the army not to “give a war cry” or raise their voices or say a work (verse 10)?

How many times did the ark circle the city (verse 11)?

When did Joshua get up (verse 12)?

How many days did the ark circle the city once (verse 14)?

How many times did the ark circle the city on the seventh day (verse 15)?

What did Joshua command the army (verse 16)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Mark 10:46-52 - New International Version (NIV)

⁴⁶ Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. ⁴⁷ When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁸ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” ⁵⁰ Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

⁵² “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

What was Bartimaeus doing as Jesus, his disciples, and a large crowd were leaving Jericho (verse 46)?

When did he begin to shout “Jesus, Son of David” have mercy on me” (verse 47)?

In your opinion, why did people rebuke him and tell him to be quiet (verse 48)?

How did Jesus respond (verse 49)?

What did Bartimaeus do (verse 50)?

In your opinion, why did Jesus ask “what do you want me to do for you” (verse 51)?

How did the blind man answer (verse 51)?

What did Jesus say (verse 52)?

What did Bartimaeus do after he received his sight (verse 52)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how are the shouting of the army around Jericho in Joshua 6:6-16 and Bartimaeus shouting as Jesus was leaving Jericho in Mark 10:46-52 similar? 

Acts 23:6-11 – New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” ⁷ When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸ (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

⁹ There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” ¹⁰ The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

¹¹ The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

What did Paul know about the people (verse 6)?

Why did Paul say he was standing on trial (verse 6)?

What broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees (verse 7)?

Who believed “that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits” (verse 8)?

Who argued “we find nothing wrong with this man” (verse 9)? 

What was the commander afraid of (verse 10)?

Who told Paul to “take courage” (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what is similar between Joshua having the ark circle the city of Jericho in Joshua 6:6-16 and Paul shouting “I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead” in Acts 23:6-11?

In your opinion, how is Bartimaeus crying “Jesus, Son of David” in Mark 10:46-52 similar to Paul crying out about “the hope of the resurrection of the dead” in Acts 23:6-11? 

In your opinion, how is Bartimaeus following Jesus at the end of Mark 10:46-52 and Paul testifying about Jesus in Jerusalem and Rome alike?

Revelation 7:9-14 – New International Version (NIV)

⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

¹⁴ I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

Who was in the “great multitude that no one could count” (verse 9)?

What did they cry “out in a loud voice” (verse 10)?

What did the angels standing around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures do (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what does the first Amen mean (verse 12)?

In your opinion, what does the second Amen mean (verse 12)?

Who ask, “these in white robes-who are they and where did they come from” (verse 13)?

How did John answer (verse 14)?

Who are “these in white robes” (verses 14 and 15)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how are the shout of the army in Joshua 6:6-16 because “the Lord has given you the city” and the crying out with a loud voice that ““Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” by the people in white robes in Revelation 7:9-14 similar?

In your opinion, why would the call of Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52 “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me” have to proceed the call of those robed in white in Revelation 7:9-14 that “Salvation belongs to our God”? 

In your opinion, how might what Paul testified about the Lord in Jerusalem and in Rome according to Acts 23:6-11 and what the people in the white robes are testifying to in Revelation 7:9-14 be the same?  How might they be different?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Joshua, Mark, Acts and Revelation teach us about testifying for the Lord?

In your opinion, how can we testify to Jesus today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)