January 23, 2022 - Mark’s Good News about Jesus – Pursuing Righteousness

Pursuing Righteousness

1 Samuel 26:7-13 - New International Version (NIV)

⁷ So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

⁸ Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”

⁹ But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? ¹⁰ As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹ But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

¹² So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.

¹³ Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them.

Where did David and Abishai go “by night” (verse 7)?

What was Saul doing (verse 7)?

Who was around Saul (verse 7)?

In your opinion, why did Abishai think that “God has delivered” David’s enemy into his hands (verse 8)?

Why did David tell Abishai not to destroy Saul (verse 9)?

What did David think would happen to Saul (verse 10)?

What did David say that the “Lord forbid” (verse 11)?

Where was the spear and water jug that David took (verse 12)?

Where did David go (verse 13)?

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

Mark 15:6-15 - New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. ⁷ A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. ⁸ The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

⁹ “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, ¹⁰ knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

¹² “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

¹³ “Crucify him!” they shouted.

¹⁴ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

¹⁵ Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Who was customarily released at the festival (verse 6)?

What had Barabbas done “in the uprising” (verse 7)?

What did the crowd ask Pilate to do (verse 8)?

Who did Pilate think the crowd wanted released (verse 9)?

Why did Pilate think the chief priests handed Jesus over to him (verse 10)?

In your opinion, would the chief priests have said that they stirred up the crowd for a righteous reason (verse 11)?

Who ask “what shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews” (verse 12)?

What did the crowd tell Pilate (verse 13)?

How did the crowd respond when Pilate ask them “what crime has he committed” (verse 14)?

What did Pilate do to satisfy the crowd (verse 15)?

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

In your opinion, how was David’s approach in 1 Samuel 26:7-13 to dealing with Saul, who had declared himself an enemy of David, the opposite of the chief priests’ approach in Mark 15:6-15 of dealing with Jesus?    

Acts 21:30-36 – New International Version (NIV)

³⁰ The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. ³¹ While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. ³² He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

³³ The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. ³⁴ Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. ³⁵ When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. ³⁶ The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”

Who was aroused (verse 30)?

In your opinion, would they have said they were aroused for a good reason (verse 30)?

What happened after they dragged Paul from the temple (verse 30)?

Who heard that the “whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar” (verse 31)?

When did the rioters stop beating Paul (verse 32)?

In your opinion, why was Paul, who they were beating, arrested and bound with chains (verse 33)?

Why could the commander not get the truth (verse 34)?

Why was Paul carried by the soldiers (verse 35)?

What was the crowd shouting (verse 36)?

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

In your opinion, how could the crowd in Jerusalem, who had grown up hearing about how David spared Saul in 1 Samuel 26:7-13, have reacted with such violence against Paul in Acts 21:30-36?

In your opinion, how has the situation changed from the time that the chief priests used Pilate to have Jesus killed in Mark 15:6-15 to the time when the crowd is trying to kill Paul in Acts 21:30-36?

1 Timothy 6:11-16 – New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you ¹⁴ to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

What is Paul telling Timothy to pursue (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the “good fight of the faith” that Paul is telling Timothy to fight (verse 12)?

When was Timothy called to eternal life (verse 12)?

What did Christ Jesus make before Pontius Pilate (verse 13)?

How long if Timothy to “keep this command” (verse 14)?

What is God going to “bring about in his own time” (verses 14 and 15)?

Who is to have “honor and might forever” (verse 16)?

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

In your opinion, how do Abishai and David in 1 Samuel 26:7-13, demonstrate pursuing “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” as Timothy was instructed to do in 1 Timothy 6:11-16 instead of the falling prey to temptation to what seemed like a good thing? 

In your opinion, did Pilate when he tried to release Jesus and ended up releasing Barabbas in Mark 15:6-15 “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” as Timothy was commanded to by Paul in 1 Timothy 6:11-16?  Why or why not?  How about the high priests?  Why or why not?  Do you think that Pilate and the high priests would have said they were pursuing righteousness?

In your opinion, do you think that the people who were aroused in Acts 21:30-36 thought they were pursuing or resisting the righteousness, godliness and faith that Paul commanded Timothy to pursue in 1 Timothy 6:11-16?  How does adding love, endurance and gentleness change the tenor of the command? 

In your opinion, what do these passages from 1 Samuel, Mark, Acts and 1 Timothy teach us about the challenge of pursuing “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” as an individual?  Do you think it is easier or harder as part of a group? 

In your opinion, how can we who believe today discern the temptation that we need to flee and the righteousness we are commanded to pursue?

January 16, 2022 - Mark’s Good News about Jesus – Silently Preaching

Silently Preaching

Isaiah 53:7-12 - New International Version (NIV)

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
⁸ By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.
⁹ He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
¹¹ After he has suffered,
    he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.
¹² Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.

What did “He” not do even though oppressed, afflicted and led like a lamb to the slaughter (verse 7)?

Why was “He” punished (verse 8)?

Where was the grave “He” was assigned (verse 9)?

What does the Lord make “his life” (verse 10)?

In your opinion, how can one who has given His life have offspring (verse 10)?

Who will “justify many, and . . . bear their iniquities” (verse 11)?

How was “He” numbered (verse 12)?

What did “He” bear (verse 12)?

Who did “He” make intercession for (verse 12)?

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

Mark 15:1-5 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

² “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

³ The chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴ So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

⁵ But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

When did “the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin” make their plans (verse 1)?

What did they do to Jesus (verse 1)?

How did Jesus respond when Pilate ask “are you the king of the Jews” (verse 2)?

Who accused Jesus “of many things” (verse 3)?

What did Pilate ask Jesus (verse 4)?

In your opinion, why didn’t Jesus answer the accusations (verses 3 and 4)?

Did Jesus reply (verse 5)?

How did Pilate feel (verse 5)?

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

In your opinion, how does Isaiah 53:7-12 help us understand the lack of response that Jesus made to the accusations of the high priests and why He did not defend Himself to Pilate in Mark 15:1-5?    

Acts 18:9-17 – New International Version (NIV)

⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” ¹¹ So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

¹² While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. ¹³ “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

¹⁴ Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. ¹⁵ But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” ¹⁶ So he drove them off. ¹⁷ Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

How did the Lord tell Paul “do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent” (verse 9)?

Who would be with Paul (verse 10)?

Why was not one “going to attack and harm you” (verse 10)?

How long did Paul stay in Corinth (verse 11)?

Where did the Jews of Corinth bring Paul (verse 12)?

What did they accuse Paul of (verse 13)?

Why did Gallio not think it was reasonable to listen to the Jews (verse 14)?

Who did Gallio say should settle the matter (verse 15)?

What did Gallio do (verse 16)?

How did the crowd act (verse 17)?

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

In your opinion, how can it be the Lord’s will to crush and make one person suffer as foretold in Isaiah 53:7-12 and it be the same Lord’s will that “no one is going to attack and harm” Paul in Corinth in Acts 18:9-17?  Was the promise that “no one is going to attack and harm” for the rest of his life, or just for a time?

In your opinion, why is Pilate’s response to the chief priest’s accusations against Jesus in Mark 15:1-5 different from Gallio’s response to the Jews in Acts 18:9-17?

1 Peter 2:20-25 – New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. ²¹ To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

²² “He committed no sin,
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

²³ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” ²⁵ For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

What “is commendable before God” (verse 20)?

Who “suffered for you” (verse 21)?

Whose steps should we follow (verse 21)?

What sin had Jesus committed (verse 22)?

When did Jesus not make threats (verse 23)?

In your opinion, how can Peter say that Jesus, who was tried by Pilate, “entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (verse 23)?

Why did Jesus bear our sins “in his body on the cross” (verse 24)?

Who have the lost sheep returned to (verse 25)?

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

In your opinion, why does 1 Peter 2:20-25 ask us to follow the example of Jesus, who lived the prophecy of Isaiah 53:7-12, in a world where the is so much oppression and injustice? 

In your opinion, how does the fact that Jesus only responded to Pilate’s question “are you the king of the Jews” and not to any insults in Mark 15:1-5 help us understand when to respond and when to endure being obedient to 1 Peter 2:20-25? 

In your opinion, how is God’s instruction for Paul to “keep on speaking” in Acts 18:9-17 in harmony with 1 Peter 2:20-25’s instruction to follow the example of Christ? 

In your opinion, what do these passages from Isaiah, Mark, Acts and 1 Peter reveal to us about preaching Christ as we respond to attacks on self? 

In your opinion, how can we who believe today follow Jesus in entrusting ourselves to “him who judges justly”?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

January 9, 2022 - Mark’s Good News about Jesus – Gently Bold

Gently Bold

Daniel 3:13-18 - New International Version (NIV)

¹³ Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, ¹⁴ and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? ¹⁵ Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

What was Nebuchadnezzar’s emotional status (verse 13)?

Where were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego summoned to (verse 13)?

What did Nebuchadnezzar ask Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (verse 14)?

When will it be “very good” (verse 15)?

What will cause Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to be “thrown immediately into a blazing furnace” (verse 15)?

In your opinion, how would Nebuchadnezzar have answered the question “what god will be able to rescue you from my hand” (verse 15)?

What didn’t Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego feel they needed to do (verse 16)?

What did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego believe that the God they served was able to do (verse 17)?

What did they believe that God would do (verse 17)?

In your opinion, why would Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego tell Nebuchadnezzar that they would not serve his gods or worship the image of gold even if God does not deliver them (verse 18)?

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

Mark 14:66-72 - New International Version (NIV)

⁶⁶ While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. ⁶⁷ When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.

“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.

⁶⁸ But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.

⁶⁹ When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” ⁷⁰ Again he denied it.

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”

⁷¹ He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”

⁷² Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Where was Peter when the servant girl of the high priest came by (verse 66)?

What did she say after looking at him closely (verse 67)?

How did Peter respond (verse 68)?

Where did Peter go (verse 68)?

Who did the servant girl tell “This fellow is one of them’” (verse 69)?

How did Peter respond (verse 70)?

Why did those standing near think that Peter was “one of them” (verse 70)?

In your opinion, why would Peter have “began to call down curses” while he was telling them he did not know Jesus (verse 71)?

What did the rooster do (verse 72)?

What did Peter remember (verse 72)?

How did Peter react (verse 72)?

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

In your opinion, how were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego able to stand before the mighty king Nebuchadnezzar and tell him that they would not worship his gods or the image of gold in Daniel 3:13-18 but Peter is unable to tell a servant girl that he knows Jesus in Mark 14:66-72?    

Acts 5:12-16 – New International Version (NIV)

¹² The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹³ No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. ¹⁵ As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. ¹⁶ Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

What did the apostles perform “among the people” (verse 12)?

Where did the believers “used to meet together” (verse 12)?

Who “dared join them” (verse 13)?

How were they regarded by the people (verse 13)?

How were people “added to their number” (verse 14)?

Why did people bring their sick and lay “them or beds and mats” (verse 15)?

Where did the crowds come from (verse 16)?

What happened to the “sick and those tormented by impure spirits” (verse 16)?

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

In your opinion, how is Peter being willing to meet with other believers in Solomon’s Colonnade in Acts 5:12-16 similar to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego standing before Nebuchadnezzar and telling him that they would not worship his gods or his image in Daniel 3:13-18?

In your opinion, what has transformed Peter from the person who would not admit to a servant girl that he knew Jesus in Mark 14:66-72 to meeting with other believers in Solomon’s Colonnade with such boldness that people were intimidated and would not join them in Acts 5:12-16?

1 John 2:20-25 – New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. ²¹ I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. ²² Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. ²³ No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

²⁴ As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵ And this is what he promised us—eternal life.

What do the people that John is writing to have (verse 20)?

What do these people know (verse 20)?

Why is John writing these people (verse 21)?

“Who is the liar” (verse 22)?

What is the person who denies Jesus (verse 22)?

Who has the Father (verse 23)?

How will the recipients of the letter “remain in the Son and in the Father” (verse 24)?

In your opinion, why would John end his discussion with the mention of the promise of eternal life (verse 25)?

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

In your opinion, how are Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego choosing the God who could save them, even if He didn’t, over worshipping the golden statue in Daniel 3:13-18 a solid example of the somewhat abstract discussion of denying Jesus Christ or acknowledging the Son in 1 John 2:20-25?

In your opinion, how is the denial of Peter in Mark 14:66-72 different from the denial that makes an antichrist in 1 John 2:20-25? 

In your opinion, how might the example of the believers in Acts 5:12-16 inspire those who today have the “anointing from the Holy One” of 1 John 2:20-25? 

In your opinion, what do these passages from Daniel, Mark, Acts and 1 John reveal to us about the difference between Peter, when he denied knowing Jesus, and the gentle and firm boldness of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego along with the early believers? 

In your opinion, how can believers in the world today acknowledge the Son gently, firmly and with boldness?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)