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)

June 2, 2019 – Learning from James – Faith In Deed

Faith In Deed


Genesis 22:1-14 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

² Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

³ Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. ⁴ On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. ⁵ He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

⁶ Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, ⁷ Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

⁸ Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

⁹ When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. ¹¹ But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

¹² “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

¹³ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Who tested Abraham (verse 1)?

What was Abraham to do with Isaac (verse 2)?

When did Abraham “set out” (verse 3)?

What did Abraham see on the third day (verse 4)?

In your opinion, why did Abraham tell the servants to “stay here with the donkey” (verse 5)?

Who carried the wood for the burnt offering (verse 6)?

How did Abraham answer Isaac’s question “where is the lamb for the burnt offering” (verses 7 and 8)?

What did Abraham do with Isaac (verse 9)?


When did the angel of the Lord call out “Abraham! Abraham!” (verses 10 and 11)?


Why did the angel know that Abraham feared God (verse 12)?


What did Abraham offer instead of his son (verse 13)?


What did Abraham call that place (verse 14)?


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.

Where was Bartimaeus when Jesus, His disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho (verse 46)?

When did Bartimaeus begin to shout (verse 47)?


How did Bartimaeus respond when people “rebuked him and told him to be quiet” (verse 48)?


In your opinion, why did Jesus say “call him” instead of going to Bartimaeus (verse 49)?


How did Bartimaeus respond (verse 50)?


What did Bartimaeus tell Jesus he wanted (verse 51)?


What did Jesus say had healed Bartimaeus (verse 52)?


Then what did Bartimaeus do (verse 52)?


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


In your opinion, how is the faith that Abraham exhibited in Genesis 22:1-14 different from the faith that Bartimaeus exhibited in Mark 10:46-52?  How was their faith similar?


Galatians 5:1-6 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

² Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. ³ Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. ⁴ You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

For what has “Christ set us free” (verse 1)?

How are the Galatians to keep themselves from being “burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (verse 1)?

When would Christ be “of no value” to the Galatians (verse 2)?

What would a man “who lets himself be circumcised” be obligated to obey (verse 3)?

In your opinion, why is someone who is trying “to be justified by the law” alienated from Christ (verse 4)?

How do “we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope” (verse 5)?

What counts in Christ Jesus (verse 6)?

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

In your opinion, what action does Abraham make in Genesis 22:1-14 that you would call “faith expressing itself through love” as Paul identifies as the only thing that is important in Galatians 5:1-6?

In your opinion, how is Jesus giving Bartimaeus his sight in Mark 10:46-52 similar to Christ setting us free as Paul indicated in Galatians 5:1-6?


James 2:14-26 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ²¹ Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

In your opinion, can the faith of someone who does not have deeds save them (verse 14)?

What is dead (verses 15 through 17)?


What will someone say (verse 18)?


In your opinion, why does James say “I will show you my faith by my deeds” (verse 18)?


What do even the demons believe (verse 19)?


What worked together for Abraham when his faith was made complete (verse 22)?


Which scripture as fulfilled (verse 23)?


In your opinion, what does it mean that “a person is considered righteous by what thay do and not by faith alone” (verse 24)?


When was “Rahab the prostitute” considered righteous (verse 25)?


What is “faith without deeds” (verse 26)?


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


In your opinion, how does Abraham’s act of faith in Genesis 22:1-14 when he says that “God himself will provide the lamb” help us understand how we can also act in faith as is required by James 2:14-26?


In your opinion, how does Bartimaeus calling out even louder to Jesus after he was rebuked in Mark 10:46-52 an example of the dependence on God that is required to show our faith by our deeds as instructed in James 2:14-26?


In your opinion, how is the seeming conflict between the linking of faith and deeds in James 2:14-26 resolved by the Galatians 5:1-6 passage which begins by saying “it is for freedom that Christ sets us free” and ends by saying “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love”?


In your opinion, what do these passages from Genesis, Mark, Galatians and James help us understand about how we, who have faith that God loved us so much that he provided His Son as a lamb to take away our sins, can love others enough to express that love through deeds?


In your opinion, how can our faith today be made complete?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)