January 2, 2022 - Mark’s Good News about Jesus – Be Like Stephen

 Be Like Stephen

Exodus 6:2-8 - New International Version (NIV)

² God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord. ³ I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them. ⁴ I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. ⁵ Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.

⁶ “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. ⁷ I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. ⁸ And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’”

What did God say to Moses (verse 2)?

By what name had God “appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob” (verse 3)?

By what name had God not made Himself “fully known to them” (verse 3)?

In your opinion, what is the difference between God’s title of God Almighty and His title as the Lord (verse 3)?

What covenant had God established with them (verse 4)?

What has God heard (verse 5)?

How will God redeem the Israelites from the Egyptians (verse 6)?

What will God do for the Israelites (verse 7)?

In your opinion, what does it mean when God says “I am the Lord your God” (verse 7)?

What is God giving to the Israelites (verse 8)?

In your opinion, why does God begin and end this statement with “I am the Lord” (verse 8)?

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

Mark 14:53-65 - New International Version (NIV)

⁵³ They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. ⁵⁴ Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.

⁵⁵ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. ⁵⁶ Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

⁵⁷ Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: ⁵⁸ “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” ⁵⁹ Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

⁶⁰ Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶¹ But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

⁶² “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶³ The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. ⁶⁴ “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

They all condemned him as worthy of death. ⁶⁵ Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

Who came together when they took Jesus to the high priest (verse 53)?

How did Peter follow Jesus (verse 54)?

What could the “chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin” not find (verse 55)?

Whose statements did not agree (verse 56)?

In your opinion, what was Jesus being accused of by those who said “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands’” (verses 57 and 58)?

Who said “are you not going to answer” (verse 60)?

How did Jesus respond (verse 61)?

Who said “are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One” (verse 61)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus answer with “I am” (verse 62)?

Where does Jesus say He will be seen (verse 62)?

What did the high priest do (verse 63)?

What did they do after the high priest said “you have heard the blasphemy” (verse 64)?

How did they treat Jesus (verse 65)?

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

In your opinion, how is Jesus’s calm and confident answer, “I am”, to the hostile chief priests and Sanhedrin in Mark 14:53-65 as majestic as the “I am” of God identifying Himself to Moses as “God Almighty” and “the Lord” in Exodus 6:2-8?    

Acts 9:8-15 – New International Version (NIV)

⁸ Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.

¹¹ Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

¹² So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. ¹³ They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

¹⁵ All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

What was Stephen full of (verse 8)?

Where did Stephen perform “great wonders and signs” (verse 8)?

Who were the opposition “who began to argue with Stephen” (verse 9)?

How did their arguments with Stephen go (verse 10)?

What did they do in secret (verse 11)?

Where did they bring Stephen (verse 12)?

Who said “this fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law” (verse 13)?

What was Stephen accused of saying that Jesus of Nazareth would do (verse 14)?

What did the Sanhedrin see when they “looked intently at Stephen” (verse 15)?

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

In your opinion, who, of all the people who were gathered in Acts 6:8-15, should know “the Lord” who revealed himself to Moses in Exodus 6:2-8?  What do their actions prove about their relationship with “the Lord”?

In your opinion, how could Jesus in Mark 14:53-65 and Stephen in Acts 6:8-15 both have been calm in the frantic storm of lies and hatred that was taking place around them and leading both of them to death?

Revelation 1:4-8 – New International Version (NIV)

⁴ John,

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, ⁶ and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

⁷ “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
    and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
    and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

In your opinion, who is John writing this letter to (verse 4)?

Who sends “grace and peace” (verses 4 and 5)?

How is Jesus Christ described (verse 5)?

What has Jesus done for us (verse 5)?

What has Jesus made us (verse 6)?

How is Jesus coming (verse 7)?

Who will mourn (verse 7)?

Who says “I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty” (verse 8)?

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

In your opinion, how is the revelation of God to Moses that “I am the Lord” in Exodus 6:2-8 expanded by the revelation of “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” to John?

In your opinion, how does the calm and truthful “I am” of Jesus to the high priest’s question, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” in Mark 14:53-65 establish Him as the “faithful witness” to all of Revelation 1:4-8? 

In your opinion, how is Stephen in Acts 6:8-15 an example of those freed from sins being a “kingdom and priests” as Revelation 1:4-8 says? 

In your opinion, what do these passages from Exodus, Mark, Acts and Revelation reveal to us about the different aspects of the One who says “I am”? 

In your opinion, how can we, to whom God has been revealed by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses, Jesus and John become more like Stephen in a world of hostility and anger?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

December 26, 2021 - Mercy and Joy

Mercy and Joy

Hebrews 10:5-10 - New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
    but a body you prepared for me;
⁶ with burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you were not pleased.
⁷ Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
    I have come to do your will, my God.’”

⁸ First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. ⁹ Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

When did Christ speak (verse 5)?

What did the Father not desire (verse 5)?

What was prepared for Jesus (verse 5)?

In your opinion, why did “burnt offerings and sin offerings” not please God (verse 6)?

Who said “here I am” (verse 7)?

What had Jesus come to do (verse 7)?

How were the “sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings” that God did not desire offered (verse 8)?

Who said “I have come to do your will” (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what is the “first” that is set aside (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what is the “second” that is being established (verse 9)?

How have we been made holy (verse 10)?

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

Micah 5:2-5a - New International Version (NIV)

² “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.”

³ Therefore Israel will be abandoned
    until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
    to join the Israelites.

⁴ He will stand and shepherd his flock
    in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
    will reach to the ends of the earth.

⁵ And he will be our peace

How is Bethlehem described (verse 2)?

Who is coming out of Bethlehem (verse 2)?

Where is the one coming out of Bethlehem from (verse 2)?

What two things will happen at the end of Israel’s abandonment (verse 3)?

How will the One who is coming “stand and shepherd his flock” (verse 4)?

Why will His flock “live securely” (verse 4)?

What will He be (verse 5)?

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

In your opinion, how is the prophecy of Jesus coming as a ruler and shepherd in Micah 5:2-5a expanded in the prophecy that Paul quotes from the Psalms in Hebrews 10:5-10?    

Luke 1:39-45 – New International Version (NIV)

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

What had happened before Luke 1:39-45?

Where did Mary hurry to (verse 39)?

Who did Mary greet when “she entered Zechariah’s home” (verse 40)?

What happened when Mary’s greeting was heard (verse 41)?

Who was “filled with the Holy Spirit” (verse 41)?

In your opinion, why were Mary and her child blessed (verse 42)?

How was Elizabeth favored (verse 43)?

Who “leaped for joy” (verse 44)?

Who is blessed (verse 45)?

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

In your opinion, how does Luke 1:39-45 establish that the prophecy from Psalms quoted in Hebrews 10:5-10 was being fulfilled?

In your opinion, what does the prophecy in Micah 5:2-5a indicate will happen after the baby that Elizabeth blessed in Luke 1:39-45 is born?

Luke 1:46b-55 – New International Version (NIV)

“My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

What does Mary say “glorifies the Lord” (verse 46b)?

How does her spirit rejoice (verse 47)?

What has the Lord been mindful of (verse 48)?

Who has “done great things for me” (verse 49)?

What “extends to those who fear him” (verse 50)?

Who has been scattered (verse 51)?

Who has been lifted up (verse 52)?

How have the hungry been treated (verse 53)?

What has He remembered (verse 54)?

Who had these things been promised to (verse 55)?

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

In your opinion, how is the mercy that Mary mentions twice in her song in Luke 1:46b-55 important to understanding what Hebrews 10:5-10 says Jesus came to do as He did God’s will? 

In your opinion, what does Luke 1:46b-55 help us begin to understand about the flock that Micah 5:2-5a says the One born in Bethlehem will shepherd?

In your opinion, how does Luke 1:46b-55 help us understand the blessing that Elizabeth says will be Mary’s in Luke 1:39-45?  How is that blessing different from what you might expect for the mother of a king?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Hebrews, Micah and Luke help us understand about what Jesus came into the world to accomplish?

In your opinion, how is Mary an example of how we, who believe that the Lord fulfills promises, should respond after being “made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ”?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

Mark’s Good News about Jesus – Peace in the Midst of Betrayal – December 12, 2021

 Peace in the Midst of Betrayal

2 Samuel 20:1-10 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted,

“We have no share in David,
    no part in Jesse’s son!
Every man to his tent, Israel!”

² So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

³ When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but had no sexual relations with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.

⁴ Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” ⁵ But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.

⁶ David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bikri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master’s men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us.” ⁷ So Joab’s men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.

⁸ While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.

⁹ Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. ¹⁰ Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bikri.

How was Sheba son of Bikri described (verse 1)?

Who did the “men of Israel” follow (verse 2)?

In your opinion, why did the “men of Judah” stay with King David (verse 2)?

What happened to the ten concubines (verse 3)?

Who did King David ask to “summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself” (verse 4)?

How long did it take to summon Judah (verse 5)?

In your opinion, why did King David think that Sheba would do more harm than Absalom (verse 6)?

Who pursued Sheba (verse 7)?

What happens to Joab’s dagger (verse 8)?

Why did Joab take Amasa “by the beard” (verse 9)?

What did Joab do as he kissed Amasa (verse 10)?

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

Mark 14:43-52 - New International Version (NIV)

⁴³ Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

⁴⁴ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” ⁴⁵ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. ⁴⁶ The men seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁴⁷ Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

⁴⁸ “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? ⁴⁹ Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” ⁵⁰ Then everyone deserted him and fled.

⁵¹ A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, ⁵² he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

Who was with Judas when he appeared (verse 43)?

What was the signal that Judas, the betrayer, had arranged (verse 44)?

When did Judas go to Jesus (verse 45)?

What did Judas say to Jesus (verse 45)?

What did Judas do (verse 45)?

What happened to Jesus (verse 46)?

Who was struck with the sword (verse 47)?

In your opinion, why would Jesus ask “am I leading a rebellion” (verse 48)?

What had Jesus been doing every day (verse 49)?

What did Jesus say “must be fulfilled” (verse 49)?

How did everyone respond (verse 50)?

How did the young man wearing the linen garment get away (verses 51 and 52)?

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

In your opinion, how are the kisses of Joab in 2 Samuel 20:1-10 and Judas in Mark 14:43-52 similar?    

Acts 9:26-31 – New International Version (NIV)

²⁶ When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. ³⁰ When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

In your opinion, why would the disciples have been afraid of Paul (verse 26)?

Where did Barnabas take Saul (verse 27)?

What did Barnabas say about Saul (verse 27)?

How did Saul speak in Jerusalem (verse 28)?

In your opinion, why would the Hellenistic Jews that Saul debated try to kill him (verse 29)?

What did the believers do when that heard that the Hellenistic Jews had tried to kill Saul (verse 30)?

What happened to the church “throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria” (verse 31)?

Who did the church live in fear of (verse 31)?

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

In your opinion, why do you think the actions of Joab in 2 Samuel 20:1-10, who was acting on behalf of a King who had been fleeing from a revolt, and Barnabas in Acts 9:26-31, who was acting on behalf of a King who had died on the cross, were so different?

In your opinion, why did Judas act as a betrayer in Mark 14:43-52 and Barnabas as an encourager in Acts 9:26-31?

1 Peter 5:6-14 – New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

¹² With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.

¹³ She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

When will God lift you up if you humble yourself (verse 6)?

Why should we cast our anxiety on God (verse 7)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to “be alert and of sober mind” (verse 8)?

Who is going through the same kind of sufferings that you are (verse 9)?

When will God “restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (verse 10)?

What had Silas done for Peter (verse 12)?

Who sends greetings (verse 13)?

How are Christians to “greet one another” (verse 14)?

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

In your opinion, how are the actions of Sheba, the troublemaker in 2 Samuel 20:1-10, different from the actions of the devil in 1 Peter 5:6-14?  How are they similar?

In your opinion, how has Peter, who John 18:10 says is the one who drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest in Mark 14:43-52, changed that he would now say that we should resist by “standing firm in the faith” in 1 Peter 5:6-14? 

In your opinion, what can the ways that Barnabas helped Saul in Acts 9:26-31 and Silas helped Peter in 1 Peter 5:6-14 teach us that we can apply today? 

In your opinion, what do these passages from 2 Samuel, Mark, Acts and 1 Peter, where kisses can mean betrayal or love, teach us about the source of betrayal and the source of love? 

In your opinion, in a world where cousins stab, disciples betray, and religious leaders try to kill; how can Christians have peace?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)