Sermon Bible Study Guides

Mark 4:1-34 - November 10th 2017

God’s Ways are Not Like Ours

Read Mark 4:1-20

1. How does Jesus begin teaching in this passage? What reason does he give for using this method?
2. Who does Jesus explain the parable to? Why does he explain it to them, and not others?
3. What is the meaning of the parable, according to Jesus?
4. Who do the different soils represent?

Application:

1. How should we respond to the fact that different people will receive the Word differently? Should that affect or change the way that we teach Scripture? Why or why not?
2. Should we teach in parables?
3. What do the disciples need in order to understand Jesus’ teaching? How should that affect the way we think about our (or others) ability to understand the gospel?

Read Mark 4:21-34

1. What does the parable about the lamp (21-25) say about Jesus’ teaching? Does he want to hide the truth, according to this?
2. Who is blamed for their lack of understanding?
3. What does the parable of the growing seed (v26-29) teach about the kingdom of God? How does the kingdom grow? Who makes the kingdom grow?
4. What does the parable of the mustard seed (v30-32) teach about the kingdom of God? What size does the kingdom start at? Is that the size it will end at?
5. The last two verses conclude this teaching section. Who is Jesus teaching in parables to? Who does he explain them to?
6. What is the relationship between these three short parables and the first one (v1-20)? What do these explain about the first one?

Application

1. Are these parables encouraging to you? Why or why not?
2. How should these parables shape the way we think about the growth God’s kingdom? Should that affect the way we live, or share the gospel, or pray?
3. What does this teach us about how we should approach the Bible, if we want to understand it?
4. In light of this passage, how should we respond when it seems as though the kingdom is not growing?

Mark 3:7-35 - November 3rd 2017

Liar, Lunatic, or Lord?

Read Mark 3:7-35

1. How has Jesus ministry changed and why?
2. What does Jesus order the unclean spirits to do and why?
3. Who does Jesus call and for what purpose?
4. What is significant about those who Jesus calls uniquely as apostles? (Think about what you are told about them, what you know, how many are chosen, the purpose of calling them, etc.)
5. How do Jesus family respond to his growing fame?

1. What have we learned about the scribes already? How have they responded to Jesus so far?
2. What do they charge Jesus with here?
3. How does he respond? What point are the parables making about who Jesus is, and his relationship to Satan?
1. What have we seen already in Mark about Jesus’ interactions with Satan and evil forces?
4. What is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and why is it unforgivable?

1. How does Jesus respond to his family seeking him? Why?
2. What does this emphasize about our relationship to Jesus and therefore God?

Application:

1. How should our understanding of Jesus identity affect our relationship to him?
2. Contrast the response of Jesus’ family, the scribes, and the desired response to Jesus.
3. How does the gospel enable us to do God’s will and therefore be members of the family of God?