In the Word

Lesson 7 - The One Who Is the Good Teacher

Mark 10:1-45. Baited by Pharisees who wanted to arrest Him, questioned by an eager young man who wanted easy answers, and faced with disciples who wanted to realize their own ambitions — Jesus showed Himself to be an incredible teacher. He fearlessly challenged false assumptions. He revealed the true nature of God’s kingdom and set a perfect example for His disciples to follow. But most of ...

Lesson 6 - The One Who Came to Suffer

Mark 8:27-9:47. Truly the turning point of Mark’s Gospel, the question Christ posed in Mark 8:29 — “Who do you say I am?” — altered the disciples’ journey. Peter’s glorious confession — “You are the Messiah” — led to the sobering call to follow that Messiah to their own cross of sacrifice and death. Glimpses of glory on the mountain were eclipsed by jealous arguing among the disciples. And they ...

Lesson 5 - The One to Bless All the Nations

Mark 7 and 8 are full of challenges. Jesus confronts the Pharisees’ ideas about defilement and uncleanness, drawing attention to the heart instead of outward show. He challenged the disciples’ ideas by taking them into Gentile territory and doing mighty works there — healing a demon-possessed girl, a deaf/mute and a blind man. He fed 4,000 with just a few loaves of bread. And then He calle...

Lesson 4 - The One Who Shepherds His People

Mark 6:7-56. Things were speeding up in Christ’s ministry; and the disciples were plunged into a steep learning curve in this week’s lesson. Thankfully, their teacher was called The Good Shepherd, because things got hard very fast. Their first mission went well; but then they were challenged by the needs of a hungry multitude and another violent storm on the sea — this time without their M...

Lesson 3 - The One Who has the Victory

Mark 4:35 – 6:6. This lesson pictures the complete victory Jesus offers us. He rules over nature, over demons, even over death itself. He is Lord over all. But Mark reminds us it’s also about what do we do with the claims of Christ. We can accept them like Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood, receiving what He promises and more. Or we can reject them like the Gerasenes and the people o...

Lesson 2 - The One Who is Lord of All

Mark 2:13 – 4:25. Mark continues recounting the miracles, the confrontations and the teachings of Jesus as His ministry spreads and grows. The Pharisees move front and center in this lesson, angry at Christ’s association with “sinners” and His total disregard of their rules and traditions, especially regarding the Sabbath. Christ openly challenges their stubbornness and pride, ending with a war...

Lesson 1 - The One with Authority to Forgive Sins

Mark 1:1-2:12. Mark’s fast-paced Gospel about the life and ministry of Jesus makes a point of recording how people reacted to Him. Some believed His claims. Some doubted. Some even got angry. And that is still true today. Mark’s Gospel will certainly challenge our own understanding of who we believe Jesus is!

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ACTS of the Holy Spirit - A Study on the Book of Acts - Lesson 12

Acts 15:36-16:40. After several unsuccessful attempts at journeying into Asia, Paul and Silas traveled to Philippi. Their ministry there probably looked different to what they had expected, as after delivering a slave girl from demonic possession they ended up beaten and thrown into prison!

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ACTS of the Holy Spirit - A Study on the Book of Acts - Lesson 11

Acts 14:8-15:35. It was not long before false teachers began to disrupt the church in Antioch with their doctrine of circumcision teaching that salvation was only for the Jews. The Council of Jerusalem issued a firm decree confirming that salvation is for both Jew and Gentile alike and that it is given by grace, not by the Law.

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