Mark 12:30
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

The world is fascinated with love. Innumerable songs, books, plays and poetry have been written on the subject. Love is the favorite theme of Hollywood movies, gossip rags and television shows. We even have Valentine’s Day, where we celebrate love with flowers, candy and romantic sentiments. I grew up hearing the words “all we need is love” heralded through the airwaves. Love was an important subject in the times of Christ as well. When Jesus was asked what was the most important of all the commandments He responded, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30 The scribes understood exactly what Jesus was saying and agreed with Him fully. They said “to love God and to love others is more than all the offerings and sacrifices.” We have taken the greatest commandment and put it through the word processor of modern times and reduced it to one word: love. Even those who do not follow Jesus (and a few who do not even believe in Him) will quote Him as saying the greatest commandment is love. They will go on to espouse, that if we want to live and die right, all we need to do is be loving toward one another. Since Jesus declares that this is the most important of all commandments, it is vital that we understand that the command not only states love is the greatest responsibility of man, but also declares who we are to love. Just to love our family, or be compassionate toward those less fortunate than us, or to be kind to our fellow man, does not satisfy this commandment. We are only fulfilling the great commandment when we are loving God first, and loving others as an expression of our love for God. Ask yourself this morning, do I love God first? If you do, He should have first place in your life, which means He will have first place in your living. If you love Him, you will spend time with Him, in His Word and in prayer. You will seek to please Him with your actions and express your love to Him in worship. Just to love, or to herald the importance of love, does not satisfy the greatest commandment. Instead, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. ’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Pastor Jim

Questions for Mark 12

1. Why did the vinedressers want to kill the heir?
2. Is there any part of your life where you are unwilling to let Jesus have authority?
3. Are you rendering to God the things that belong to God?
4. According to verse 24, why were the Sadducees mistaken regarding the afterlife?
5. What is the greatest commandment?
6. How are you obeying it?
7. Look for ways today to show love within your sphere of influence.
8. How is it possible that the widow put more in the offering than anyone else?

Old Testament:
Exodus 29- Stained Garment
Exodus 30- Word Art

Mark 11:17
“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’ But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.”

Journeying through the gospels, we have many glimpses into the emotions of Christ. We see His compassion upon the multitudes and the sick, His love toward the rich young ruler, His sadness at the death of Lazarus, His tenderness toward the children, and so much more. As we encounter Him at the Temple, it is His anger that becomes evident to us. We read of Him turning tables over and driving people out of the Temple. Whatever we do not understand about this event, it is clear to all that Jesus is very upset with what is going on in the Temple courts. The key to unlocking the meaning of this event is in the words of Jesus Himself. He said,

“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’ But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.”

The Temple and it’s ministries, we’re designed by God with the purpose of bringing sinful men into fellowship with God. A person would bring an offering to the priest, the offering was sacrificed, and sin covered. The Temple should have been a place where people loved and longed to go. When Jesus arrived, things had changed. The courts had turned into a market place and worship became a way of making a buck. The money changers charged a high rate to convert the Roman coinage, used on the streets, into the Temple coins, used for offerings. The priests required the people to purchase sheep from them for sacrifice. All this was turning people away from fellowship with God, and restricting worship.

Today the church ought to be a place where sinners are drawn to Jesus, and people are able to fellowship with Christ. Just like priests, we can become guilty of doing things that hinder others from coming to Christ. Perhaps an attitude toward a neighbor or co-workers is keeping them from Christ. Perhaps a prejudice toward a certain group of people is hindering you from inviting them to church. We should seek to do our best to be sign posts that point people to Jesus, rather than road blocks that keep them away.

Is there anyone  to whom you may have been a stumbling block? Anyone who, because of your behaviors, may have reason not to come to church? Take a few minutes to pray for them, that God would make you a positive influence upon them.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Mark 11

1. According to verse 6, why were the disciples successful on the mission Jesus sent them on?
2. What does the word “hosanna” mean?
3. What was Jesus expecting to find on the fig tree? Why?
4. What do you think Jesus is expecting to find in your life?
5. Why was Jesus so upset at the events that were taking place in the Temple?
6. What do we learn about forgiveness from Verses 25-26?
7. Is there ANYONE who you are holding a grudge against, who you are unwilling to forgive? Take some time to pray for them and for you.
8. The religious leaders were unwilling to answer the question because of the fear of people. What are you unwilling to do because you are afraid of others?
9. Ask God to help you fear Him more than you fear people of acceptance.

Old Testament:
Exodus 27- The Altar
Exodus 28- Burden Bearers

Mark 10:49
“Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”

Imagine the thrill that must have filled Bartimaeus when he heard these words. Although his eye did not allow him to see, he had heard the stories of the man from Galilee, who was healing the sick and raising the dead. Now Jesus was right there within the sound of his voice, able to hear his cries. Knowing that he had nothing to offer, Bartimaeus simply cried out for mercy. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Bartimaeus did not consider himself worthy of receiving anything from Jesus, but he did consider Jesus worthy of giving it. He knew that his only hope was mercy, and He cried out to the One he knew would provide it. The surrounding crowd began to rebuke him. They did not consider Bartimaeus worthy of receiving anything from Jesus. It is not difficult to understand why. What could a blind beggar possibly offer the King of Kings? I am sure Bartimaeus had grown accustomed to being silenced and ignored. Those with little to offer are often ignored. But his cry for mercy did not go unnoticed; Jesus heard his cry and called him; first to have his sight restored, and then to follow Jesus.

Like Bartimaeus, Jesus is calling you. First, He is calling you to come, have your sins forgiven and receive eternal life. Second, He is calling you to follow Him, and finally He is calling you to serve Him. Will you answer that call? Will you ignore the cries of your own heart or of others who say, you are not worthy? Instead, will you listen to the One who is worthy of giving mercy; Who is calling you to come to Him?

Pastor Jim

Questions for Mark 10

1. According to verse one, what was the custom of Jesus?
2. What principle for marriage can you detect in verses 5-9?
3. What do we learn about divorce from verse 5, 11-12?
4. Jesus seems very excited to have the children come to Him. How do you think you can encourage young people to come to Christ?
5. If Jesus were addressing you and your relationship with God, is there anything that you think He would say is “lacking”? Whatever that is take some time right now in prayer to determine to deal with it.
6. In verse 27, what does Jesus say is impossible for men but made possible by God?
7. Take a few minutes to meditate on the promise found in verses 29-30.
8. According to Jesus why did He come?
9. How would you respond to the question Jesus asked Bartimaeus?

Old Testament:
Exodus 25- Glamping
Exodus 26- The Veil

Mark 9:24
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

We are introduced to a man facing one of life’s greatest obstacles, the illness of his son. We have little glimpses into the great love he had for his child. We are told the father cried out with tears, and although the boy had been suffering from childhood, his father stood with him, even risking his life to rescue him. When he finally came face to face with Jesus, he was given a great promise; “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” This man’s response is both practical and poetic. “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” It seems to me, this man had many reasons not to believe. His son, whom he loved, was tormented; this had been going on his whole life. He implies that time and time again, his son was at the point of death, only to be rescued by his father. It seems clear, nothing medically could help him. To make matters worse, he had come to the disciples, and they were no help. It is not difficult to understand why he was filled with unbelief. Love, medicine, and religion were of no help in overcoming the great obstacle he was facing. It is easy to see why his faith had waned.

I think it is important to note, that in the midst of this dilemma, he also had much reason to believe. He had been hearing of the great things Jesus had done for others. He had heard of the blind, the deaf, the lame, and the possessed, all being transformed by simple faith in Christ. On top of that, he had a promise from God; “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” One of the great lessons from this man’s experience, is while he was being squeezed (on one side by doubt and the other by faith), he chose to act in faith. He made a decision. He would not allow his doubts to keep him from trusting in the promise of Christ. The result, his son was healed. We are much like this man. We have life obstacles that cause our faith to wither. In those times, we are being pressed by doubt on one side, and by the promises of God on the other. In those times we have a choice to believe life or believe Christ.

The great lesson from this man is that with all of his unbelief he chose to believe.

What will you do?

Pastor Jim

Questions For Mark 9

1. What promise does Jesus give to the disciples in verse 1?
2. How is that promise fulfilled in the following verses?
3. Describe the events atop the mountain.
4. I confess I sometimes feel like Peter wanting to stay on the mountaintop. Keep in mind that God used this event in his life and that those intimate experiences with Jesus are designed to make us more useful as we go down the mountains to serve the Lord.
5. What great promise is given in verse 23?
6. What promises do you need to believe God for today? Take some time to focus on the promises of God rather than the promises of your circumstances.
7. The disciples were trying to figure out how to get to the top in Jesus’ kingdom. Who does Jesus say is first in His kingdom?
8. In verse 42, what are we warned against?
9. Is there any behavior that you are committing that makes it hard for the people in your sphere of influence to be a follower of Jesus?
10. What does Jesus compare us to in verse 49? Why do you think He makes the comparison?

Old Testament:
Exodus 23- Following The Crowd
Exodus 24- Faithful In All Things

Mark 8:35
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory or opposed to common sense, but is true. The statement Jesus reveals is one of life’s greatest paradoxes. Man was created to know God. Jesus said that He came to “give us life and that more abundantly.” When our lives are lived in complete obedience to the Lord, we experience the height of living. When we hold back, unwilling to give ourselves, our time, or some sinful activity; we think we are gaining, we think we are better off. That very thing we are holding onto, is the very thing keeping us from the abundant life Jesus created for us.

Knowing this, Jesus asks two questions. First, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)

If true life is found in surrender to Christ, then what would be the benefit of holding onto all the world offers? Imagine if your phone were to ring this morning, and on the other end of the call were all the world leaders. They had decided that the best thing for mankind was to make you king of the world. You get the title, the robe, the crown, the chair and all the world’s goods are now yours. You possess all the wealth and all the power of the whole world. There is nothing you cannot have. The catch… you must deny Jesus. You can have this life but not eternal life. That my friends is a losing proposition. The right response is to hang up the phone.

Knowing that will not happen; knowing that no man has ever gained the whole world, Jesus asks a second question,

“What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36)

You cannot have everything, so is there anything you are holding onto that is robbing you from the life Jesus has for you?Perhaps a relationship you thought would satisfy you, so you began to compromise your walk with the Lord; only to find that it is robbing you of the life found in Christ. Whatever it may be, anything you are holding onto, lay it all down and follow Christ.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Mark 8

1. How does Jesus feel about the multitude?
2. Who did use to minister to the multitude?
3. How do you think Jesus might want to use you today to minister to others?
4. What lesson do you think Jesus wanted the disciples to learn from the feeding of the multitudes?
5. How is the healing of the blind man different than other healings Jesus performed?
6. What does that teach about God’s methods?
7. From verse 34, what are the requirements for being a disciple of Jesus?
8. Have you obeyed verse 34? If not, why not? Take a closer look at verses 36-37.
9. Take some time to pray that you would be able to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus.

Old Testament:
Exodus 21- Bondservant
Exodus 22- Pray For Our Leaders

Mark 7:3
“For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.”

Man was created with a need to know God. In fact, we only experience the fullness of life when we are in right relationship with God. Man, apart from God, is like an expensive luxury car, purchased only to sit in the driveway under a cover. That is not what it was designed to do. Nor were we designed to live apart from God. That is why there is a longing in our hearts to know God. This longing shows itself in worship; every man worships something. God’s answer to this was to send His Son, so we could know Him. Man’s answer is to become incurably religious. Like an old miner who hits a vein of fool’s gold; so many have satisfied their soul’s longing for God with religious practices.

The Pharisees picture for us the religious man. They had established an entire system of actions that they believed would make God happy. In reality, all this did was dilute the craving their souls had for truly experiencing God. Like all man-made religions, all the Pharisees could do was focus on the externals. Their focus was on things like dress, food, and behavior in public.

Things are no different today. God has put eternity in our hearts. He wants us to know Him, and live in relationship with Him. Like the Pharisees, we often settle for religious practices. Rather than wanting to meet with God, we will treat devotions like a check list. Instead of worship, we treat the songs at church as the preamble till the Bible study begins. Rather than listening to the Word, and letting it transform our lives, we critique the message, and compare it with the one from last week; or with one from our favorite teacher. We begin to measure our spirituality by the things we are not doing, instead of by how we are becoming more like Jesus, as a result of spending time with Him daily. Perhaps the words of Isaiah could be applied to us,

“This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.” Mark 7:6

While it is important that the outside line up with the inside (our actions prove that we have been born again), outward change will never make us right with God.

Perhaps this morning would be a good time to evaluate your relationship with God. Have you allowed Him to come in and reign in your heart? Or are you simply going through the motions, trying to live a better life, satisfied with a pocket full of fool’s gold?

Pastor Jim

Questions for Mark 7

1. What complaint did the Pharisees have against Jesus and His disciples?
2. According to verse 6, what were the people doing wrong?
3. Take some time for self-examination. Are you in any way guilty of verse six?
4. Jesus makes it clear that spiritually speaking we are not defiled by what we eat but that sin comes from within. Look at the list in verse 21-22, are there any things that you need to confess and repent of?
5. What do you learn about Jesus from the stories of healing at the end of chapter 7?

Old Testament:
Exodus 19- Where Are You Going?
Exodus 20- No Idols

Mark 6:5
“Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.”

The phrase “He could do no mighty work there…” has always fascinated me. Think about it. The one who healed the sick, calmed the seas, rebuked the demons, raised the dead, created all things, and by the word of His power, holds all things together, could do no mighty work there. Why? What is it that kept the mighty God from accomplishing His mighty works.

“He marveled because of their unbelief.” Mark 6:6

Mark tells us unbelief limited the work of God in the lives of the people of Nazareth. They did not believe Jesus could do for them what they heard He had done for others. Since faith is the currency of the kingdom of God, without it we cannot expect God to work in our lives. The question we must ask is, “Why didn’t they believe?” Why did some, like Jairus, exercise such great faith, and yet these have so little. I think perhaps the answer is found in their statement about Jesus.

“’Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?’ So they were offended at Him.” Mark 6:3

They knew who Jesus was, but knew so little of Him. They knew of His humanity, but none of His deity. They knew nothing of His great power and thus were “offended at him.” That word “offended” means to cause to stumble. They were stumbled because they knew so little of Jesus. When the time came that they needed a great work in their lives, their puny view of Jesus limited them from being able to trust He could accomplish what they needed.

What is your view of Christ? Do you see only the carpenter’s son, or have you met the Son of God? Do you know the one Who said, “I am the resurrection and the life?” He then went on, not only to raise the dead, but to arise from the dead, Himself, ascend to heaven, and reign as King of kings and Lord of Lords. Perhaps it is time to take a closer look at the risen Christ, so you might trust Him to do “a mighty work.”

Pastor Jim

Questions for Mark 6

1. What did the citizens of Nazareth think about who Jesus was?
2. How did that hinder them from experiencing Him?
3. Are there any wrong thoughts that you have about Jesus that are hindering you from experiencing His work in your life?
4. Why do you think that Jesus sent them out in pairs?
5. Why did Herod arrest John?
6. Why did he have him killed?
7. Verse 31, Jesus invites the disciples to “rest” the story tells of thousands gathering together in need. What does that says about ministry?
8. How does the action of Peter on the lake challenge you?

Old Testament:
Exodus 17- Hitting Rock Bottom
Exodus 18- Next Generation

Mark 4:11
“To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God”

Paul wrote in1 Corinthians 2:14,

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

In other words, before we receive Christ, the things of God remain a mystery to us. While we are capable of reading the words on the page, we do not truly understand the ways of God. However, the moment we put our faith in Christ for salvation, we are born again. The Spirit of God enters into us and we come alive to God. Spiritual things that had no meaning to us before, begin to make sense. Again let’s let Paul explain,

1 Corinthians 2:10-11 “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”

God reveals Himself and His ways through the Spirit, and in the Word. It is because the Spirit of God rests within you that John writes,

1 John 2:27 “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”

John is not saying teachers or teaching is unnecessary, but that the same Spirit who resides in the pastor or Bible teacher, resides in you; the same God who opens the Word and makes it alive to them, will make it alive to you. The psalmist put it like this:

Psalms 119:99 “I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.”

If all that is true, then why does so much of the Bible still evade us? Why are there so many things that still remain in the realm of “mystery” to us? I think the key may be found in the response the disciples had when Jesus first made this statement.

“And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.” Mark 4:34

Jesus spoke something that was puzzling to them. Rather than gathering together to discuss what they all thought it meant, which they did that on other occasions to no avail, they got alone with Jesus and listened to more of His Words. That, my friends, is the secret! If we want to understand the mysteries of God, we must frequent the Throne of Grace. We must follow the pattern of the twelve and get alone with Him. These mysteries will not unfold to us by getting alone with our own thoughts or meditations, they will not be uncovered by simply discussing them with one another, if we want to truly understand the ways of God, we must get alone with the Word of God. It is time we make His meditations our delight. Then it will be said of us, as it was of Moses:

Psalms 103:7 “He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.”

Pastor Jim

Questions for Mark 4

1. This is one of the greatest stories Jesus ever told. Take a few moments to examine the components. What does each represent?
   • The Sower
   • The seed
   • The wayside
   • The birds
   • The stony ground
   • The scorching sun
   • The thorns
   • The good soil
   • The fruit produced
2. Jesus speaks about our ears, he tells us to use them to listen to His Word and to be careful what other things we listen to. Is there anything that you need to stop listening to? Perhaps things that are filling you with, fear, anxiety, anger, despair. Replace those things with listening to the Word and worship.
3. What difficulty do the disciples face at the end of the chapter?
4. What do they do when they are afraid?

Old Testament:
Exodus 13- Set Free
Exodus 14- Boxed In