God’s Love of Justice

• Lesson 6 for the week of February 1 to February 8

Relevant Verses: Malachi 3, Exodus 23, Genesis 18, Numbers 35, Joshua 7 Theme: “God’s Love of Justice” Leading Question: Is the understanding of “justice” the same among all human beings? When it comes to matters...

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The Wrath of Divine Love

• Lesson 5 for the week of January 25 to February 1

Relevant Verses: Psalm 78, Nehemiah 9, Amos 7, Jonah, Mark 3, 10 Theme: “The Wrath of Divine Love” Leading Question: “The Wrath of Divine Love” sounds so negative. Can’t we just skip it? We will...

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God Is Passionate and Compassionate

• Lesson 4 for the week of January 18 to January 25

Relevant Verses: Isaiah 1, 49, Psalm 103, Luke 10, Matthew 9 Theme: “God Is Passionate and Compassionate” Leading Question: Is it “reasonable” for God to be passionate and compassionate with his wayward children? Question: Which...

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To Be Pleasing to God

• Lesson 3 for the week of January 11 to January 18

Relevant Verses: Zephaniah 3, Luke 15, Psalm 146, Romans 5 Theme: To Be Pleasing to God Leading Question: Which is our more serious challenge: Convincing arrogant sinners to abandon their arrogance, or convincing repentant sinners...

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Covenantal Love

• Lesson 2 for the week of January 4 to January 11

Relevant Verses: Genesis 6, 9, 15; Deuteronomy 7; Jeremiah 31, Psalm 136 Theme: Covenantal Love Leading Question: “How does the idea of covenant help us understand the word “love”?  Our lesson speaks of “covenantal love.” ...

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God Loves Freely

• Lesson 1 for the week of December 28 to January 4

Relevant Verses: Exodus 33; Hosea 14; Matthew 22 Theme: God Loves Freely Leading Question: Given all that we know about the human race and about ourselves, is it “reasonable” to expect that God should love...

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The Risen Lord

• Lesson 13 for the week of September 21 to September 28

Opening Question If Jesus rose from the dead as the Gospel of Mark says, what impact does that have on us today? Introduction The good news of the resurrection is recounted briefly in Mark, but...

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Tried and Crucified

• Lesson 12 for the week of September 14 to September 21

Opening Question Is the cross an appropriate symbol for Christianity? Introduction Passion literature requires suffering, but not necessarily death. Jesus both suffers, and then dies in the Gospel account of Mark. The scenes are difficult...

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Taken and Tried

• Lesson 11 for the week of September 7 to September 14

Opening Question Why do we sometimes distrust the court system to act justly? Introduction Chapter 14 of Mark begins with Jewish leaders plotting to take Jesus out, and ends with Him in handcuffs and facing...

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The Last Days

• Lesson 10 for the week of August 31 to September 7

Opening Question If you could know your whole future, would you do so? Introduction The future always captures our imagination. We worry about our own future and legacy, about our world and its sustainability, about...

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Jerusalem Controversies

• Lesson 9 for the week of August 24 to August 31

Opening Question Would you rather live with no controversies or with them? Introduction Dr. Shepherd notes how this section adds controversies at the close of Jesus’ ministry that parallel the beginning of his ministry. The...

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Teaching Disciples: Part 2

• Lesson 8 for the week of August 17 to August 24

Opening Question If you could request any gift from God, what might it be? Introduction As this lesson completes chapter 10, we also complete the three major chapters on discipleship in Mark. We learn more...

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Teaching Disciples: Part 1

• Lesson 7 for the week of August 10 to August 17

Opening Question What makes someone a good student? Introduction Many commentators will divide Mark into two sections: the first half ends at 8:30 or perhaps 8:38, and the 2nd half ends at 16:8 (or 20)....

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Inside Out

• Lesson 6 for the week of August 3 to August 10

Opening Question Does Jesus care what we eat? Introduction One of the more challenging passages in Mark’s gospel is chapter 7’s discussion about unclean hands and foods. But perhaps we ask the wrong questions when...

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