Confrontation in Galilee

• Lesson 5 for the week of April 23 to April 30

Read: Mark 6:1-7:23 In this lesson, Jesus returns home. His own community, however, had great difficulty accepting him. Coming Home (Mark 6:1-5) Most of Jesus’ life is shrouded in silence as he works in a...

Continue reading →

By Galilee

• Lesson 4 for the week of April 16 to April 23

Read: Mark 4:1–5:43 This weeks lesson focuses on Jesus as he ministers on and around the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4-5). Parables (Mark 4:1-34) Christians today typically view parables as simple stories with a clear...

Continue reading →

Sabbath Healings and Hard Hearts

• Lesson 3 for the week of April 9 to April 16

Read: Mark2:23-3:35 Jesus and his disciples were popular, but they also stirred up controversy. This week’s lesson includes some of those controversies Jesus faced. Jesus and the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-3:6) On a number of occasions...

Continue reading →

Amazing Miracle Worker

• Lesson 2 for the week of April 2 to April 9

Read: Mark 1:21-2:17 In the first 20 verses of his book, Mark introduces Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and John the Baptist, who prepares the way for the Lord. Jesus is baptized...

Continue reading →

Introducing Jesus, the Son of God

• Lesson 1 for the week of March 26 to April 2

Read: Mark 1:1-20 This quarter’s lessons focus our attention on the New Testament book of Mark. This first lesson will be a bit longer than the others because it is important to address some background...

Continue reading →

The Power of the Resurrection

• Lesson 13 for the week of March 20 to March 27

Relevant Passages John 20:1-21:25 The Power of the Resurrection. None of the Gospels leave Jesus in the tomb. On the first day of the week the tomb is empty. That points to a precious hope...

Continue reading →

Jesus Lays Down His Life for His Friends

• Lesson 12 for the week of March 13 to March 20

Relevant Passages John 18:1-19:42 Jesus Lays Down His Life for His Friends. John’s account of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion differs in several ways from the synoptic accounts, just as the synoptics differ among themselves. John...

Continue reading →

The Spirit “Replaces” Jesus

• Lesson 11 for the week of March 6 to March 13

Relevant Passages John 13:31-16:33 The Spirit “Replaces” Jesus. In John 13-16, Jesus addresses several of the pressing concerns which were haunting the disciples. It was a troublesome time for all of them. Not only had...

Continue reading →

Real Greatness

• Lesson 10 for the week of February 28 to March 6

Relevant Passages John 13:1-30; 17 Real Greatness. If Jesus’ strong claims to divinity as recorded in the earlier chapters of John are separated from his real life of service and his passion, they could sound...

Continue reading →

A Devoted Soul and an Impending Cross

• Lesson 9 for the week of February 21 to February 28

Relevant Passages John 11:1-12:50 A Devoted Soul and an Impending Cross. Jesus’ ministry is now in transition. In John 11 and 12 we read of two significant events involving Jesus’ friends from Bethany: the death...

Continue reading →

The Good Shepherd

• Lesson 8 for the week of February 14 to February 21

Relevant Passages John 7:1-10:21 The Good Shepherd. Jesus’ story of the good shepherd follows on a sequence of events at the Feast of Tabernacles. After the feeding of the 5000 Jesus spoke of bread; at...

Continue reading →

The Sacred in the Common

• Lesson 7 for the week of February 7 to February 14

Relevant Passages John 6 The Sacred in the Common. John 6 links together three events in the life of Jesus: the feeding of he 5000, walking on water, and his “bread of life” sermon at...

Continue reading →

Putting the Past Behind You

• Lesson 6 for the week of January 31 to February 7

Relevant Passages John 5 Putting the Past Behind You. Today’s lesson takes us to the story of the man whom Jesus healed at the Pool of Bethesda, a man who had been sick for 38...

Continue reading →

The Struggle to Be Real

• Lesson 5 for the week of January 24 to January 31

Relevant Passages John 4:43-54 The Struggle to Be Real. The “living parable” which is the focus of today’s lesson involves Jesus’ return “home” to Galilee and an encounter with a royal official whose boy was...

Continue reading →