The Church at Ephesus

• Lesson 1 for the week of September 24 to October 1

Read: Acts 19, 20:17-38 Paul’s Experience in Ephesus: Before coming to Ephesus (Acts 19) to work Paul had briefly stopped there on his way back to Antioch and engaged in a discussion in the Jewish…

Buried-But Risen!

• Lesson 13 for the week of June 18 to June 25

Read: Mark 15:42-16:20 We come now to the conclusion of Mark. Jesus has been crucified, but the story does not end there. For that, we should be eternally thankful! Burial and Resurrection (Mark 15:42-16:8) After...

Continue reading →

Tried and Crucified

• Lesson 12 for the week of June 11 to June 18

Read: Mark 14:53-65; 15:1-41 It is now the night before Jesus’ crucifixion. He has been arrested in Gethsemane and faces a mock trial and a gruesome death. Two Betrayers In a sense, both Peter and...

Continue reading →

Betrayed and Arrested

• Lesson 11 for the week of June 4 to June 11

Read: Mark 14:1-51 It is the time of the Passover, and Jesus is moving ever nearer to the cross. Jesus is Anointed (Mark 14:1-9) In what appears to be a scene of incredible waste, a...

Continue reading →

Predictions of the End

• Lesson 10 for the week of May 28 to June 4

Read: Mark 13:1-36 The Fate of the Temple (Mark 13:1-2) In Mark 13, Jesus speaks about the future in what it typically referred to as the Olivet Discourse. The discourse is introduced by the disciples....

Continue reading →

Last Days in the Temple

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

Read: Mark 11:27-12:44 The Troublemaker (Mark 11:27-12:27) Priests and TeachersAs Jesus moves ever closer to the cross, he seems more and more willing to openly challenge the Jewish authorities. He returns to the temple, the...

Continue reading →

The Final Journey

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

Read: Mark 10:32-11:25 Power and Authority in the Kingdom This week’s section of Mark begins with Jesus’ third prediction of his death. As was the case with his two previous statements about his suffering (Mark...

Continue reading →

Teaching the Disciples

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

Read: Mark 9:14 -10:31 Even though Peter correctly identified Jesus as the Christ, it quickly becomes clear that the disciples have much to learn. It is almost frightening to see their failures and misunderstandings. One...

Continue reading →

The Passion Predicted

• Lesson 6 for the week of April 30 to May 7

Read: Mark 7:24-9:13 Avoidance Maneuvers In this pivotal section of Mark, Jesus and his disciples are traveling on the outskirts of the region of Galilee, trying to avoid crowds. They are not successful (7:24)! Why...

Continue reading →

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 →