s5e17 The Parable of the Soils and Jesus' Explanation

Observations/Questions

1. He gets in a boat to preach, which seems to happen often to get away from the crowds; how pressing were they?
2. Why does Mark not seem to record many parables? How does he use the word "parable"?
3. "Listen" in v. 3 seems commanding; Mt and Lk don't include this...
4. Four types of soil, and the focus seems to be on the soils, not the sower
5. the deficient soils - 3 types; the good soil also seems to have three types
6. would this story be confusing to those who did not hear the explanation?
7. what is meant by secret?
8. what is the significance of IS 6?
9. the discussion with the disciples and others - what is his purpose in this?
10. the explanation seems obvious - is there something we are missing?

Meaning:

• Jesus came to reveal the kingdom of God
• Everyone has a response to the Kingdom of God/ to accept or reject

Application:

• Walk closer to Jesus: He spells out responses to the message - what is the soil of my heart?
• Modeling Jesus: Living ministry with his understanding - and not become disheartened when running into different soil types.
• Praise Jesus: He has revealed the kingdom of God to us!

Group Questions:

1. Describe the four types of soil and expound on each one - give examples of how hearts reflect this teaching.
2. What did Jesus mean by secret?
3. What soil does your heart relate to and why?
4. What strikes you the most in this text and why?

SOMA episodes will be moving to a new SOMA - New Hope Bible Studies Podcast in Feb 2022 - stay tuned!

Tune in soon in 2022 to New Hope Underground - coming back! Check out our other podcasts on www.newhopechurch.cc/listen!

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s5e16 Jesus' Family and Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

Observations/Questions

1. vs 20-21 don't seem to fit too well in context, is Mark sandwiching v22-30 in between v20-1 and v31-35?
2. He is out of his mind? did they really think he was insane?
3. scribes came down from Jerusalem (but Galilee is north) - why down?
4. Mark loves the word, "and" in this passage
5. Beelzebul - different than Satan? same? what's the meaning
6. Jesus called the scribes over - why would they go if they really thought he was possessed?
7. parables - how is this a parable?
8. what is the significance of "kingdom" and "house" is there any?
9. why strong man? who is the strong man?
10. hard verse 28 - blasphemy - what is it? is v 30 an explanation?
11. vs 31-35 - is he saying he doesn't care about his actual family? what does he mean?

Meaning:

• The Kingdom of God is here in Jesus and will defeat the Kingdom of Satan
• Jesus is not insane, not possessed, and has all authority.
• Will we do the will of God and believe and follow Jesus as Lord and Savior?

Application:

• Walk closer to Jesus: I don’t want to be on the wrong side. His goodness attracts me to follow and His authority compels me to follow.
• Modeling Jesus: Jesus dealt with accusations head-on and fought with logic and truth. Sometimes even your family is wrong when it comes to what God’s will is in your life.
• Praise Jesus: He is Yahweh, creator of all things and more powerful than any demon or created being. Salvation is why he came - ultimate victory over Satan - Christus Victor!

Group Questions:

1. What would Jesus' family think he was insane?
2. Describe the scribes...why do you think, are they saying such things?
3. What are the meanings of a kingdom divided and a house divided? Who's kingdom? Who's house?
4. What is blasphemy?
5. What is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?
6. Describe all the things you were feeling while reading this passage.

SOMA episodes will be moving to a new SOMA - New Hope Bible Studies Podcast in Feb 2022 - stay tuned!

Tune in soon in 2022 to New Hope Underground - coming back! Check out our other podcasts on www.newhopechurch.cc/listen!

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s5e15 Group Leaders Only - End of the Year Message Part 2

Thank you for all you do, Group Leaders! Happy New Year!

Listen to this 2nd of a 2 part message from Darin as we wind down 2021 and look forward to 2022!

New Hope Underground is coming back! Stay Tuned in 2022!

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s5e14 Group Leaders Only - End of the Year Message Part 1

Thank you for all you do Group Leaders! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Listen to this 2 part message from Darin as we wind down 2021 and look forward to 2022!

New Hope Underground is coming back! Stay Tuned in 2022!

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s5e13 Jesus Withdraws and Chooses the 12 Apostles

Observations/Questions

1. withdrew - what is the meaning exactly? How often does Mark use it?
2. Where is Idumea?
3. Wanted to touch him not wanting to be touched by him
4. they unclean spirits- whenever they saw him - often?
5. Are these possessed people? If so -there isn't any talk of casting them out? Assumed?
6. Mountain - do we know which mountain?
7. What do we know about each of these disciples listed?
8. Zealot - is this a faithful political zealot?

Meaning:

1. It seems to be a transition - showing context and connecting passages
2. Authority is still an issue - it seems to be the closing of the introductory hook for Mark

Application:

1. Walk closer to Jesus: God is so gracious; I want to be gracious even in my weakness or while working with others in their weaknesses.
2. Modeling Jesus: Boldness - helping others just by being around
3. Praise Jesus: he is the Son of God; I praise Him for choosing to use humanity to carry out His purposes

Group Questions:

1. Describe the possible thoughts and feelings that the disciples possessed when the crowds pushed in from every side on Jesus.
2. Describe the possible thoughts and feelings that the crowds possessed when they pushed in from every side on Jesus.
3. How did Jesus handle the overwhelming crowds?
4. What about this text teaches you about how to walk closer to Jesus? Model Jesus? Praise Jesus?

Tune in soon in 2022 to New Hope Undergound - coming back! Check out our other podcasts on www.newhopechurch.cc/listen!

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s5e12 Mark 3:1-6

Jesus Heals a Man with a Withered Hand on the Sabbath

Observations/Questions:

• does the word "again" mean this took place on the same sabbath recorded in the last passage of chapter 2?
• Jesus is in a synagogue again but did it not say earlier that he stayed away from public places?
• Ready to pounce on the healing - something seems odd when the Pharisees ignore the miracle
• Their silence in v 4 - does it mean they thought it lawful then?
• It does not seem that the Pharisees could see the forest through the trees - Jesus seems agitated maybe with this continual misunderstanding or stubbornness
• Anger - what does this word mean? What about grieved?
• The hardness of the heart - internal? External work of God?
• What about this event stirred the Pharisees so much they wanted to kill?
• Why is this questioned but not the exorcism on a sabbath in 1:21-28?

Meaning:

• Mark does seem to be exposing the motives of the Pharisees to his readers
• The text must confront the reader's heart about stubbornness, hardness
• Jesus came to bring life, to restore goodness

Application:

Walking Closer to Jesus:

• Our own rules, even if religious, need to be confronted if they are not from God. Do I let trivial things stand in the way of genuine commitment?

Modeling Jesus:

• Are we about giving good things to people around us? Not stingy and crotchety.

Praising Jesus:

• He is Lord of the rules and the Giver of good things.

Group Questions:

• What strikes you the most in this passage about the Pharisees? About Jesus?
• What is stubbornness?
• Describe ways in which you think your heart is stubborn to Jesus?

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The ALL New Hope Underground Podcast will be kicking off in 2022!

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s5e11 Mark 2:13-28

The Disciples "Harvest" on the Sabbath

Observations/Questions:

• 4th conflict with religious leaders of 5 in a row in this section of Mark
• last one was about what the disciples were not doing (fasting) and this one is about what they were doing (plucking grain)
• reminiscent of Jesus saying you didn't like me or John the Baptist - like children in the marketplace
• why is the question again, why are they doing this?
• was it really unlawful for them to pluck grain?
• the significance of the story of David? (1 Sam 21) - it reads Ahimelech not Abiathar as the priest
• Bread of presence? holy bread? why?
• why wasn't it lawful to eat the bread of presence?
• what is the significance of the the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath?
• use of the Son of Man again and links it with the term "Lord"
• what would it mean for a Jew to observe the Sabbath in ancient Israel?

Meaning:

• Jesus is about joy and freedom not rules and bondage
• Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, greater than the temple (included in Matthew's gospel)
• Jesus has authority and not held by human laws

Application:

Walking Closer to Jesus:

• Jesus' authority has to be implemented in our lives
• We often love the things of Jesus more than Jesus

Modeling Jesus:

• Beware of legalism. Do we have an overall spirit of joy or judgment?

Praising Jesus:

• He is Lord of all Rules

Group Questions:

• What rules or church traditions do we tend to follow that can be questioned if they are from God or man?
• What is one thing that you have learned over the years....that you originally had wrong about Jesus?
• How does this text help you walk closer to Jesus?
• What do you notice in this text that you should model?
• Let's praise him in prayer - what can we praise him for specifically from what we have gained in this text?

Listen to NH podcasts on www.newhopechurch.cc/listen

The ALL New Hope Underground Podcast will be kicking off in 2022!

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s5e10 Mark 2:18-22

Jesus is questioned about Fasting

Observations/Questions:

• Jesus was different even from John the Baptist when it came to fasting
• Was this really God's rule about fasting? Festival reasons?
• Of what did the fasting consist?
• Why does Jesus answer questions with questions?
• Mark doesn't seem to elaborate on any meaning.
• The parable or metaphor language - wedding guests, garments, wineskins - significance?
• Did they see this as a major slap in the face coming from a Rabbi? Could this have been an honest question?
• The garment and wineskin - same metaphorical meaning?
• Is there foreshadowing of the cross here in vs 20?

Meaning:

• The way to God is not through religious observance.
• The way to God is through joyful association with Jesus (R.T. France)
• Jesus changes everything.

Application:

• Walk closer to Jesus - joy, why isn't joy a bigger factor in my life? Being a disciple requires not just following all the "rules" but being intentional about building a relationship with Jesus every day.
• Model - religious observance is about freedom, not an obligation, Jesus modeled this idea
• Praise -He's not a stuffy nor demanding Master but his yoke is light

Group Questions:

• What are some church traditions or rules that you're not sure that Jesus actually commanded us?
• When you walk away from this passage, will you feel more guilty or freer as a believer, and why?
• What was Jesus' point concerning the wedding guest? What about the garment and the wineskins?
• Explain joy in your life. What role does it play? (tough question but gut it out it will be worth it)

Listen to NH podcasts on www.newhopechurch.cc/listen

The ALL New Hope Underground Podcast will be kicking off in 2022!

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s5e9 Mark 2:13-17

Jesus Calls Matthew the Tax Collector

SOMA

Scripture - Read and Re-read Mark 2:13-17 (read a section or 2 after this reading as well to understand the context a little bit)

Observations/Questions - Here are some of our observations and questions we had concerning this text:

• the NIV uses quotes around the word sinners 3 out of the 4 times it is used - significance?
• Levi the son of Alphaeus - brothers with James son of Alphaeus? Matthew is Levi?
• the tax booth - what is that exactly and who did Matthew work for?
• who's house did Jesus go to - Matthew's or his own? seems confusing
• what is behind the question of the religious leaders - why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?
• why does Matthew include a quote from Hosea 6:6 in his account and Mark not include it in Jesus' answer
• What does the word righteous mean? What does John Mark mean by “the righteous”. Who is he referring to and what would it mean to be a righteous person in ancient Israel? Would the word translate to self-righteous?
• What exactly does Jesus mean when he says“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Meaning - major takeaways we have gained from this text (not exclusive - just our notes)

•  Mark is giving hope to the broken. Mark wanted them to know there is hope for a sinner to reach salvation and it's not through striving to follow the law, it's only through Jesus Christ.
• Anyone can follow Jesus, Jesus has no prejudice - there are no outcasts
• Jesus was different - he did not seek what the religious leaders sought in others

Application - what does this text mean FOR me not necessarily TO me

• We need to change the way we see sin and salvation - am I of grace or works? Do we lean on Jesus?
• How do we see ourselves? Righteous or Sinners?
• How does the way we see ourselves affect how we see others? Are we judgmental?
• Seeing the sheer grace of Jesus makes me want to walk closer to Him
• We should seek to model Jesus without holding prejudices of our own but instead seek to be people of mercy
• We should praise Jesus because he has the authority to be the ultimate judge - not us

Group Questions:

1. What are some modern prejudices Christians hold today? People groups? Certain Occupations held? "Types" of people?
2. Why do you think Jesus' grace toward sinners really tended to anger the religious leaders?
3. What saves you exactly?
4. Name all the things in Jesus that you have seen so far in Mark that you want to model. What is the number one thing? Why?

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The ALL New Hope Underground Podcast will be kicking off in 2022!

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s5e8 Mark 2:1-12

Jesus, the Paralytic and His Friends

SOMA

Scripture - Read and Re-read Mark 1:40-45 (read a section or 2 after this reading as well to understand context a little bit)

Observations/Questions - Here are some of our observations and questions we had concerning this text:

• 1st of 5 stories in a row of Jesus and conflict with the religious leaders
• previous section said he couldn't enter a town because of the crowds but here he is in Capernaum
• flat roof back in that day, Luke mentions tile in Luke 5
• why did Jesus state that the man's sins were forgiven before he healed him? didn't seem like other healings
• what is tougher to forgive or to heal - is this about invisible vs visible? how do we measure what is tougher?
• seems like a different message of authority here with Jesus even having authority over our sins, guilt
• interesting that the scribes were sitting, maybe close to Jesus, watching his every move?
• the scribes debated within their hearts, were some of leaning toward belief at all?
• was Jesus supernaturally reading the minds of the scribes or what does it mean "perceiving in his spirit"?
• Mark seems to link healing with forgiveness quite a bit actually
• Why the use of "the Son of Man"? Significance?

Meaning - major takeaways we have gained from this text (not exclusive - just our notes)

• Mark seems to focus on Jesus being a challenge to the status quo and seeks to bring forgiveness to those who are rejected
• Jesus came to save us from our sin, not our ailments
• The compassion of Jesus - we takeaway Jesus' great compassion for the desparate
• Amazement - we takeaway our own amazement and Mark wants us to have that same amazement as Jesus' direct audience

Application - what does this text mean FOR me not necessarily TO me

• "Their faith" - the faith of the 4 guys leads us to ask, do we intercede for others? Prayer or telling the gospel.
• Do we have the compassion of Christ? Do we model him?
• Authority over sin - Jesus just forgave out of grace. Are we forgivers? Are we wanting everyone to follow our rules?
• Are we amazed at Jesus?
• Don’t be like the scribes always judging others but in secret you do things just as bad if not worse. Try as hard as can to not judge others. Remember judgement is reserved for God alone. God’s opinon is the only one that matters. Your judgement of someone could stand in their way of being with Jesus. We need to point others toward Jesus not stand in there way. A lot of people will tell you a pastor or a “christian” and their behavior or being a hypocrite is the reason they stopped seeking a relationship with God. Lets us watch our words and actions at all times to make sure we are pointing them to Jesus and not standing in thier way of Jesus.
• We need to become desperate for the salvation of others. So much so that I would be willing to do anything to make it happen. Let's stop being the type of box checking christians that the world tells us to be and start being the type of christians scripture tells us to be.

Group Questions:

1. The paralytic had 4 friends take him to Jesus...who brought you to Jesus?
2. Describe what compassion is...dig deep on this one.
3. What is it about Jesus in this story that makes you want to follow him?
4. How might we become more forgiving people as we model Christ? Be as specific as you can.
5. In this one story, name everything at which you think the crowd stood amazed concerning Jesus?

Listen to NH podcasts on www.newhopechurch.cc/listen

The ALL New Hope Underground Podcast will be kicking off in 2022!

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