Welcome to episode 56 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Mark, covering chapter 7:1-23.  The series is called “Get in, buckle up, and hold on!”  Today, we discuss: 

• The reason for the message (vv. 1-5) 
• The prophecy (vv. 6-8) 
• The parental example (vv. 9-13) 
• The preaching (vv. 14-23) 

Key takeaways: 

• For the first time, Mark takes up the issue of ritual purity.  This issue was an important one in the early church as Jews wrestled with how Gentiles should comply with Old Testament purity laws. 
• Jesus’ message regarding eating unclean foods was a difficult one for the Jews to understand.  He was trying to get them to see the spirit of the law regarding what actually makes a person unclean. 
• Neither the eating of an unclean animal nor the eating of approved food with unwashed hands can defile a person.  Food cannot defile a person because it never comes in contact with the “heart”, the inner life of a person. 
• Jesus himself taught the doctrine of depravity—that every area of life is tainted with sin, which originates in man’s heart. 
• When we have a defective theology of sin, we treat symptoms with legalism, rather than dealing with the root cause. 

Quotable: 

• External observance is no substitute for inward piety 

Application: 

• We need to exercise caution when evaluating what is tradition verses what Scripture says, because the latter ALWAYS trumps the former. 
• If we are not careful, we can become experts at traditionalism while not allowing Scripture to transform our hearts and minds. 
• True defilement comes from within the human heart.  Evil that comes out of a person’s heart, mind, or will makes the person unclean. 
• Ask your average person on the street if he/she is a “good” person, and the reply will most likely be “yes.”  But the list of attitudes and behaviors Jesus specifies in verses 20-23 indicate otherwise.  This is why the gospel is “good news.” 
• Uncleanness is moral rather than ritual. 
• There is no power in the world which can make a bad heart good. Only the gospel can do that. 

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Welcome to episode 55 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Mark, covering chapter 6:30-56.  The series is called “Get in, buckle up, and hold on!”  Today, we discuss: 

• Jesus feeds the 5,000 (vv. 30-44) 
• Jesus walks on the water (vv. 45-52) 
• Jesus heals the multitudes (vv. 53-56) 

Key takeaways: 

• Mark presents Jesus as a second Moses.  There are lots of parallels between this account and the exodus account. 
• This great miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 teaches us how the second Moses, being far greater than Moses, meets the needs of his people and indeed the whole world. 
• Jesus fed with his teaching AND with food. 
• Instead of seeing the feeding opportunity through the eyes of faith, the disciples view it through the lens of practicality. 
• In the Old Testament, it is God who treads the waters.  By walking on the water, Jesus is acting with divine authority, doing what only God can do. 

Quotable: 

• Popularity and commitment have little in common. 

Application: 

• Jesus had compassion to meet both physical needs and lostness.  When we witness to others, we need to avoid a social gospel (one which focuses solely on meeting physical needs and leaves unspoken the greater need – the need for a savior). 
• The feeding miracle reminds us that spiritual success does not come through human effort or resources, but through trust and dependence on God. 
• While God does not call us to be naïve or reckless in our Christian life, He does call us to live by faith, believing that His will and purpose will be done. 
• So often when Christ comes to us in our misery, we reject him because we do not believe he will really come to our aid. We think he can help others, but that he is unaware of our situation and powerless. Or, in the perverse pathology of our hearts we may even reject his help when it comes because it does not come in the way we expected. Thus, we push away the very hand which would heal us. 
• Christ sees all and knows when we feel we are alone and fear that no one knows or cares. 
• God doesn’t always remove our obstacles but calms the wind and gives us strength to push toward our goal. 

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Welcome to episode 54 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we discuss what a worldview is and why it matters. 

A worldview is how one views or interprets reality.  A worldview makes a world of difference in our view of God, origins, evil, human nature, values, and destiny. 

The seven major worldviews are theism, deism, atheism, pantheism, panentheism, finite godism, and polytheism. 

• Theism. An infinite, personal God exists beyond and in the universe. 
• Deism. God is beyond the universe, but not in it. 
• Atheism. No God exists beyond or in the universe. 
• Pantheism. God is the All/Universe. 
• Panentheism. God is in the universe, as a mind is in a body. 
• Finite Godism. A finite God exists beyond and in the universe. 
• Polytheism. Many gods exist beyond the world and in it. 

Importance of a Worldview. Worldviews influence personal meaning and values, the way people act and think. The most important question a worldview answers is “Where did we come from?” The answer to this question is crucial to how other questions are answered. 

A virtuous act is given different meanings by various worldviews. 

There is also a gulf between worldviews with regard to the nature of values. 

Free resource:  This chart provides a summary of the worldviews discussed. 

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Welcome to episode 53 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Mark, covering chapter 6:1-29.  The series is called “Get in, buckle up, and hold on!”  Today, we discuss: 

• The malice of the Nazarenes (vv. 1-6 
• The mission of the twelve (vv. 6-13) 
• The martyrdom of John the Baptist (vv. 14-29) 

Key takeaways: 

• There is an old saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt.”  It seems that the people from Jesus’ hometown refused to believe that one from such humble and familiar origins could be God’s agent for inaugurating the kingdom of God. 
• When faith is the prerequisite for spiritual blessings, there can be no miracles without it.  Jesus could have done so much more if the people of Nazareth would have only believed. 
• Christ is astounded at his own people’s lack of faith. How terrifying it is to amaze God with one’s unbelief! 
• The disciples were commanded to travel with minimal baggage so they would rely on Christ’s power for the mission.  Today we are more in danger of having too much baggage than too little. 
• The parallels between John the Baptist and Jesus are evident in this passage.  Both were killed for speaking up about the truth and godliness in the face of adversity.  Both were put to death by rulers who were weak and who gave into the demands of society to save face. 
• Mark shows that the path of true discipleship is one of self-denial and self-sacrifice. 

Quotable: 

• Some spend their entire lives basing their decisions on what other people think. 

Application: 

• The encounter that Jesus had with those in Nazareth exemplifies Hebrews 11:16 – And without faith, it is impossible to please God. 
• When Jesus sent out the twelve, he delegated his authority to accomplish the task.  Jesus still delegates his authority to his followers today to fulfill the Great Commission. 
• It’s good to know that Jesus uses even the most flawed instruments (that’s you and me) to accomplish his purposes. 
• More people than we realize have lost eternity because they feared what others think. 

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Welcome to episode 52 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Mark, covering chapter 5:21-43.  The series is called “Get in, buckle up, and hold on!”  Today, we discuss: 

• The leader’s request (vv. 21-24) 
• Her disease (vv. 24-26) 
• Her determination (vv. 27-28) 
• Her deliverance (vv. 29-34) 
• The response (vv. 35-37) 
• The resurrection (v. 40-43) 

Key takeaways: 

• Jairus was like so many of us in our coming to Christ. It was not his love for Christ that brought him. It was not what he could do for Christ. It was his need. 
• Jesus accepts all people, no matter their status in society. 
• The outcast woman had become a daughter of the king because she had done the will of God by reaching out in faith. 
• Throughout the first half of Mark’s gospel, Jesus’ authority as the announcer and inaugurator of the kingdom of God is on center stage. The miracles serve as “snapshots” of the coming kingdom, the restoration of creation, and the reconciliation of God and humanity. 

Quotable: 

• Real death is the separation of the soul from God, not the body from the soul. 

Application: 

• Jairus came to Jesus, fell before him, and he pleaded with Jesus to save.  For those who want to follow Jesus, these are the appropriate steps.  Come to him, recognize him for his authority and for who he is, and ask him to forgive you of your sins. 
• One does not need to have it all figured out to possess a faith which pleases God. 
• This poor woman represents humanity—all of us. We are ill. We have spent our resources trying remedies which do not work. Christ comes to us from the Cross. We need to touch him by faith. 
• Sometimes Jesus calls us to put aside our fears and to progress to greater faith in him. 
• Faith is recognizing that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves and expressing our full dependence on God’s saving power. 

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Welcome to episode 51 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Mark, covering chapter 5:1-20.  The series is called “Get in, buckle up, and hold on!”  Today, we discuss: 

• The despair (vv. 1-5) 
• The deliverance (vv. 6-13) 
• The disbelief (vv. 14-17) 
• The desire (vv. 18-20) 

Key takeaways: 

• Chapter 5 contains several miracles performed by Jesus in which he makes contact with people who are ceremonially unclean.  Jesus is not rendered impure by such contact, but rather he turns defilement into purity and wholeness. 
• Mankind was created in the image of God and brings glory to Him the more we manifest His image. Satan hates this. Thus, the demonic function is to distort and destroy the image of God in man. 
• The inbreaking power of the kingdom of God does not bring a comfortable life and the status quo but rather a radical transformation of individuals and societies. 
• The thing that will stop Jesus is what the Gerasenes did: they sent him away. Tell him to leave you alone and he will—at least for a season. But tell him enough, and there will come a time when it may be too late. 
• With all of its wonderful scientific achievements, society still cannot cope with the problems caused by Satan and sin. 

Quotable: 

• Sometimes we invite people to follow Jesus without giving them any idea that accepting his invitation may be costly. 

Application: 

• Jesus demands some changes which will cost to our way of life. 
• Whenever we take a risk for the gospel, we may also find something to fear. Our responsibility is neither to shy away from fear nor to make ourselves numb to it. Our challenge is to act in faith even when we are afraid. That is a challenge we cannot meet alone. 
• Believers today need to find a healthy balance on the issue of spiritual warfare, recognizing its reality but not living in fear of its destructive power. 

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Welcome to episode 50 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Mark, covering chapter 4:26-41.  The series is called “Get in, buckle up, and hold on!”  Today, we discuss: 

• The parable of the growing seed (vv. 26-29) 
• The parable of the mustard seed (vv. 30-34) 
• Jesus calms the storm (vv. 35-41) 

Key takeaways: 

• The parables about the seed growing by itself and the mustard seed address expectations about the kingdom of God that were held by Jesus’ contemporaries. 
• The success of the Christian message similarly does not depend upon human effort or understanding—though Christians certainly need to scatter the seed—but upon divine power. It will succeed precisely because God is active. 
• Mark’s persecuted readers could rest in the assurance that whatever trials or suffering they were experiencing, the consummation of the kingdom will bring salvation and vindication for God’s people and judgment against his enemies. 
• The difference between the tiny mustard seed and the huge herb that grows from it is an excellent illustration of the difference between the beginning and end of the manifestation of the kingdom of God. 
• Followers of Jesus need boldness in the face of life’s challenges and trust in God’s ability to bring them through. 

Quotable: 

Without difficulties, trials, stresses, and even failures, we would never grow to be what we should become. Storms are part of the process of spiritual growth.   

Application: 

• It is our responsibility to share the gospel, but it is up to God as to what happens after that. 
• Faith for Mark is more like an adventure whose terms unfold as we pursue it. It cannot be understood from a distance, and we are never in control of what happens. Our part is to listen and act, and then listen and act again and again. 
• We would be spiritual pygmies, insufferably self-centered, proud, and empty people, without adversity. 

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As we prepare to release our 50th episode of Grasp the Bible next week, Pastor Marty and Pastor Darrell realized that some know who they are, and some don't...or at least, not that well.

In this (our 49th episode), we are taking a break from the Book of Mark so the pastors can share a few insights with you about their testimonies, their ministries, and their families. We hope you enjoy today's episode.  

Next week, we will resume our teaching in Mark, starting in chapter five.  

Welcome to episode 48 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Mark, covering chapter 4:1-25.  The series is called “Get in, buckle up, and hold on!”  Today, we discuss: 

• The parable of the soils – Information on the parable (vv. 1-9) 
• Isaiah and the parable (vv. 10-12) 
• Interpretation of the parable (vv. 13-20) 
• Lamp on a stand (vv. 21-25) 

Key takeaways: 

• Mark presents Jesus’ teaching in parables, which illustrates the various responses of rejection and reception to the gospel proclamation. 
• Jesus’ parables confronted his hearers with a challenge to submit themselves to the reign of God. 
• The parable of the soils represents God’s lavish offer of salvation and the mixed reception of that offer. 
• This parable is all about hearing.  Jesus commands the reader to listen to what is being said.  He wants them to pay careful attention to the parable and to respond appropriately. 
• This passage is a turning point in Mark’s gospel. Going forward, people will be divided into two groups – insiders (those who hear and act on what they’ve heard) and outsiders (those who refuse to hear and reject the teachings). 
• For the first time, Jesus explicitly acknowledges that his disciples do not understand what he is telling them. 

Quotable: 

We do not have all our questions answered before Jesus asks us to make a commitment. 

Application: 

• Jesus’ parables constitute spiritual tests that separate those who understand and believe from those who do not. 
• The parables, like the rest of Scripture, call not just for understanding, but for action as well.  Once we know what it means, what do we do with it? 
• We expect to have everything on demand and on our terms.  Faith, however, is not a consumer good. 
•  Those who hear and respond to the message of the kingdom of God will receive even greater revelation, while those who reject what they have heard will be blinded even further. 

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Welcome to episode 47 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Mark, covering chapter 3:20-35.  The series is called “Get in, buckle up, and hold on!”  Today, we discuss: 

• Opinions of Jesus – He's crazy (vv. 20-21) 
• Opinions of Jesus – He's demon possessed (vv. 22-27) 
• The unforgivable sin (vv. 28-30) 
• We are family (vv. 31-35) 

Key takeaways: 

• Anyone considering becoming a follower of Jesus should think about the cost in terms of family relationships.  Even Jesus’ family thought he was crazy and sought to take him back home by force to save him from his zealous and outlandish lifestyle. 
• The two groups of people who should have supported Jesus the most – the religious leaders and his family – both opposed his ministry and tried to stop him. 
• Jesus used parables both to hide the truth and to reveal it.  The sincere listener, with a desire to know God’s truth, would ponder the parable, confess his ignorance, submit to the Lord, and then begin to understand the spiritual lesson Jesus wanted to teach. 
• Through exorcisms, Jesus is demonstrating that he is the strongman, overcoming Satan (the ruler of this world) and taking back those held captive by him.  Satan’s kingdom is now under attack. 
• The unforgivable sin is: 
• The ongoing, continual rejection of the witness of the Holy Spirit to the Divinity and Saviorhood of Christ.  
• The unforgivable sin is the stubborn refusal to acknowledge that God is working/ has worked in the man Jesus.  
• The perversion in the heart which chooses to call light darkness and darkness light.  
• Continuing rejection of the witness of the Holy Spirit 
• Despite all their failures, Jesus acknowledged the disciples as those who did God’s will and therefore his true family. 
• Jesus established a new society in which family is defined not by ethnic or national identity but by common allegiance to the kingdom of God and His purpose in the world. 
• Jesus’ true family consists of those who respond positively to him rather than those who are physically related to him. 

Quotable: 

Obedience does not originate relationship with God (faith does that), but obedience is a sign of it.  Obedience is the key to experiencing “family” with God. 

Application: 

• True spiritual relationships do not come through ancestry or ethnic identity, but through a willingness to follow God’s purpose in the world. 
• God will forgive all sins, except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. 
• Jesus did not come to bring a kind of spirituality that was celebrated only on Sunday mornings inside the walls of a building where it could never affect anything else. 

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