Opening Question

Why do people enjoy riddles?

Introduction

This week’s study examines the Parables in Mark 4. In many ways, this chapter is parallel to Matthew 13. Jesus was not unlike the Rabbis of His day in using parables. But for Jesus, the parable was the vehicle to communicate the reality and characteristics of the Kingdom, not just reinforce Rabbinic traditions.

Mark 4:1-9, 14-20

The parable of the Sower is the quintessential simile: “the Kingdom of Heaven is like…” But this story also provides us a means of understanding how parables function; Jesus gives us an interpretation. While many scholars argue for one main ...

Opening Question

Have you ever been involved in something contentious or scandalous?

Introduction

This week’s lesson covers the next stories in Mark chapters 2 and 3. The stories are again punctuated with the word “immediately” which drives the stories forward. Jesus heals, but more than that, He also forgives sin. If this wasn’t enough to raise controversy, Jesus then asks a tax collector to become His student as well! But the controversies only begin here. Jesus becomes a target in these chapters!

Mark 2:1-12

One of my favorite stories in the gospels, a few points are worth noting here: first, Jesus does not heal ...

Opening Question

What is the most spontaneous thing you can remember doing?

Introduction

Our lesson this week takes on Mark 1:16-45. These verses cover a range of topics including the call of the first disciples, and the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. He preaches, prays, heals, casts out demons (a highlighted and oft-repeated miracle in Mark’s gospel), and speaks with authority.

Mark 1:16-20

Jesus calls his disciples and they immediately leave their nets, and they follow Him. Perhaps they had heard his initial preaching about repentance, and the arrival of the Kingdom of God. This would have stoked much messianic fervor in their hearts.

Jesus’ ...

Opening Question:

What do people mean when they say, “it’s the Gospel truth”?

Introduction

We begin our study this quarter of the Biblical “gospel” according to Mark, and the first couple days focus on John Mark as a historical character in the Christian scriptures. Modern historical critical scholars believe they have discounted John Mark as author of this gospel, but many of their arguments are built around speculation and an overemphasis on Mark’s author (or implied author) as ignorant of Palestinian geography and Judaism. The earliest writings after the disciples who speak about Mark’s authorship ascribe it to Peter who shared his ...

Texts for the Week: Rev. 22:11, 12; Jer. 30:5-7; Ps. 91:1-11; Jer. 25:33; Rev. 21:2; Rev. 20:11-15.

Opening Question: “What visions of joy and grandeur come to you mind when you think about the day that evil and its residues are destroyed never to appear again?”

We come now to the final lesson for this quarter, a lesson that has to do with the very last parts of the controversy between good and evil. It is important to remind ourselves that, in so many ways, the future is the most significant dimension for us. This is because the future consists of ...

Texts for the Week: John 8:32; Ezek. 20:12, 20; Rev. 7:1, 2; Rev. 14:1; Joel 2:21–24; Hos. 6:3; James 5:7, 8; Rev. 18:1–4.

Opening Question: “Should we think of time as a circular thing, or a linear thing? Are we going round and round in history, or moving from a beginning to a point of destiny?”

The lesson this week looks at what might be called the closing scenes of earth’s history. It will come as no surprise to anyone who has read widely from the Bible that, in the Bible’s view of reality, time is linear rather than circular. In ...

Verses for This Week: Rev. 14:7, 9, 12; Rev. 4:11; Rev. 13:1, 2; Rev. 12:3–5, 17; Rev. 13:11–18.

Opening Question: “What can be said about the possibility of a final conflict taking place between the forces of good and evil?”

The title of this week’s lesson gives forth an indication of what the subject matter is going to be, the discussion of the great and final conflict that is envisioned particularly in the Book of Revelation.

With even a cursory reading of the Book of Revelation, a person can readily tell that the book, with all its symbols and beasts and apocalyptic ...

Texts for this Week: Matt. 10:28; Eccles. 9:5; Isa. 8:19, 20; John 11:11–14, 21–25; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17; Rev. 16:13, 14; Matt. 24:23–27; 2 Thess. 2:9–12.

Opening Question: “What is the condition of a human after they die and why is that question of importance?

The lesson this week covers some interesting ideological territory that has created a great division in human thought. It has to do with the spiritual underworld and also with the ideas people have about death. We will begin with the death part first.

What happens when a person dies? This is a question to which all thought ...

Texts for this Week: Rev. 14:6–12; Eccles. 12:13, 14; Prov. 28:9; Dan. 7:25.

One of the things that received a lot of careful attention as the result of careful Bible study among those who founded the Adventist movement, was the law of God. They saw it as a major element at least in part because it was a transcript of God’s character and desires, and it was also the basis upon which judgment would be rendered. A passage of scripture that was of particular interest to them was Revelation 14:6-12 where the remnant of the faithful would be characterized by ...

Texts for the Week: Exod. 25:8, 9, 40; Heb. 8:1–6; Lev. 16:21, 29–34; Lev. 23:26–32; Heb. 9:23–28; Dan. 7:9, 10; Matt. 25:1–13; Rev. 11:19.

Opening Question: “What do you know about the services in the Old Testament Sanctuary?”

The primary text for this week is taken from Hebrews 8 and it has as its focus a high priest who is in heaven “seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens…” Here is an immediate clue that the lesson this week will have links to the Old Testament tabernacle or temple with its various services, a ...