Series Summary:

How do we balance “Immediately” with waiting on the Lord? After centuries of waiting for a Messiah and Jesus waiting 30 years in obscure living, Mark portrays Jesus coming on the scene with urgency as a servant. Mark uses the word immediately over 40 times! He traveled with Paul, Barnabas, and Peter. He failed and was restored. Now, he is writing about Jesus through the apostle Peter’s first hand account. Mark asks us to consider who Jesus really is. Will we surrender and follow with a sense of urgency as we wait for the return of Jesus Christ the son of Man and son of God?

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Starter

Tell about a time when people thought you were out of your mind?

Pray

Study Questions

READ: Mark 3:7-35

  1. Jesus is attracting large crowds. Why? a. Based on what you know biblically, what were Jesus’ typical responses to large crowds? b. How is that helpful for us to understand as we minister throughout our lives?
  2. a. Why did Jesus restrict the unclean spirits (demons) from declaring who He was? b. How can this story of Him restricting the demons help us as it relates to our discernment of people declaring things in Jesus name or about God?
  3. Jesus choses from the masses 12 specific men. a. What did He do before He chose them? b. What does His choice men reveal about His plan for ministry? c. In what ways does the calling and mission of the twelve apostles apply to believers and churches today?
  4. Jesus' says, “Here are My mother and My brothers!” a. What does His response to His family teach about spiritual kinship verse earthly kinship? b. Why do we tend to not take spiritual kinship very seriously in our culture? c. How can we ensure that we are part of Jesus' spiritual family, according to Jesus’ definition?
  5. The concept of spiritual kinship will impact your relationship with your biological family and your spiritual community. a. What might be some of the costs to trying to practice biblical kinship? b. What are very simple ways we can practice the ideas of spiritual kinship in our personal and family lives? c. Why do people often not practice spiritual kinship even though it is command everywhere in the scriptures?
  6. It is clear in scripture that Jesus had biological brothers and sisters. a. How does this challenge the Catholic Churches central doctrine that Mary was a perpetual sinless virgin? b. Why would they have come up with that false teaching? c. How might Jesus want us to respond to that teaching today like He responded to false teachings?
  7. What is the significance of Jesus' parable of a house divided?
  8. a. What is a simple definition of Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? b. How can we know that the simple definition is the best definition based on Mark 3:28? c. If you are worried that you have committed blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, how is that a great indicator that you probably have not?
  9. a. How do the accusations of the religious leaders reflect their struggle to understand and accept Jesus' power and mission? b. Why did they have no desire to understand?
  10. How should Jesus' interactions with the religious leaders, including how he asks others to interact with them in other scriptures (especially those He heals), challenge your understanding of religious authority and tradition?
  11. The Pharisees and the Herodians hated each other. a. What did their alliance against Jesus reveal about the threat Jesus posed to them? b. What does their desire to control reveal about the power they were being controlled by?
  12. How can we properly respond to misunderstandings and false accusations as Jesus did? …poorly respond…?
  13. Jesus acts with boldness and conviction with all people especially as it relates to who He is and what He came to do. How should that inspire us?