CONNECT: How can you share one of God’s benefits with someone this week?

WARM-UP

1. What are the various ways in which people form an understanding of who Jesus is? What do you think is the best way to form a reliable view of who Jesus claimed to be?
2. What is the key question at the heart of the Gospel of Mark? Why does it matter?

READ Mark 1:1-11 (Good News About Jesus)

1. What does ‘Gospel’ mean? What is the Gospel primarily about? How is that evident in these verses?
2. Can you identify the various titles claimed as pertaining to Jesus? What do each of them mean?
3. How is the GOOD NEWS the culmination of a long period of waiting and anticipation? 
4. What are the ways in which these claims are confirmed in the first half of the chapter?
5. What was John’s purpose? How is our purpose as disciples similar to that of John? (It’s also different!)
6. If Jesus was without sin, why did he receive a baptism of repentance? How is this baptism different to the one that Christians now receive?
7. If Jesus received a baptism he did not need and died a death that he did not deserve, how does he compare to other heroes or leaders in our world?
8. What are the ways in which the Gospel can be distorted? How do we guard against this?

READ Mark 1:12-15 (Straight Paths to Jesus)

1. Re-Read Verse 1-3. What is meant by making straight paths to prepare the way for the Lord?
2. What does the testing of Jesus in the wilderness prove about who he is and the focus of his purpose?
3. Can you think of an example of a time in which you had to make a straight path to something? What are the things that get in the way of us making a straight path to Jesus?
4. How are we involved in helping to make straight paths to Jesus for people who do not yet know him? Can you think of some practical ways of doing that this week for one person in particular?
5. What is ultimately the way in which we respond to who Jesus is and what he has done? What does it mean to repent and believe?
6. Has your view of who Jesus is changed over your life time? What shaped your view?
7. What do you hope to learn most through this series? How do you hope to grow?

APPLY:  Who could you invite to Alpha or a Sunday to learn more about who Jesus is?

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On Your Frontline This Week: How is Jesus shaping you this year more in his likeness?

For Families: Download some of the family resources to use at home

Listen and Watch:          

• AUDIO: “Mark’s Gospel: An Overview” by Dick Lucas
• AUDIO: “Jesus: God’s King, God’s Son” by Ray Galea”
• AUDIO: “What’s the Gospel?” by Dick Lucas
• AUDIO: “Who is Jesus” by William Taylor (Mark 1)
• AUDIO: “Man in the Wilderness” by Tim Keller
  

Series Resources:

• RESOURCES: The Gospel of Mark (Video Overviews and More)
• RESOURCES: Gospel Coalition Mark Courses
• VIDEO: The Bible Project Mark Overview
• VIDEO/AUDIO: iTunes U, Introduction to the Gospel of Mark
• VIDEO: Training on the Purpose of Mark

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