Tag Archives: Bible study

Two Short Parables

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 4:21-25 Parallel Text: Like 8:16-18  This brief section contains two more short ones, the Parable of the Lampstands and the Warning for Hearers. First, let’s talk about lamps… Lamps and lampstands are used several times in the New Testament … Continue reading →

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Jesus Teaches in Parables

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Don Merritt

Parable of the Sower Mark 4:1-20 Parallel Texts: Matthew 13:1-23; Luke 8:1-15 With the beginning of chapter four, we see a shift in Mark’s narrative into a battery of parables. Parables are interesting things, little stories that teach a moral … Continue reading →

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A Couple of Things…

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Don Merritt

First of all I’ve added a new tab to The Life Project called Forgiveness Podcasts which contains links to podcast versions of the Forgiveness Book that has been available for download for a couple of week now, in the right … Continue reading →

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Bonus Post: Demon Possessed!

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Don Merritt

Off hand, I can’t think of a Bible topic that makes for a better horror movie than demon possession. After all, by its very nature it’s scary, the idea of some unseen evil force taking over the body and consciousness … Continue reading →

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“Curiouser and Curiouser”

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 3:20-35 Parallel Texts: Matthew 12:22-37, 46-50; Luke 11:14-23; 8:19-21 After Jesus appoints the Twelve, things start to become strange; something isn’t quite right in this story. Jesus and the disciples are in a house, and the crowd pushes in, … Continue reading →

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Sabbath, Controversy and More Followers

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 3:1-6 Parallel Texts: Matthew 12:9-14; Luke 6:6-11 After the scene in the last section where Jesus announces that He is the Lord of the Sabbath, Mark recounts another Sabbath Scene, this time in a synagogue, where Jesus heals a … Continue reading →

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Lord of the Sabbath

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 2:23-28 Parallel Texts: Matthew 8:1-8; Luke 6:1-5 Mark has shifted the scene to the countryside. Jesus and the disciples, and apparently some Pharisees, are walking through grain fields on the Sabbath. They are hungry and the disciples pluck a … Continue reading →

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You Should be Fasting!

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 2:18-22 Parallel Texts: Matthew 9:14-17; Luke 5:33-39 The next scene Mark jumps to is one in which we find both John’s disciples and the Pharisees fasting, while Jesus and His disciples are going on as normal. Curious about this, … Continue reading →

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Jesus and Sinners

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 2:13-17 Parallel Texts: Matthew 9:9; Luke 5:27-28 Still in Galilee, Jesus calls another disciple, and this time He has a questionable choice: Levi (Matthew) the tax collector. Tax collectors are none too popular in our day, but back then … Continue reading →

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Jesus Meets His Critics

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 2:1-12 Parallel Texts: Matthew 9:2-8; Luke 5:17-26 In this passage, Jesus has returned to Capernaum from His Kingdom Tour, and the people are excited to have Him back in town. During this period, Capernaum is His ‘home base’. As the crowd … Continue reading →

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