Tag Archives: discipleship

Jesus Teaches in Parables

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Don Merritt

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 lesson. They are not … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, life, love, Mark 2.0 | 15 Comments

Very Strange

Posted on March 2, 2016 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 →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, life, love, Mark 2.0 | 7 Comments

Sabbath, Controversy and More Followers

Posted on March 2, 2016 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 →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, life, love, Mark 2.0 | 20 Comments

Lord of the Sabbath

Posted on March 1, 2016 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 →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, life, love, Mark 2.0 | 5 Comments

You Should be Fasting!

Posted on March 1, 2016 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 →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, life, Mark 2.0 | 11 Comments

Jesus and Sinners

Posted on February 29, 2016 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 →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, life, love, Mark 2.0 | 11 Comments

Jesus Meets His Critics

Posted on February 29, 2016 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 →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, life, love, Mark 2.0 | 9 Comments

The Kingdom is at Hand

Posted on February 28, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 1:29-45 Healing People Mark 1:29-34 Parallel Texts: Matt. 8:14-17; Luke 4:38-41 Galilee Touring Mark 1:35-39 Parallel Texts: Matt. 4:23-25; Luke 4:42-44 Growing Crowds Mark 1:40-45 Parallel Texts: Matt. 8:2-4; Luke 5:12-16 If Jesus were to make a tour … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, life, love, Mark 2.0, photos | 5 Comments

Jesus in the Synagogue

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 1:21-28 Parallel Text: Luke 4:31-37 Jesus went to the synagogue at Capernaum and taught there. Mark doesn’t tell us what He taught, just that He did teach; the exact content isn’t the issue in this text, the reaction of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, life, Mark 2.0 | 7 Comments

Mark Wastes No Time

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Don Merritt

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness Mark 1:12-13 Parallel Texts: Matthew 4: 1-11; Luke 4:1-13 Jesus Returns to Galilee Mark 1:14 Parallel Texts: Matthew 4:12; Luke 3:19-20; John 4:1-4 Jesus Teaches in Galilee Mark 1:15 Parallel Texts: Matthew 4:17; Luke 4:14-15 … Continue reading →