Tag Archives: discipleship

Is This Difficult, or Is This Simple?

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Don Merritt

 “Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened,     and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky,     and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’  “Then will appear the sign of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Detective Stories and Working Theories

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Don Merritt

Well fellow detectives, how did you do? What? You didn’t do your homework?  I’m shocked! When we were together yesterday, your assignment was to look over Matthew 24 and 25 very carefully and look for structural clues that might help … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Real Question

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Don Merritt

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Matthew … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Off We Go!

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Don Merritt

The Olivet Discourse Matthew 24 – 25 Parallel Texts: Mark 13; Luke 21:5-37 Historical Context This discourse takes place in Jerusalem, a far-flung outpost of the Roman Empire in approximately 34 AD.  This region has been under foreign occupation since … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

At the Precipice

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Don Merritt

We have completed our tour of Mark’s gospel, and I hope that along the way, you have found something to challenge you, something to comfort you, and something to inspire you; I know I have found all of these. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Weekly Podcast: July 28, 2014

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Don Merritt

Does Anything Last? Welcome to this week’s podcast!  This week, let’s consider what is really permanent in this world, certainly it isn’t cell phones, since I’ve just tossed a perfectly good one into my box of old phones that I … Continue reading →

Posted in christian | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

A Few Final Thoughts on Mark

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Don Merritt

I didn’t want our tour through the gospel of Mark to end; I was having too much fun. But alas, there are only 16 chapters. You might have noticed that there are more verses in chapter 16 than I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Kingdom Comes

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 16:1-8 Parallel Texts: Matthew  28:1-8; Luke 24:1-8, 12; John 20:1-10 When Jesus was born in that manger in Bethlehem nobody would have noticed, but God sent choruses of angels out to the fields and they were seen by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Moment They’ve Been Waiting For!

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 15:24-32 Parallel Texts: Matthew 27:31-44; Luke 23:26-43; John 19:17-27 All those sleepless nights, the opportunities missed, the embarrassments in public, the plots, the cabals, the treachery… all of it had come to fruition for the loving and righteous men … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Roman “Justice” on Display

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Don Merritt

Mark 15:1-20 Parallel Texts: Matthew 27:11-30; Luke 23:2-25; John 18:28-19:16 As usual, Mark is pithy, and a more complete version is available in the other accounts. The main thing that Mark conveys about this whole situation of Jesus before Pilate … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments