New Testament Bible Study by John Stanko

Mark Study 5

Dear Student of the Word,

It's time for your dose of Mark's gospel.  Due to my schedule and slow connection speeds, I haven't been able to send something for two weeks.  I hope you continue to study, learn and grow in God's word, and I hope these studies help you to those ends.

This week I wrote concerning the parable of the sower:

vs. 18&19 -- I heard a message once that talked about soil preparation being the key to godly living, using this parable as an example.  The speaker used all kinds of agricultural examples in his message to describe what a farmer would do with rocky soil, soil with thorns and soil that was worn out with no life.  We spend our time on the delivery of the Word; but should we really be spending more time on soil preparation?

There is nothing wrong with the seed that we are sowing.  The problem is with the soil that will receive it.  In these verses, we see that it isn't trouble or persecution that is the problem.  The problems are wealth and the cares of this life.  The gospel has a lot of competition for the hearts of men and women and that competition has the potential to choke out the life of the Word.

In my thinking, this is the dilemma of modern life.  There are so many voices vying for our attention that the gospel has a hard time bearing fruit.  Could this be why the gospel always seems to have greater entrance into the life of the poor person?  They have less distractions than the rich.

Feel free to add your insight or comments to this study on the site where these studies are posted every week.  You can also give a gift subscription by going to the same site or unsubscribe by clicking on the link below.

Download this week's study:  Download mark_study_5.doc

 

Mark Study 4

Dear Student of the Word,

I am preparing to head back to Africa later today, but first things first.  Attached is your regular edition of my study from Mark's gospel.  Some of the verses from this week's study deeply impacted my thinking, and I hope that is reflected in what I wrote.  While being fully God, Jesus was also a remarkable man.  I marvel at His divinity and humanity.

This week I wrote:

v. 21 -- Jesus' family thought He was out of His mind!  I can remember when I first met the Lord; my family thought I was crazy, too!  One day I was in my backyard crying out to the Lord and He brought me to this verse.  I remember thinking, "If Jesus' family thought He was crazy, what's going to make my family think any differently about me now that I am following Him?"  It set me free from trying to please my family as I tried to do the will of God. Are you free from your family as you serve Him?  If not, in what area do you need to be free?

v. 22 -- If it wasn't already bad enough that His family thought He was crazy, the religious leaders accused Him of being in league with the devil!  We cannot overlook the fact that Jesus was a controversial man.  His peers thought Him demonic and His family considered Him mad.  God is so "normal" and our sinful state so "subnormal" that when God restores godliness, which is the true normal, the true normal looks abnormal or crazy.  Does that make sense?  My other thought here is that a small criticism of me can set me off into a week of depression or anger.  Jesus faced much more than I will ever face, yet He maintained His ministry composure and focus. Help me, Lord, I want to be like Jesus!

Feel free to add your insight or comments to this study on the site where these studies are posted every week.   You can also give a gift subscription by going to the same site or unsubscribe by clicking on the link below.

Download this week's study: Download mark_study_4.doc