Uncharted | Mark

Welcome!

Welcome to Uncharted! We see Jesus in the Gospel of Mark come in all God’s authority with an invitation to follow Him into the uncharted territory of the Kingdom of God. His is a call to repent, believe and follow. The Kingdom of God is here and near and we, just like the disciples, are invited! Mark’s Gospel is fast paced with Jesus’ energy and authority announcing and demonstrating the new Kingdom.

For the next six weeks of Lent, journey with us through Mark. You will find all the resources you need right here. Engage the reading plan along with a few others - in a triad, in your Life Group (OC campus) or on Sunday mornings at 10:30 am (OC campus, Adult Rooms 3 & 4, and Hospers campus TBD). You can also choose to learn more about following Jesus on mission to the world at The Journey Course, starting March 8.

If you are interested in attending the 10:30 am Sunday morning Scripture discussion and connection, and need coverage for school age children on the OC campus, let Michelle know at michellechristy.trinity@gmail.com

Mark Reading Plan

Digital Lenten Devotional

Bible Reading Tools

Lectio Divina | Read passage or a segment of verses three times.

Lectio - READ/LISTEN (1st reading)

Get to know the passage; listen for a word/s or phrases that seem to jump out at you. What is the Holy Spirit impressing upon you?
Don’t force, wait patiently for God to give gentle guidance.

Meditatio -REFLECT/MEDITATE (2nd Reading)

Re-read the passage, be present, reflecting on what was prompted the first time.
Enter the Scripture passage. What do you feel? What specific situation in your life today relates?
Reflect on what you believe God is saying vs. “study mode,” thinking about interesting points, but listen to what God might be saying. Ask God to make the focus clear.

Oratio – RESPOND/PRAYER JOURNAL (3rd Reading)

Record what God saying – write it out.
What is God’s invitation?
Respond in quiet prayer - conversation with God around what you are hearing.

Contemplatio: REST/Contemplate

Take 5-10 minutes in silent contemplation. Sit quietly, not in prayer or meditating. When your mind wanders, bring it gently back to stillness again! Rest in God’s voice, revelation, and invitation!

S - SCRIPTURE: Take your time reading. Allow God to speak to you. Don’t rush. Look and listen for ONE idea, word, phrase, or verse that particularly stands out. Underline it or write it out.

O - OBSERVATION: What do you think God is saying in this scripture? In your own words, record the context of the passage. What jumps out to you in the passage? Who is it written by? Who is it written to? What’s one thing you didn’t notice before? What seems interesting or unusual? What comes before and after the text? Is there repetition, comparison, or contrast?

A - APPLICATION: Personalize it by asking yourself how this applies to your life. In what ways is God showing you this scripture applies to you? Is there a similar situation in your life right now? How can you respond to the Lord? How will you be different because of what you have read? Is there a specific action you need to take or confession to make?

P - PRAYER: Thank God for His Word and care. Pray that God’s Word falls on good soil, takes root and produces fruit. You may even want to write out a prayer of response to what God has shown you in His Word. Remember, God always listens and already knows your needs. This a personal message from you to the Lord so don’t worry about praying the perfect words – make it honest and heartfelt.

Week 1 | February 22-26

Monday | Mark 1:1-20
Tuesday | Mark 1:21-45
Wednesday | Mark 2:1-28
Thursday | Mark 3:1-19
Friday | Mark 3:20-35

Sermon Text Questions | Week 1 | Mark 1:21-2:12

When Jesus enters the synagogue, he is not one of the recognized teachers, not a priest or scribe or Pharisee who usually taught what “Moses said” or what “Rabbi so-and-so said.” How is Jesus’ teaching different (vs. 21-22)?
How else does Mark say that Jesus demonstrates his authority (vs.23-34)?
Jesus didn’t stay in one place like John did. Instead, he traveled around Galilee, preaching the good news, and healing many people. But after he heals a leper, why doesn’t he want anything to leak out about that healing (vs. 35-45)?
In some countries and in certain situations, some Christians will know that it is better not to attract too much attention to themselves. This isn’t cowardice but wisdom. Why might this be the case with Jesus?
How does Jesus respond to the four people making a hole in the roof of his house and letting their paralyzed friend down through it (Mark 2:1-12)?
What are the different responses to Jesus’ offer of forgiveness and healing?
The phrase “son of man” that Jesus uses in Mark 2:10 comes from Daniel 7, referring to the representative of God’s true people who is opposed by the forces of evil, but God vindicates him, rescues him, and proves him to the be in the right and give him authority. How does Mark 2:1-12 continue and extend the theme of authority in Mark 1?
Looking over this first chapters of Mark, how does Jesus model for us different aspects of announcing the kingdom of God?
In what ways does Jesus authority call us to his tasks - expanding our view of what God can do and is doing – to teach, to heal, and to defeat the forces of evil?

Week 2 | March 1-5

Monday | Mark 4:1-20
Tuesday | Mark 4:21-34
Wednesday | Mark 4:35-5:20
Thursday | Mark 5:21-43
Friday | Mark 6:1-29

Sermon Text Questions | Week 2 | Mark 3:7-35

Who would you go out of your way to see and why?
Why does Jesus attract huge crowds of followers (vs. 7-12)?
Why might Jesus not want the unclean spirits to reveal his identity?
As news about Jesus spreads, more people follow him home. What does his family think about him (vs. 20-21)?
What do the scribes think about him (vs. 22)?
What kinds of reactions have you gotten form people when they find out you’re a follower of Jesus?
How does Jesus answer the scribes’ accusations (vs. 23-30)?
Jesus compares himself to a strong man plundering a house. How does this help us to answer the question about being in possessed by the devil?
When Jesus’ family, was looking for him (vs. 31-35), how he responded is scandalous. For Jewish culture, loyalty to family was the outworking of loyalty to God. What does Jesus teach here about family?
What allegiances do we hold dear today?
How do our allegiances supersede our allegiance to Jesus and his “family”?
How might we put our allegiances (social, cultural, political, economic, ethnic) back into proper relationship to Jesus?

Week 3 | March 8-12

Monday | Mark 6:30-56
Tuesday | Mark 7:1-23
Wednesday | Mark 7:24-37
Thursday | Mark 8:1-21
Friday | Mark 8:22-33

Sermon Text Questions | Week 3 | Mark 4:35-5:20

For the Jews, the sea came to symbolize the dark power of evil, threatening to destroy God’s good creation, God’s people, God’s purposes. What OT character do you recall who slept in a boat in a storm, and yet how does this story of Mark 4:35-41 contrast that one? (Hint: Jonah)
What conclusion do the disciples come to when Jesus is asleep in the storm? Why might they come to this conclusion?
How do you typically react to storms in your life?
Why are the disciples still fearful after Jesus calms the storm in 4:41?
When Jesus and his disciples land on the shore of the sea, a man with an unclean spirit confronts them there. How does Mark describe this Gentile (5:1-6)?
How does Jesus deal with the man with the unclean spirit?
The people beg Jesus to depart from their region. Why are they begging Jesus to leave?
Four times in 5:1-20 the word “beg” is used. (Vs. 10, 12, 17, 18) Beg is strong language. What is this about? Why the intensity? What does this say about Jesus?
Why does Jesus tell the man he cannot come with him? How is this different from what we have heard Jesus say previously in the Gospel of Mark?

Week 4 | March 15-19

Monday | Mark 8:34-9:13
Tuesday | Mark 9:14-32
Wednesday | Mark 9:33-50
Thursday | Mark 10:1-16
Friday | Mark 10:17-31

Sermon Text Questions | Week 4 | Mark 8:27-9:1

What are the implications for the disciples and Jesus of Peter’s confession that Jesus is Messiah, the Christ in Mark 8:29-30?
Upon Peter’s confession of Jesus as Messiah, Jesus tells his disciples to tell no one about him. In Mark 5 Jesus tells the healed man to tell people. What is this about? What is going on here?
In contrast to Israel’s expectation for the Messiah to be a political king, how does Jesus redefine what the Messiah would do here in Mark 8:31-9:1 and throughout the first eight chapters of Mark?
Jesus asks us the same question he asks the disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” What is your answer to who Jesus is and what He is actually doing in the world?
The disciples must have known that by following Jesus they were taking risks and the death of John the Baptist confirmed that. Jesus began to teach them something new, implying that once they’d declared that He was the Messiah, they’d need to pick up their own cross (8:34). How can following Jesus be dangerous for us as well?
This passage makes it clear that following Jesus is the only way to go. Following Jesus is Mark’s definition of what being a Christian means. To what extent are you, and those around you that call themselves Christians, following Jesus?
What does “take up your cross and follow Jesus” mean? What does it look like?
In what ways have you seen in your life and in other’s lives the truth that “if you want to save your life, you’ll lose it; but if you lose your life because of me and the Message you’ll save it”? (Mark 8:35)

Week 5 | March 22-26

Monday | Mark 10:32-52
Tuesday | Mark 11:1-25
Wednesday | Mark 11:27-12:17
Thursday | Mark 12:18-44
Friday | Mark 13:1-23

Sermon Text Questions | Week 5 | Mark 10:17-27

What is the rich man looking for?
With what kind of disposition or attitude does Jesus respond to the rich man? (Mark 10:21)
Jesus answers the rich man by stating a portion of the Ten Commandments. What is the focus of Ten Commandments that Jesus lists in His reply?
Read the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17. How would you characterize the commandments that Jesus leaves out? How do the commandments Jesus leaves out in Mark 10:19 relate to the directive to the rich mad in Mark 10:21?
Why are the disciples shocked that wealth won’t buy a place in the age to come (Mark 10:23-26)?
Many today, just as was common in Judaism and paganism of Jesus’ day, thought wealth was a sign of God’s pleasure. How can wealth actually be a hinderance to us in our call to follow Jesus?
When has your enthusiasm for what Jesus was doing turned to disappointment when you realized the cost involved?
In what are is Jesus asking you to change your thinking or your actions as you follow Him?

Week 6 | March 29-April 3

Monday | Mark 13:24-37
Tuesday | Mark 14:1-25
Wednesday | Mark 14:26-65
Thursday | Mark 14:66-15:32
Friday | Mark 15:33-47
Saturday | Mark 16

Sermon Text Questions | Week 6 | Mark 10:45 – Mark 11:11

As Bartimaeus calls out alongside the road to Jerusalem, how do the disciples respond? What does Jesus do?
Just as Jesus asks Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you,” how would you answer that question if Jesus were asking you in your life today? Maybe He is asking you.
After healing Bartimaeus Jesus says, “Go your way.” The text says Bartimaeus “followed Him on the way.” What “way” does Bartimaeus take?
How are Bartimaeus’ attitude and actions different from the disciples in the previous chapters of Mark or even the Zebedee brothers in the verses right before this story?
Jesus’ riding over the mount of olives, across Kidron Valley, up to the temple mount would clearly have called to mind words of the prophet Zechariah for those watching. What do Zechariah 9:9-10 and 14:4 indicate Jesus is saying about Himself?
How does the reaction of the people confirm that they understand Jesus’ symbolic message?
The blind man throws off his cloak and follows Jesus. In Mark 11:10, the people say, “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest” and lay down their cloaks. What is the significance of this action? What might the cloaks represent? In what ways does Jesus invite us to cast off and/or lay down our cloaks?