Oasis Bible study: Mark 8:31-38

Oasis Bible Study – Wed 29 Feb, 2012

Overview of Study

CS Lewis once said that if anyone wanted to practice a comfortable religion, he would not recommend Christianity.

In this passage, Jesus speaks about the imminent reality of His ministry and mission being destroyed by the religious authorities in Jerusalem. This shocks the disciples and Simon Peter tries to convince Jesus that he is wrong. As usual, Jesus uses the moment to teach a deeper message about faith – it is costly to each believer. Christ may comfort us, but Christianity is not a comfortable religion.

Approaching God

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your ways challenge our choices. Each day our faith is confronted by our acts and deeds. Make us more aware of what You require of us as disciples. In Your Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

31 Jesus then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." 

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 

36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Input from Group

Why did Jesus want the disciples to know what was going to occur in Jerusalem?

What was their response? Why?

Why does Jesus rebuke Peter? What is Christ being tempted to do?

What does Jesus say to the crowd? How do you think they would have reacted? Was this a clever thing to do at this time? Why/why not?

What kind of crosses do we bear as Christians in today’s world? Are we willing to take up these crosses?

How is Jesus rejected in our present community? What can the Church do about this?

Has our society become ashamed of Jesus and/or His followers? What does that tell us about the state of the church and our modern culture?

Is Jesus ashamed of us?

Any other questions or comments?

Service Applications

The burden of being a Christian is that we are often put in situations where our faith is compromised or made irrelevant by cultural demands. Think about recent situations in your life where your faith has been cast aside by yourself or the people around you. Think about forthcoming events in your life, home or work which may affect your faith. Are you ready to bear a cross or looking for an excuse?

For silent prayerful reflection:  What does it mean to be a Christian 24/7/365? When is my faith at its weakest? When is it at its strongest?

Oasis Bible Study: Mark 1:40-45

Oasis Bible Study – Wed 8 Feb, 2012

Overview of Study

Jesus is beginning to take His message to other towns. He is spreading the Good News and allowing other communities to hear His gospel. He comes into contact with a leper who has been shunned by his community. This confronts Jesus with a dilemma: should he embrace the man and alienate the rest of the community, or should he follow the religious laws and ignore the man completely?

Approaching God

Prayer: Lord Jesus, show us through Your interaction with other people how we should participate in our own communities today. Challenge our pre-conceived opinions and change our ways so that our lives reflect Your own. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture: Mark 1:40-45

⁴⁰ A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

 ⁴¹ Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” ⁴²Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

 ⁴³ Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: ⁴⁴“See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” ⁴⁵ Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

Input from Group

Why did the leper think that Jesus could help him? What shows us that he was desperate?

What was Jesus’ initial response? Why?

How could Jesus make the man clean? What does this tell us about His power?

What did Jesus command the man to do after he was healed? Why did He send him to the priest?

What did the man actually do?  Was he sinfully disobeying Jesus?

What was the community’s response to the healing?  Did Jesus want this?

Who are the lepers in our own community? How does the church generally deal with them?

What does this miracle challenge us to do with outcasts in our own community? If we do nothing, are we being sinfully disobedient?

Any other questions or comments?

Service Applications

Helping an outcast was Christ’s priority in this passage. Jesus lets humanitarian compassion override religious observance. What ministries or missions can we support in our towns that show this compassion?

For silent prayerful reflection:  How much does what I believe depend upon standards in both my religious and cultural communities? Is that okay with Jesus?

Oasis Bible Study: Mark 1:29-39

Overview of Study

Jesus has just begun His ministry by calling the first disciples to follow Him. Prior to this passage, Christ has just cured a demon-possessed man in the local synagogue, on the Sabbath. News about the event begins to spread around the region.

After a busy day, Jesus is invited to sup and stay over at Simon Peter’s home for some rest and relaxation. But even here, Jesus gets no rest.

Approaching God

Prayer: Lord Jesus, open our hearts and minds to the words of scripture that we are about to read. Grant us Your understanding of what was going on, and help us to apply any relevant lessons in our own lives today. In Your Holy Name, we study and pray. Amen.

Scripture: Mark 1:29-39

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.  Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" 

Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." 

So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Input from Group

Why did Jesus and his companions go to Simon Peter’s home?

What confronted them when they got there?

What was Jesus’ reaction?

How did this help His ministry?

Why did the people arrive at Simon’s home after sunset?

What did they want of Jesus?

What do you think He felt at that time?

What may His disciples have been feeling?

Why did Jesus get up early to be on His own?

Why were the disciples anxious to find Him?

What made Jesus move on from Capernaum?

What were His ministerial priorities?

Any other questions or comments?

Service Applications

Both family and community are key elements in this passage. Christ ministers to both. He also takes time out to be with God.

For silent prayerful reflection:  How can I serve God through what I do for my family and community? How can I also make time to be alone with God?