Summer Sunday School - Sunday June 7

Summer Sunday School

Passages for Sunday June 7^th

Psalm 130:1-8 and Mark 3:20-30

Read Psalm 130

Background       In the Bible, this psalm is also called ‘a song of ascents.’ It was frequently sung by Jewish pilgrims who were travelling to Jerusalem for one of the major feasts that took place in the city. Because Jerusalem is situated on a mountain, the pilgrims had to climb an uphill road to get there. As they walked, hiked, or rode to the city, the pilgrims sang these wonderful songs of ascents to keep them travelling. In the Bible, Psalms 120 to 134 are all listed as songs of ascents.

Questions

a)      Why is the psalmist crying out to God for mercy? What does he want God to do?

b)      Do you think that God keeps a record of our sins? How do we approach Him for forgiveness?

c)       What is the psalmist waiting for from God? What does this tell us about how quickly God answers our prayers?

d)      How do we experience God’s unfailing love in our lives? How does He redeem Israel, as well as us, from sin?

e)      What made this psalm so meaningful to a pilgrim? What hymns do we sing that are equally meaningful to us?

Read Mark 3:20-30

Background       This Gospel passage reveals to us some of the opposition that Jesus faced at the beginning of His ministry. We are also introduced to some of His actual family members who are very concerned about Him.

                As usual, Jesus uses the incident to create a special teaching moment about unity, as well as to push back against those who were unjustly criticizing His work by castigating Him as being possessed by the devil.

Questions

a)      Why was Christ’s family concerned about Him? What did they intend to do with Him?

b)      Why did His detractors say that Jesus was possessed? What did they hope to do to His new ministry?

c)       How did Jesus respond? Why did He mention Satan by name? What does this tell us about Christ’s belief in the devil?

d)      Jesus was explaining what happens to a kingdom when it is divided against itself. How do His words resonate with what’s happening in the Church today?

e)      What do you think Christ means by ‘blasphemy against the Holy Spirit’? Why can this sin never be forgiven?

f)       How does Jesus challenge our own ideas about Him through the events and sayings contained in today’s scripture? What unites us to Him and to His Church?