Download Lesson: 7.14.24 Class Notes – Mark 16

LOOK:

What an opportunity and obligation we have to carry the Gospel to the whole world! “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Are you serving, or are you expecting others to serve you?

The post 7.14.24 Mark 16 appeared first on LAPenick's Blog.

Download Lesson: 7.7.24 Class Notes – Mark 15.21-47

LOOK:

Jesus endured all the rejection, insults, mockery and pain while dying on a cross to pay the penalty of our sins. He didn’t deserve the abuse. Yet he agonizingly endured the shame of our sin against God and opened the way to be forgiven and have a relationship with God. Whenever you hear someone make a negative, derogatory or insulting comment about God, Christianity, faith or spiritual issues, take a moment to ask God to reveal Himself in an undeniable way to him or her.

The post 7.7.24 Mark 15:21-47 appeared first on LAPenick's Blog.

Download Lesson: 6.23.24 Class Notes – Mark 15.1-20

LOOK:

Mark challenges us, his readers, to open our eyes and see Jesus for who He really is. Mark dares us to follow the example of this suffering, dying Servant of the Lord. Our discipleship will be costly. It may call for leaving families, giving up horded resources, even giving up life itself. All too often we, like those first disciples, will fail Jesus. We too misunderstand; we too lack faith; we too retreat under pressure; we too remain silent and comfortable while others wait to hear that we have been with Jesus. Our stories of discipleship, like Mark’s story, are incomplete. But Jesus’ promises stand sure. Like those first disciples, Jesus will forgive our failures and make us into what He desires—bold witnesses and followers in His way of costly discipleship.

The post 6.23.24 Mark 15:1-20 appeared first on LAPenick's Blog.

Download Lesson: 6.16.24 Class Notes – Mark 14.32-72

LOOK:

Jesus, by His example, teaches us that it is legitimate to pray that God would provide us with an “alternative route” and would allow us to avoid the encounter with trial, if it is possible. But, having made that request, we must go on to say with our Lord, “not my will, but your will be done.” In other words, we must accept God’s will, submit to it, and trust in His grace to bring us through the trial.

The post 6.16.24 Mark 14:32-72 appeared first on LAPenick's Blog.

Download Lesson: 6.9.24 Class Notes – Mark 14.1-31

LOOK:

“Surely not me” all the disciples proclaim, wanting to believe that they would never betray Jesus. “Surely not me” we say, wanting to believe WE would never betray or deny Him. We like to think the best of ourselves. This passage gives us a reality check. Even the one who protested the most that he would die for Jesus if he had to, denied knowing Jesus. Let’s ask the Lord to give us the strength to stay loyal to Him, no matter the circumstances.

The post 6.9.24 Mark 14:1-31 appeared first on LAPenick's Blog.

Download Lesson: 6.2.24 Class Notes – Mark 13

LOOK:

New Testament scholars agree that Mark 13 has generated more disagreement among interpreters. The history of interpretation of this chapter is immensely complex. So let’s follow Jesus’ commands to “watch out, be on guard and pray!” “Lord Jesus, as we live between your resurrection and your return, give us a steadfast faith to trust you, an enduring hope to wait for you, and an abiding love to live for you until the day of your return. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray.

The post 6.2.24 Mark 13 appeared first on LAPenick's Blog.

Download Lesson: 2.18.24 Class Notes – Mark 12.18-44

LOOK:

If a person is “important” only because of the uniform he wears, the title he bears, or the office he holds, then his “importance” is artificial. It is character that makes a person valuable, and nobody can give you character: you must develop it yourself as you walk with God. Pride of living and pride of giving are sins we must avoid at all costs. How tragic that the leaders depended on a religious system that shortly would pass off the scene. How wonderful that the common people gladly listened to Jesus and obeyed His Word. In which group are you?

The post 2.18.24 Mark 12:18-44 appeared first on LAPenick's Blog.

Download Lesson: 6.25.23 Class Notes – Mark 3.20-4.1-20

LOOK:

The parable of the sower helped the disciples understand why Jesus was not impressed by the large crowds that followed Him. He knew that most of them would never produce fruit from changed lives, because the Word He was teaching them was like seed falling into poor soil.

The seed represents God’s Word (Luke 8:11), and the sower is the servant of God who shares that Word with others (see 1 Cor. 3:5–9). The human heart is like soil: it must be prepared to receive the seed before that seed can take root and produce a harvest. Like seed, the Word is alive and able to produce spiritual fruit, but the seed must be planted and cultivated before that harvest will come.

The post 6.25.23 Mark 3:20-4:20 appeared first on LAPenick's Blog.

Download Lesson: 2.11.24 Class Notes – Mark 12.1-17

LOOK:

The Jewish leadership recognized Jesus’ qualifications as a Teacher/Judge of Israel. They saw Him as one who had integrity, who was not swayed by people (11:32; 12:12), and who was truly teaching God’s way. By using Roman coinage, Jesus’ adversaries witnessed their dependence on that government. Christians should fulfill legitimate responsibilities to their government (Rom. 13:6–7). We bear God’s image (Gen. 1:27) and must fulfill our responsibilities to God.

The post 2.11.24 Mark 12:1-17 appeared first on LAPenick's Blog.

Download Lesson: 2.4.24 Class Notes – Mark 11.15-33

LOOK:

Before we quickly condemn the Jewish religious leaders for their sins, we should examine our own ministries to see if perhaps we are making merchandise of the Gospel. Do the outsiders in our community think of our church buildings as houses of prayer? Are all nations welcomed there? Do we as church members flee to church on Sundays in an attempt to cover up our sins? Do we “go to church” in order to maintain our reputation or to worship and glorify God? If the Lord Jesus were to show up in our house of worship, what changes would He make?

The post 2.4.24 Mark 11:15-33 appeared first on LAPenick's Blog.