Month: December 2024

LESSON 12 OUTLINE – Scott






Lesson 12: More of Jesus’ Miracles

Lesson 12: More of Jesus’ Miracles

1. Introduction

  • Acknowledgment of participants’ engagement in small groups and Bible study.
  • Encouragement to share something impactful about the study during Christmas with friends and family.

2. Overview of Mark Chapter 6:30–56

  • Passage Divisions:
    • Verses 30–44: Jesus feeds the 5,000.
    • Verses 45–52: Jesus walks on water.
    • Verses 53–56: Jesus heals the sick in Gennesaret.
  • Observation: Headings summarize Jesus’ actions but may miss His deeper identity and mission.

3. Context and Key Actions in Mark Chapter 6

  • Chapter Overview:
    • Begins in Nazareth with Jesus teaching and being rejected.
    • Disciples sent out to preach and heal.
    • Interlude: John the Baptist’s execution by Herod.
    • Return of the disciples; Jesus attempts to retreat for rest.
    • Miracles: Feeding the 5,000, walking on water, healing the sick.
  • Focus of Teaching:
    • Compassion of Jesus as the Good Shepherd (central theme of verses 30–56).
    • Heart of Jesus revealed in His deep compassion for people.

4. Jesus as the Good Shepherd

  • Scriptural Support:
    • Mark 6:34: Compassion for people “like sheep without a shepherd.”
    • Supporting passages: John 10, Ezekiel 34, Psalm 23.
  • Jesus’ Compassion in Action:
    • Teaching and feeding the crowds.
    • Leading and caring for the disciples.
    • Healing and restoring the sick.

5. Detailed Analysis of Key Miracles

  • Feeding the 5,000 (Verses 30–44):
    • Jesus’ focus on providing spiritual and physical sustenance.
    • Significance of abundance: A demonstration of God’s lavish provision.
  • Walking on Water (Verses 45–52):
    • Jesus’ leadership and guidance through trials.
    • Disciples’ lack of understanding due to hardened hearts.
  • Healing in Gennesaret (Verses 53–56):
    • Jesus’ power to heal and restore lives, fulfilling His role as the compassionate shepherd.

6. Application and Reflection

  • Focus on Jesus’ Identity:
    • Recognize Jesus as the compassionate shepherd in trials and blessings.
    • Depend on Him rather than attempting to control outcomes.
  • Sharing the Message:
    • Share personal insights from the study with family and friends during Christmas.

7. Conclusion

  • Quotation from John Newton emphasizing the completeness of Jesus as the source of everything.
  • Closing prayer for understanding and application of the teaching.


Bible Study Discussion Follow-up for December 11

Luke 10:1 seventy-two
Many very old and reliable Greek manuscripts have “seventy-two” here and in v. 17, while many other old and reliable manuscripts have “seventy,” and all interpreters agree that it is difficult to decide about which number was in the original of Luke’s Gospel. Most modern translations have decided in favor of “seventy-two,” based on basic principles for determining manuscript readings. In any case, no doctrinal issue is at stake, and the number probably has symbolic significance representing the number of nations in the world (cf. Genesis 10). Sending them out two-by-two fulfills the OT requirement for two witnesses (Deut. 17:6; 19:15).

Lesson 11 Outline – Jim






Lesson 11: Mark 6:1-29

Lesson 11: Mark 6:1-29

  • Introduction
    • Encouragement for the holiday season
    • Importance of being with family and friends
    • Encouragement to reach out to those in need
    • Opportunities to share faith during Christmas
  • Shout-out to Leaders
    • Gratitude for consistency and leadership
    • Recognition of the importance of their role in ministry
  • Lesson Overview
    • Chapter 6, Verses 1-19 in the Gospel of Mark
    • Three scenes unfold in the passage:
      • First Scene – Jesus rejected in His hometown (Verses 1-6)
      • Second Scene – Jesus sends out His disciples in pairs (Verses 7-13)
      • Third Scene – The death of John the Baptist (Verses 14-29)
  • Detailed Discussion
    • Rejection in Nazareth (Verses 1-6)
      • Jesus’ return to His hometown
      • Crowd astonished but critical of Him
      • Questioning His wisdom and miracles
      • Offense taken due to His humble background
      • Jesus’ response: A prophet is not honored in his hometown
    • Sending Out Disciples (Verses 7-13)
      • Disciples sent out in pairs
      • Reflection on methods of ministry
      • Effective, but not the only way to share the Gospel
    • The Death of John the Baptist (Verses 14-29)
      • Sad account of John’s death
      • Herod’s poor decisions and John’s faithfulness
      • God’s faithfulness and John’s fulfillment of his ministry
  • Application and Reflection
    • Impact of Rejection
      • Reflection on personal rejection in sharing the Gospel
      • Encouragement to continue sharing despite past rejection
    • Not Holding People to Their Past
      • Encouragement not to dismiss people based on their history
      • Reflection on God’s grace and forgiveness towards us
    • Overcoming Unbelief
      • Questioning personal unbelief in following Christ
      • Practical ways to address unbelief in daily life
  • Conclusion
    • Encouragement to share faith despite the potential for rejection
    • Final prayer and well wishes for the Christmas season


Follow Up






Discussion Questions – December 4, 2024

Discussion Questions – December 4, 2024

The following questions were shared during our discussion time on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. I took some time to look up these questions:

Stories of Jesus Calming the Stormy Sea and Walking on Water

The stories of Jesus calming the stormy sea in Mark 4:35-41 and Jesus walking on the water in Mark 6:45-52 are two separate incidents in the Gospel of Mark. Here’s how they differ and connect:

1. Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35-41)

  • Setting: This occurs as Jesus and the disciples cross the Sea of Galilee after a long day of teaching (including the parables in Mark 4).
  • Event: A great storm arises while Jesus is asleep in the boat. The disciples wake Him in fear, and He rebukes the wind and the sea, bringing immediate calm.
  • Focus: Jesus demonstrates His authority over nature, questioning the disciples’ faith after they express fear.

2. Jesus Walks on the Water (Mark 6:45-52)

  • Setting: After the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus sends the disciples ahead by boat while He stays to pray on a mountain.
  • Event: The disciples struggle against strong winds as they row. In the early morning, Jesus walks on the water toward them. When they see Him, they are terrified, thinking He is a ghost, but He reassures them and calms the wind.
  • Focus: This incident emphasizes Jesus’ divine nature and ability to defy natural laws. It also highlights the disciples’ ongoing struggle to fully grasp who He is.

Key Differences and Continuity

  • Timeline: The two events are separated by time, with Mark 5 (healing miracles and teachings) occurring between them.
  • Context: In Mark 4, Jesus is present with the disciples in the boat. In Mark 6, He approaches them from a distance.
  • Lessons: Both events reveal Jesus’ divine power but focus on different aspects of faith and trust. Mark 4 addresses fear in immediate danger, while Mark 6 highlights faith amidst confusion and awe of Jesus’ identity.

These distinct incidents together underscore the growing revelation of Jesus’ divine authority and the disciples’ journey toward understanding Him.





Mark 5: Demons and the Swine

The Significance of Demons Entering the Swine (Mark 5)

  • Demonstration of Authority Over Demons:
    By casting the demons into the swine, Jesus demonstrates His supreme authority over spiritual forces of evil. This act visibly shows His power to the onlookers, as the demons’ presence and their destructive intent are made manifest when they drive the pigs to their deaths.
  • Value of Human Life:
    The man’s deliverance from the demons highlights the immense value Jesus places on human life and freedom. While 2,000 pigs are lost, Jesus prioritizes the healing and restoration of one person.
  • Judgment on Demons:
    Allowing the demons to enter the swine could also be interpreted as a form of judgment. They beg not to be sent out of the area or into the abyss (a place of ultimate confinement and punishment for evil spirits, as referenced in Luke 8:31), and Jesus grants their request—but their newfound “home” is destroyed almost immediately.
  • A Testimony to the Community:
    The destruction of the swine served as a dramatic event that drew the attention of the community, forcing them to confront Jesus’ authority and the reality of spiritual forces. However, instead of marveling at the man’s deliverance, they respond with fear and ask Jesus to leave.

What Happens to the Demons After the Swine’s Death?

The Bible does not explicitly state what happens to the demons after the swine rush into the sea and drown. However, a few possibilities can be inferred based on biblical theology:

  • Release Back into the Spiritual Realm:
    Since the demons are spiritual beings, they may not “die” in the sense that the swine do. They could have been released back into the spiritual realm, free to roam and seek another host (as implied in Matthew 12:43-45, where Jesus describes unclean spirits wandering).
  • Symbolic Judgment:
    The drowning of the swine might symbolize the eventual destruction and defeat of evil powers. While the demons might continue to operate in the interim, their ultimate fate is the judgment of God, as described in Revelation 20:10.
  • Binding or Limitation:
    In allowing the demons to destroy the swine, Jesus might have limited their activity temporarily, demonstrating His control over their plans without revealing the exact outcome.

Spiritual Lessons

  • Jesus’ authority over evil and His ability to bring complete freedom is central to this account.
  • The story challenges us to consider how we respond to Jesus’ power—like the healed man, with gratitude and a desire to follow Him, or like the townspeople, with fear and rejection.
  • It reminds us of the destructive nature of evil and the ultimate futility of its rebellion against God.




Who Touched Me? – Mark 5

Who Touched Me? – Mark 5

When Jesus asks, “Who touched me?” in Mark 5:30, it is not because He lacks knowledge. Instead, His question serves a greater purpose, aligning with His teaching and relational style. Here’s a breakdown of why He might have asked this question:

1. To Invite the Woman to Publicly Acknowledge Her Faith

  • Jesus likely knew who touched Him (consistent with His divine nature), but by asking the question, He gave the woman an opportunity to come forward and share her story.
  • This public declaration of her faith and healing would:
    • Affirm her boldness and trust in Him.
    • Encourage others to believe in Jesus’ power.
    • Restore her dignity, as her condition had rendered her socially and religiously unclean for years.

2. To Highlight the Personal Nature of His Ministry

Jesus’ question emphasizes that His power is not impersonal or mechanical. The woman’s healing wasn’t just the result of touching His garment—it was her faith in Him as the source of healing. By asking, “Who touched me?” Jesus underscores that He is aware and involved in every act of faith directed toward Him.

3. To Teach the Disciples and the Crowd

  • The disciples react incredulously because many people were pressing against Jesus in the crowd.
  • However, Jesus distinguishes this touch of faith from the casual jostling of the crowd.
  • This moment teaches that proximity to Jesus is not enough—faith is the key to experiencing His power.

Did Jesus Know the Answer?

Yes, Jesus likely knew the answer. His question was not for His own knowledge but for the benefit of the woman, the disciples, and the crowd. It was an intentional act to:

  • Bring the woman into the light.
  • Affirm her faith publicly.
  • Highlight His power and compassion.

In this way, Jesus’ question was both rhetorical and relational, inviting deeper understanding and connection.