Lesson One A New Beginning Mark 1:1-20 Men s Inductive Study Knowing the Scriptures Studies in the Gospel of Mark Introduction: Welcome, brothers, to this year s inductive study program. We pray that this method of study will reveal to you many new treasures from the Gospel of Mark. Those of you who have been enrolled in the inductive study program here at Harvest, it s a blessing to have you back. Those who are trying this method of study for the first time, God s blessings to you. There has been an excitement building among the Men s Bible Fellowship ministry for some time now over what God will be revealing to all of us through Mark while studying this first recorded gospel. If you are learning this method for the first time, fear not! We will be covering approximately half a chapter per week. This will give us plenty of time to understand not only the method of inductive learning but also the meaning of God s Word. We will be learning to study in a disciplined and systematic way, continually asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to us insights to the miraculous plan of redemption in the Gospel of Mark. Every week there will be brothers available to answer any questions regarding the inductive study method: your group leader, two senior group leaders and the inductive lesson coordinators. They are all trained and capable teachers of the inductive method. All your studies are formatted in a particular layout that lends itself well to inductive learning. Remember to utilize all the materials and study helps you received during the orientation time of our first night together. Again we encourage every inductive student to pick up a copy of Living by the Book written by Howard Hendricks. Whether you are new to this inductive method or not, remember, this is a process and no one is expected to learn this process in one sitting, five weeks or an entire year. The patience of our Lord and Savior is one of His greatest attributes. Let this same patience be in you while He reveals not only the process of this study method but most importantly, the meaning and application of His eternal Word. Inductively Speaking: Your studies in the Gospel of Mark will have the greatest impact when you take particular care in observing everything you can about the words that are written before you. This is the time to humbly go before the Lord asking Him to give you insight to the verse or passage at hand. God says that every jot and tittle is important. Handle with care when completing your observation. Look for the main theme of the passage. Surround it with supporting facts before you attempt to interpret the lesson God had for the people in that day. Think as a detective would think: who, what, where, when, why and how. Review the instruction guide for each section of study. One more thing, don t forget to give God the glory for what He will reveal to you this week. Memory Verse: Mark 1:11 Then a voice came from heaven, You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Day One Text: Begin this week s lesson by reading the passage. Hint: Read the passage repeatedly, prayerfully, thoughtfully, meditatively and patiently. Mark 1:1-20 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the Prophets: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You." 3 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness:' Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.'" 4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying," There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven," You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." 16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. NKJV
Day Two I. Observation: Finding the literal facts or most obvious details of the passage. Hint: Begin observation by asking the questions who, what, where, when, why, and how. Verses 1 13 II. Interpretation: Discovering the lessons or meaning of God's instruction to His people. Hint: Try to place yourself with these people, in their circumstances, at this time of Bible history. Verses 1-13 III. Application: Applying the lessons and meaning of God's instructions to His people. Hint: Apply the lesson or lessons you found in the interpretation section in the form of a question. Verses 1 13
Day Three I. Observation: Finding the literal facts or most obvious details of the passage. Hint: Begin observation by asking the questions who, what, where, when, why, and how. Verses 14 15 II. Interpretation: Discovering the lessons or meaning of God's instruction to His people. Hint: Try to place yourself with these people, in their circumstances, at this time of Bible history. Verses 14 15 III. Application: Applying the lessons and meaning of God's instructions to His people. Hint: Apply the lesson or lessons you found in the interpretation section in the form of a question. Verses 14 15
Day Four I. Observation: Finding the literal facts or most obvious details of the passage. Hint: Begin observation by asking the questions who, what, where, when, why, and how. Verses 16 20 II. Interpretation: Discovering the lessons or meaning of God's instruction to His people. Hint: Try to place yourself with these people, in their circumstances, at this time of Bible history. Verses 16 20 III. Application: Applying the lessons and meaning of God's instructions to His people. Hint: Apply the lesson or lessons you found in the interpretation section in the form of a question. Verses 16 20
Day Five Word Studies: In this portion of the lesson we will take a closer look at one or two key words in the chapter. You will need to have your tools or resources at hand. (Such as: more than one Bible translation, a dictionary or Bible dictionary, concordance, atlas, and encyclopedia) If you don t have all of these, simply use what you do have to enrich your learning. To do some digging on your own, start with your dictionary (or Bible dictionary) and then look up the references to add to your understanding. If you have additional resources, you may want to keep digging. (You may want to make notes in the Notes and Insights section.) After you ve completed the investigative process, write a definition in your own words. Your investigation in today s lesson will lay the groundwork for deeper discoveries in subsequent lessons, so be as thorough as you can. Beginning: Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. NKJV Dictionary definition: What does the Bible have to say? Proverbs 8:22 Luke 24:27 Write your own definition: Gospel: Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. NKJV Dictionary definition: What does the Bible have to say? Matthew 24:14 Galatians 1:11
Write your own definition: Day Six Summation Sentence: A simple personal statement about what God has shown you from this passage. Comparative Commentary: Notes and insights from Matthew, Luke and John. Mark 1:1 8 John the Baptist Prepares the Way (Matt 3:1 12; Luke 3:1 20; John 1:19 28) NKJV Mark 1:9 11 John Baptizes Jesus (Matt 3:13 17; Luke 3:21,22; John 1:29 34) NKJV Mark 1:12 13 Satan Tempts Jesus (Matt 4:1 11; Luke 4:1 13) NKJV Mark 1:14 15 Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry (Matt 4:12 17; Luke 4:14,15) NKJV Mark 1:16 20 Four Fishermen Called as Disciples (Matt 4:18 22; Luke 5:1 11) NKJV
Prayer Requests: Lecture Notes:
2005 Harvest Christian Fellowship; all rights reserved. Written by D. Vance and C. Thomas for 2005 Men s Bible Fellowship. www.harvest.org.