The Gospel of Mark

The Beginning of the Good News

Session 1

Introduction: by the Rev. Dr. John Lewis

The introduction gives an overview of what users may expect in this ten-session study of the Gospel of Mark and offers suggestions of how best to use it.  The study is especially designed to encourage conversation in a congregation or small group and provides ample questions to provoke thoughtful insights.

These pages will remain on this blogsite, so you may access them at any time. Be sure to listen to the recorded reflections of the guest commentators, as they will add another voice to your group.

To open this study, we asked five persons the question, “When did you get your first Bible and what do you remember about it?” Listen to their recorded answers below

Bishop Gary Lillibridge

Bishop  David Reed

John Lewis

Jane Patterson

Marjorie George

Read the Introduction to the study of Mark here.

Session 2
Theme: God’s Beloved –Mark 1:1-15; 9:2-9; 15:33-39

Read Commentary and reflection questions  written by the Rev. Dr. Jane Patterson.

Guest commentator is the Rev. Sean Maloney. Sean wonders if God would refer to him as “beloved.” Read Session 2 reflection by Sean Maloney,
or listen, below.

Session 3
Theme: Banishing Spirits of Oppression – Mark 1:21-29; 5:1-20

Read Commentary and reflection questions by the Rev. Dr. John Lewis

Guest commentator is Bonnie Reeves. Bonnie maintains that Christ’s “control over spirits of oppressions is absolute.”
Read Session 3 reflection by Bonnie Reeves,
or listen, below.

Session 4
Theme: Life Restored – Mark 5:21-43

Read commentary and reflection questions by the Rev. Dr. Jane Patterson

Guest commentary is by the Rev. Rod Clark. Rod reflects on what the word “faith” means to us. Is it just a belief, or is it a call to action?
Read Session 4 reflection by Rod Clark,
or listen, below.

Session 5
Theme: Is there Enough?- Mark 6:30-44; 8:1-21

Read by commentary and reflection questions the Rev. Dr. Jane Patterson

Guest commentator is Thurma Hilton, who reflects on her needs always being met.
Read Session 5 reflection by Thurma Hilton
or listen, below.

Session 6
Theme: Taming Chaos- Mark 4:35-41; 6:47-52

by commentary and reflection questions  the Rev. Dr. John Lewis

Guest commentator is the Rev. Brad Landry. Brad writes and speaks about bringing order out of chaos. Read Session 6 reflection by the Rev. Brad Landry,
or listen, below.

Session 7
Theme: The Cost of the Cross – Mark 8:27-38; 9:30-37; 10:32-45

by commentary and reflection questions the Rev. Dr. John Lewis

For her commentary, Betty Anne Cody reflected on each of the Mark passages individually. And she did so by taking an unusual vantage point.  Read the reflections by Betty Anne or listen, below.

Hint: these reflections especially make for great listening.

Read Session 7 Cost of the Cross, Mark 8,27-38
listen

Read Session 7 Cost of the Cross, Mark 9,30-37
listen

Read Session 7 Cost of the Cross, Mark 9,30-37
listen

Session 8
Theme: Seeing Clearly – Mark 8:22-26; 10:46-52

by commentary and reflection questions the Rev. Dr. John Dr. Lewis

Guest commentator is Carrie Guerra. Carrie finds that in her life she sometimes is looking for the dramatic healing, when so often healing is more of a process than an event.
Read Session 8 reflection by Carrie Guerra,
or listen, below.

Session 9
Theme: Radical Offering – Mark 12:41-14:9

Read commentary and reflection questions by the Rev. Dr. Jane Patterson

Guest commentator for this session is  Roger Graham. Roger  comments on some key phrases in these passages. Read session 9 reflection by Roger Graham,
or listen, below.

Session 10
“He is going ahead of you” – Mark 16:1-8

Read commentary and reflection questions by the Rev. Dr. Jane Patterson

The final guest commentator is Clark Hendley. He tells us to “Go!”
Read Session 10 reflection by Clark Hendley
or listen, below.