Bible Study 8/31-9/1 Mark 12:38-44

Scribes - Pharisees and Giving

Mark 12:38-44 (ESV)
³⁸  And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces
³⁹  and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,
⁴⁰  who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
⁴¹  And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.
⁴²  And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.
⁴³  And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.
⁴⁴  For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Mark Questions 12:38-44

1. What is a “scribe”?

2. What is hypocrisy and why is it dangerous?

3. What is the “greater condemnation” that the scribes would receive?

4. How did the scribes “devour widows houses”?

5. Should a prayer be long or short explain?

6. Why do we give offerings?

7. How much should you give?

8. Have you ever given a special “large sum” of money to the church?

9. What did it mean to be a widow in Jesus day?

10. What is the difference between “out of abundance” and “out of poverty”?

Worldliness: a subject that has been basically forgotten in the church.

The church today has completely ignored the issue of worldliness in the church and as a result the church has become almost indistinguishable from the culture it inhabits. It has forgotten that it is to be "the light of the world" and "salt" to a society that is flavorless. Instead it has adopted the mentality and ideology of the "kingdom of this world" and has become trapped in the vanity of an age that will soon be passing away. The church unfortunately has done the opposite of 1 John chapter 2 and has fallen in love with the world and "all that is in it". Pastor Mbewe give a great definition of an issue that today needs more attention in the church. Enjoy!

Atheism: Coming soon to a town near you!

The rise of atheism is at an all time high and in the next few years it is expected to rise exponentially!  It is important for the church to be invested in articulating the gospel, learning apologetics and knowing scripture to combat the wave of unbelief and confusion that will soon be at the doorstep of the church. Therefore it is imperative that we heed the words of 1 Peter 3:15 : "But sanctify the Lord Jesus in your heart and be ready always to give an answer to every man that ask you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"

A New Movement: Evangelical Jews!!!

The hand of God is reaching more and more people of the Jewish faith and bringing them into a relationship the Jesus Christ.  I believe that a new movement is beginning.  As  more and more people move into nominal Christianity in America, God is calling more and more of His ancient people into faith.  I believe this can definitely be a sign that Christ is coming soon.  So enjoy a wonderful testimony of God's Spirit bringing a new life into the family of God and if you get a chance check out their website  and see more testimonies like this.

Bible Study: Jesus teaches in the Temple Mark 12:12-37

Bible Study Questions

Have your answers ready 8-10-16 and 8-11-16

Mark 12:12-37

BIBLE STUDY QUESTIONS

Who are the pharisees and the Herodians?

1. How were they going to trap Him with this question?
2. Who is Caesar?
3. What is a denarius and what is the value of it?
4. How should the believer see paying taxes?
5. Who were the pharisees and the sadducees and how were they different?
6. What is the resurrection and when does it happen?
7. Who is Moses and why are they quoting him?
8. What are angels? And what does it mean to be “like the angels” after the resurrection?
9. How do you think spouses will relate to each other in heaven?
10. What does it mean to be an “expert of the law”
11. What part of the Old Testament did Jesus get the “greatest commandment”?
12. What is a “burnt offering”?
13. Why do you think loving your neighbor is more important than burn offerings?
14. Who is David and How is he related to Christ?
15. What does it mean to be an “expert in the law”?

Mark 12:12-37 (ESV) 
¹²  And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.
¹³  And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk.
¹⁴  And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?”
¹⁵  But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”
¹⁶  And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”
¹⁷  Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.
¹⁸  And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying,
¹⁹  “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.
²⁰  There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring.
²¹  And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise.
²²  And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died.
²³  In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”
²⁴  Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?
²⁵  For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
²⁶  And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
²⁷  He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”
²⁸  And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 
²⁹  Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
³⁰  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
³¹  The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
³²  And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him.
³³  And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
³⁴  And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
³⁵  And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
³⁶  David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”’
³⁷  David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.