Bible Notes 13th September to 11th October 2015 by Rev Barrie Morley

The Kingdom of God in Mark (continued).

SEPTEMBER 13th

MARK  8:  27-38

Now, about half way through the sixteen chapters of Mark we reach a pivotal moment.  The shadow of the cross falls across the ministry of Jesus.  He begins to instruct his 'students' on the price he must pay to bring in God's kingdom.   AND...there is a price too for the disciples as they have to learn to imitate the way of Christ.  'Bearing shame and scoffing rude. in my place condemned he stood,' wrote Philip Bliss.  However, as the late Dr.  Donald English powerfully reminded us, people who are offered the gospel are not 'simply handed forgiveness like a birthday gift to be opened at our convenience and somehow existing apart from ourselves.  The cross of Christ and the resurrection of Christ are the great salvation events, but we benefit from them by entering into them.  These very gifts involve us in the daily experience of death and  resurrection.'   ('Christian discipleship the hard way'p. 38)

QUESTION FOR PREACHERS,  'Does our preaching make these things clear enough?'

SEPTEMBER 20th

MARK  9:  30-37

The Greek word usually translated Disciple could validly be translated Student.   Jesus was trying to teach the tweelve the principles of the Kingdom of God.  Mark shows us here that those students had hardly grasped lesson one!   Their idea of the Kingdom was a time and place when God's glory would be revealed and they have become princes in the realm.  The idea seemed to appeal to the vanity of these Galilean fishermen.   Status glory and power are stiill temptations that we Christians fall prey to.

PREACHING POINT.  In first century Palestine status and precedence were daily issues, in the Synagoue, in matters of Law, and, at the dinner parties which Jesus attended.   BUT...in the Kingdom of God, the first will be last.
                              How status conscious is our congregation/denomination?
                              How much do we as a church honour and value the least, the last, and those whose contribution is done quietly?

SEPTEMBER 27th
MARK 9:  38-50

   There is no way of avoiding the stark challenge of verses 43-48.   Cranfield (The Gospel according to Mark), claims that the general point is,  it is worth making the most costly sacrifices for the sake of not losing eternal life.
He adds 'It would not be lost on  the Roman church (probably for whom Mark wrote) in the time of persecution.  

PREACHING/DEVOTIONAL POINTS

Remember the cost which some believers have paid and still do pay for the sake of the Kingdom of God.  Today this is certainly true for Christians in the Middle East

How aware of these people's situation are we?

What more could this congregation do?  

How much in our own culture has self-fulfillment replaced self-sacrifice?

OCTOBER 4th

MARK  10:  2-16

Human sexuality and relationships are issues which loom large in our culture, laws, and in the Church.      Two generations ago, same sex relationships and divorce still carried stigma within both society and the Church.
Now, Black & White, one size fits all approaches seem old fashioned.  Many 'Bible believing' Christians are unlikely strictly and literally enforce Jesus words on divorce as outlined in this passage.  

POINTS FOR PREACHERS AND LISTENERS

How far do Christ's words from HIS culture apply to ours?   What tools should we use to correctly apply teaching from another culture to our own?

How can I avoid making self righteous judgements?

Where do we feel Christians are too influenced by the standards of society as a whole?

OCTOBER 11th

MARK 10:  17-31

Here the rubber really hits the road!  Mark shows us graphically how different the values of the Kingdom of God are from the religion and culture of his day.  The shock waves in this story reach beyond the Rich Ruler all the way to Jesus own disciples.  'They were amazed at his words'.  In much of the Old Testament we find the idea that health, wealth and happiness are all signs of God's favour, ( a view challenged in certain books such as Job).
The disciples seem to have inherited this idea.  So what are WE to make of it 1900 years later in our consumer 'must have' society?

   First, let's look for the Good News here.   If we ask 'When and for whom did Mark write his Gospel?'   The answer might be, 'For believers and enquirers in forst century Rome at a time of difficulty'.   There was a COST to following Christ.   And..many, perhaps most of Mark's target audience were from the lower stratss of society.  So, it is possible to read this passage s Good News to people who are  not wealthyin this life and/or have been willing to pay a price for following Christ. (see v 30).    Today there are many folk around the world, and in the UK who count themselves rich in Christ.

FOR PREACHERS & HEARERS TO PONDER

What is the Good News for the poor in OUR culture?  The challenge of v 23 remains in  these days when many Western Christians enjoy a lifestyle of affluence.

In the end only WE can each answer for ourselves whether our wealth is making it hard for us to truly live under the reign (in the Kingdom of) God

Bible notes for 30th August to 6th September 2015 by Rev Barrie Morley

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN MARK.

  G.Ro.W. tries to help continuity of teaching in church systems where many different preachers lead worship throughout the year.  Whilst the Revised Common Lectionary helps, it does conflate the Christ event into little more than six months from Advent to Trinity.  Hardly have we celebrated the birth of Christ than we find ourselves slogging through Lent.  Only afterPentecost does the Lectionary focus on Christ's ministry and teaching, but by then his story has already been celebrated in the cycle of worship.  It can seem that the TEACHING of Christ is pushed to the sidelines.  Yet Jesus' revolutionary words are one of the main reasons why he made powerful enemies among the religious establishment, whilst, at the same time, attracting crowds of ordinary folk.  So....if the Christ is event is more than Incarnation/Death/Resurrection,  perhaps in these post festival days we could offer preaching & teaching on the burden of Jesus' teaching...THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

     A key reason for Jesus' differences with the Pharisees was that he interpreted the Law in a radically different way from them.  His was a more liberal, humane way.    All Jews believed in the final reign of God, but, as Mark makes clear, Jesus burst onto the scene proclaiming that the time had now dawned (Mark 1:  14-15).   Jesus parables were illustrations of the reign of the Father,  and his miracles of healing back up his words with signs and examples of God's good intentions for people.   Our task as people who proclaim in worship the Reign of God, is to challenge congregations to identify where today the values of God's reign are seen, and....NOT seen.   

   So...the Kingdom of God may be uttermost in our minds as we read the lectionary over the next weeks

AUGUST 30th   MARK  7:  1-8:  14-15:   21-24

     Though the Kingdom of God is not mentioned in this chapter it does show a stark contrast between the religiosity of the Pharisees and the no nonsence humanity of Jesus.  Therefore, Jesus words here demonstrate his Kingdom priorities.

   CHALLENGES 
    How pure are our motives, how clean our thoughts?
    In an age when the  clearly defined and generally agreed Christian lifestyles of two generations ago have given way to personal choice about the way Believers should live, are there any absoslutes?  What are the marks of a life lived under the reign of God?

SEPTEMBER 6th   Mark 7:  24-37

  Jesus the Jew is on foreign soil.  The first miracle is done with some apparent reluctance, and the second privately (to avoid publicity?)  Does Jesus still see his mission as only to the House of Israel?  Why has Mark included these events in his gospel. which is aimed primarily at Gentile people?

   Here again, though the Kingdom of God is not mentioned, the REIGN of God, (an equally valid translation of the Greek Basilea) is demonstrated.

PREACHING THOUGHT.   Whilst some churches claim a 'healing Ministry',  ALL churches ought to be proclaiming the Kingdom of God by deeds of compassion, welcome and support, demanding justice etc.,  All of these things are in the healing spirit of Jesus