Daily Readings (Page 287)

How do we see Jesus’ ministry?  What do you think of Him preaching and doing works of mercy together?  How should this affect the way we minister to people?

What difference do you see in Jesus’ teaching compared with other religious?

What impresses you in the way the disciples respond to Jesus’ call?  How does this remind you about how you should respond to Him?   

What was the message Jesus preached (v15)?  Is there a line of continuity with the message John the Baptist preached (v4) and if so, what is it?    

Why do you think Jesus involved others in the proclamation of God’s Kingdom? What did responding obediently to Jesus’ call cost Simon, Andrew, James and John?

How long was Jesus in the desert, and what happened there? God sometimes leads us into testing situations – how would you respond knowing this?

How soon after His baptism was Jesus sent into the desert and by Whom?

Observe how the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are involved in Jesus’ baptism. What does this tell us about its significance? How did you feel about your own baptism (Act 2:38)?

In v 2 Mark focuses on the forerunner of Jesus, John the Baptist. What blessings were anticipated in the passage from Isaiah?

In v 1 Mark calls the appearance of Jesus Christ “the gospel” i.e. Good News. Why do you think he does this? How is the Gospel of Jesus Christ different from a biography? What might be the intended outcome of Mark’s Gospel?