Mark: The Ministry of Mystery

(I somehow forgot to post this last week, so I’m just catching up.  Sorry. – Scott) Last week, we began at the beginning.  The Gospel of Mark begins with an enigma, proclaiming to readers “the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, Son of God,” a story that they are presumed to already know.  To us, much of it …

Mark: The Ministry of Mystery (Program and Sermon)

Program Sermon Outline (loosely followed) I.        Who is Jesus? a.       Son of God Used in opening and not again until the crucifixion. b.      Son of Man Jesus’ preferred way of referring to himself in Mark.  “Son of man” initially just means “human” in the Hebrew Bible, but becomes the title of an eschatological judge in Daniel.  This develops into the …

Mark: The Beginning (Program and Sermon Outline

Program Sermon Outline (loosely followed) I.        Background a.       Author 1.      Traditionally Mark, associated with Peter 2.      Unknown b.      Occasion 1.      Fall of Temple 2.      Sack of Jerusalem 3.      Resolving relationship to two communities a)      Jews (1)   Rejection by priests and scribes (2)   New temple b)      Rome c.       Community 1.      Greek speaking 2.      Gentile 3.      Persecuted d.      Style 1.      Crude 2.      …

Mark: The Beginning

For churches that follow the lectionary, this is the year of Mark.  The lectionary years are designated A, B, and C, which correspond to following the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, respectively.  So this is Year B, the year to read Mark.  The purpose of the lectionary is to give people a complete view of the Bible every three …