Mark........

[Blessed 2 B Zoe]

I am onto reading Mark @ the moment and was wondering if any one would like to go throgh it with me.

[gen]

Zoey, I wouldnt be at all opposed to reading thru Mark with you. Im reading thru 1 corinthians now but I could manage to read thru mark too. How far are you into it?

gen

[Blessed 2 B Zoe]

I have got up to Jesus Calls Levi in chapter 2, not had much time witht the bible and need to devote more time to it.

[Blessed 2 B Zoe]

I have been looking into bible studys on this book and so far it is not going well, I have tried bible reading plans but they do not seem to help.

[Blessed 2 B Zoe]

Mark 9: 13-18

"Jesus Calls Levi

Jesus went back again to the shore of Lake Galilee. A crowd came to him, and he started teaching them. As he walked along, he saw a tax collector, Levi son of Alphaeus, sitting in his office. Jesus said to him, "follow me." Levi got up and followed him. Later on Jesus was having a meal in Levis house. A large number of tax collector and other outcasts were following Jesus, and many of them joined him and his discples at the table. Some teachers of the law, who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with these outcasts and tax collectors, so they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with such people?" Jesus heard them and answerd, "People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those that are sick. I have not come to call respectable people but outcast."

Ok I think what Jesus is trying to tell us here is that he has called outcasts because they are too weak to come there selves. He is giving the people that would normally be forgotton about a chance. Showing that he is eating with these people shows that Jesus does not place him self with a symbol he is showing that he is the same as the outcasts and does not place him self above people. Showing his disiples eating with the also shows to me that I must respect people that may be below me and I must allow them to eat at my table.

Does that make sense sorry my words never seem to form when I want them to, but above is what I think that passage is saying.

Do have any other thoughts on this bit?

[gen]

Hey there Zoey...


Ok I think what Jesus is trying to tell us here is that he has called outcasts because they are too weak to come there selves. He is giving the people that would normally be forgotton about a chance. Showing that he is eating with these people shows that Jesus does not place him self with a symbol he is showing that he is the same as the outcasts and does not place him self above people. Showing his disiples eating with the also shows to me that I must respect people that may be below me and I must allow them to eat at my table.

I believe Jesus is saying that it isnt those who *think* they are healthy but those who know they are sinners.


he has called outcasts because they are too weak to come there selves.

The truth about that is that no one can come to God themselves. It is only in Jesus and when he calls us that we can come. No one can get there themselves, not even the self righteous religious leaders.

Showing that he is eating with these people shows that Jesus does not place him self with a symbol he is showing that he is the same as the outcasts and does not place him self above people.

Im not sure if Im misunderstanding you but Ill say what I think in case Im not. The truth is that Jesus has no illussions about Who He is. He knows he is the Son of God, that He is actually Equal with God. He is eating with outcasts because they accept him into their home. The religious leaders wouldnt even eat with Jesus because he is considered unclean just by associating with 'sinners'. The niv uses the word 'sinners' instead of 'outcasts'. So the religious leaders are calling these outcasts sinners as if they themselves are any different in God's eyes, which of course, they are not (but they think they are). The amazing thing about this little bit of scripture is that God Almighty, the creator of the universe, the One who detests and cannot abide even for a moment sin in any form, is sitting there and eating with the 'lowest of the low' showing that He is the ultimate in forgiving, eternally bounding in grace and is willing to embrace sinners whenever they are willing to come to him when he calls.

[Blessed 2 B Zoe]

Yep I understood that I find it very hard to grip the bible as it can be hard to read, but what you have said has made a lot of sense I will post the sencond bit either 2moz or later on depends how long Sinead stays interested in Cbeebies.

[gen]

Zoey, do keep it up. Im keen to do this with you. Its been hard for me to understand so much of the bible, its not always an easy book to understand. It will take a lifetime to study it just enough to scratch the surface. Id be more than happy to explore those difficult bits with you (insert smily smilie) (not that I know it all but exploring is the key word, isnt it). I was wondering what kind of church you went to? is it church of england? I was very blessed when I became a christian in that the very first church i went to as a new born again christian was a very good teaching church. What they did was go thru each book of the bible, a chapter a week, and we got indepth teaching. Going that route you cannot gloss over tricky bits of the bible. You've got to chew on them and wrestle with them and learn that way. I think for new christians, proper, clear, no holds barred bible teaching has got to be the most important thing. One needs that firm foundation if they stand any chance of their faith surviving the trials they face later on.
gen

[Blessed 2 B Zoe]

Hey it is Church of England I am an Anglican, I go to bible study each week but we do not stick to a set topic.

I will post the second bit very soon, been poorly so had to go to doctor this morning so not had time to get on as yet.

[Blessed 2 B Zoe]

This is from an online bible saves my fingers from the typing if I cut and paste.

18: And John's disciples and the Pharisees were taking no food: and they came and said to him, Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees go without food, but your disciples do not?
19: And Jesus said to them, Will the friends of a newly-married man go without food while he is with them? as long as they have him with them they will not go without food.
20: But the days will come when the husband will be taken away from them, and then they will go without food.
21: No man puts a bit of new cloth on an old coat: or the new, by pulling away from the old, makes a worse hole.
22: And no man puts new wine into old wine-skins: or the skins will be burst by the wine, and the wine and the skins will be wasted: but new wine has to be put into new wine-skins.
23: And it came about that on the Sabbath day he was going through the grain-fields; and while they were walking, his disciples took the heads of grain.
24: And the Pharisees said to him, Why are they doing what it is not right to do on the Sabbath?
25: And he said to them, Have you no knowledge of what David did, when he had need and was without food, he, and those who were with him?
26: How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and took for food the holy bread, which only the priests may take, and gave it to those who were with him?
27: And he said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath;
28: So that the Son of man is lord even of the Sabbath.

Not sure what to make of this bit, I will have another read through and let you know what I come up with.

[gen]

Zoey.... Where are you??? Just hoping that you atleast get time to read even if you arent able to post. if you want we could do this via pm instead.

gen

[Blessed 2 B Zoe]

Sorry I am about but not done much bible time, workmen are in doing the kitchen and my bible has been packed in a box.

I will do more as soon as I can, I have the weekend to be able to do some more reading as the workmen are not back until monday.

Sorry again and huge hugs.

Zoey

[justmeNmine]

I've been looking to get more motivated with reading the Bible, so if you two don't mind, I'll jump in.

[justmeNmine]

Alright so I went and read the parts you're talking about and just wanted add that the first in particular is what has always encouraged me to associate with the "low-lifes" (as they have been called by many people, Christian and not) that I have come to know and love over the years. I have a big problem with disassociating myself from people because others see them as unworthy of my love or friendship. I have, over the years, had to learn to discern between breaking bread (as Jesus did) and associating in love with people, and allowing myself to be swept up into ways that I KNOW are not the ways of God. I was excited that you are going through Mark, because as I read it, so much of it is familiar, and most certainly relevant to the things I struggle with every day.

As for the Sabbath being made for man and not man for the Sabbath, I take that to mean that it is importan to recognize which "things," specifically religious things, are from mankind and which are from God. again, this is something I struggle with, wanting to be involved and participating in the Christian community (here on this board and in real life), yet fidning so much of it to be saturated with man-made rules, intepretations, ideas, etc.

[gen]

Excellant Andrea, I certainly dont mind you joining in. Ive been reading Mark and just not posting about it. Ill go back over the things Ive read and post some thoughts when I get back from taking the kids to school.

Gen

[gen]

Andrea, Ive found that difficult too. As a new christian I took everything at face value. I accepted what I was taught because I thought thats what all christians believed. I take most things now with a pinch of salt and gain understanding by prayerfully reading the bible myself. I mean when I was a new christian there was a deep, unsatiable hunger to read the bible and I learned so much during that time. Surely I picked up a few misinterpretations as well. Im curious as to which things you find to be manmade rules/regulations etc. You dont have to answer that or you can do it via pm. Im just curious.

Also wanted to figure out what chapter you were on in Mark. Im up to about 14 but dont mind going back over a few chapters again. Its been a long time since I read thru a book like this and just discussed it. I think its an awesome way of really getting so much more out of the bible, not missing anything. You cant skim over the difficult bits. I find that alot of church/sunday morning services will choose a bible verse or chapter and teach on that only. That can be ok, sometimes but as a practice I think it makes it too easy to not talk about the parts of the bible that one doesnt want to talk about. Keeps things nice and warm and fuzzy, the congregation happy, unchallenged and well... Ill stop there with that one. Going thru a whole book, with someone else is so good. So where are ya up to?

gen

[Blessed 2 B Zoe]

Hey guys sorry I have not ben doing this it has been so chaotic here I have lost track. Can some one post where we have got up to and I will get back into it.

Really Really Sorry.

Zoey

[gen]

Hey Zoey, its ok. Im up to chapter 14, I think but Im willing to go back and reread from where you and Andrea are. I feel like going back over it anyway. When I was a new christian I used to read a few verses or a chapter at a time and reread it over and over again. This will be like going back to that for me. Next I want to read thru John if you's are interested. But lets not jusmp ahead of ourselves, gen! where are you two up to?

[Blessed 2 B Zoe]

Hey I am not sure where I have got up to this week has been busy I will look over my bible and let you know.

Sorry that I am lacking on this one,

Zoey

[justmeNmine]

Hi. I should be doing my accounting homework that has piled up in the last week, but since I have spent most of the weekend trying to gain focus and set my priorities straiught, it seemed most fitting to sit and read a bit. I too have been "slacking", but have just read through chapter 4. This part really struck a chord in me:

13Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14The farmer sows the word. 15Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

I keep thinking, which am I? I want to think I'm one of the farmers, but the part about life's worries is really just standing out to me. Any thoughts?

[gen]

Yeah Andrea, I have to be honest and say that at the moment I am one or all of the bad soils.

18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

It feels like I could be lumped in with this bunch at the moment, even tho I do not want it to be so. I dont want to be 'unfruitful' as a result of the worries of this life. Maybe Im not like that, everything does seem very confusing for me at the moment so its best not making any major decisions. But maybe despite all that, at the same time I could be a 'farmer'. Maybe, for me, something else is going on in the spiritual background.

[justmeNmine]

I know what you mean; I do feel like my fruit has been "choked out" in recent times, yet there are stuill those (non-Christian people) who think my faith is ever so strong and are seeing the "fruit." Later, when I have more time, i think I will look up some encouraging words on worry.

[gen]

I suppose it depends on what one is worrying about...

Matthew 6:24-29 (New International Version)

24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

1 Peter 5:6-11(New International Version)

"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."[a] 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

I just found that verse to be really powerful. Cast your cares on Him.

[justmeNmine]

I went to where you were in Matthew and continued reading. I thin kI found where I am failing at the moment:

31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The trusting in God and knowing that all these essential things will be provided for my children's lives, and my own, is really hard for me. I "know" it intellectually, but I do drive myself crazy with concern and worry and planning sometimes. I have begun to pray at night for tomorrow to be a new start instead of a continuation of today's troubles. It is neat to come across this verse now; Seek ye first is such an elementary phrase, but really means SO much, as does the part you were looking at, like seriuosly, cast ALL my cares? and the simple answer is yeah, just cast 'em away, but how hard is that to do really? For me, it is tough.

[gen]

Andrea, for me casting my cares is easy, picking them up again is, unfortunately easier, its harder to leave things alone once they've been given to Him. Its like 'Well what am I supposed to do now? Ive still got this and that to deal with.' But what we are supposed to do in the meantime is... Seek ye first the kingdom of God. Our perspective on life is meant to be different. We are seeking things that only God can see, sometimes. We cant always see what is going on in the background, spiritually, can we and we worry about that too.

[gen]

Mark 4:21-34

4:21
He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand?
4:22
For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.
4:23
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
4:24
"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more.
4:25
Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."
4:26
He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.
4:27
Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.
4:28
All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.
4:29
As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."
4:30
Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?
4:31
It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground.
4:32
Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."
4:33
With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.
4:34
He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

[gen]

I have been thinking about those next verses (I posted above). I always wondered what verse 24 meant... well verse 24 and 25 I dont see how it fits with the previous verses. I think thats the way it is with Mark tho. The vs seem to be individual sayings and random things that occurred in Jesus' life as opposed to actual chronological events (I know all the gospels read that way to some extent but Mark more so than others).

I know that bringing in the Lamp, Jesus, into any situation can, does bring to light sin, anyone's sin. I just want to speak from my experience in this. Ive found it to be very difficult to be the vessel which carries the light. Some people seem to not get it at all. Some people are very offended by 'the light' I know I carry. They have responded very aggressively sometimes. I have also seen how that light does reveal that which would rather remain hidden, Ive seen it often, many, many times, in others. I am also aware that there are more things than I realize that I would love to remain hidden. Things I would rather remain hidden from myself bc i would love to not have to deal with them. Goodness, it cuts and hurts when the Lord wants to reveal something ugly in my heart. Its as if I am entirely alien to the things of God and there would really be no hope if it werent for Jesus. I have to shamefully admit that I too have wanted to run away from God and his probing light. Thats been since becoming a christian! So this idea of shining light into dark places (dark, nasty places) isnt reserved for nonbelievers. Its for His children too, for everyone. Its like on the one hand that light is a beacon, for those who are weary, weak, you name it. Its also the light that shines in the darkness to check and convict. hmmm...

[justmeNmine]

sorry i have fallen off the wagon with the reading... i will pick it back up soon. it is mid term week and also trying to get all my fall cleaning, etc. done.