Mark 5:1-20

1. Position yourself to hear God

 

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the main points

 

3. Pull out the spiritual principles

 

4. Pose the question

 

5. Plan obedience and pin down a date

Mark 5:1-20 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man


5 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons,sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis[b]how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.


Paraphrase

• Jesus met a man who was possessed by many unclean spirits 
• Jesus freed the man of these unclean spirit and sent them into the pigs where they drowned in the sea 
• Jesus was in complete control over these spirits and they knew it 
• The people did not understand and were afraid at the change in the man 
• Jesus told the man to go and proclaim how much God had done for Him and He did 

Principles

• Jesus meets us where we are at 
• Jesus was in complete control of the situation in dealing with these demons. Nothing is too difficult for Him and He has full authority. 
• People often don't know what God is doing in someone else's life 
• It is good to proclaim the work that God is doing in our lives 

Questions

• Do I really accept and believe that God meets me where I am at? 
• Do I trust that God is in full control of every situation? 
• Even although people don't always understand me and what God is doing I need to keep persevering. Be bold!

Mark 4:35-40

1. Position yourself to hear God

 

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the main points

 

3. Pull out the spiritual principles

 

4. Pose the question

 

5. Plan obedience and pin down a date

Mark 4:35-40 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Calms the Storm

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”



Paraphrase

• Jesus left the crowds on a boat with others
• A storm rose up and the boats were filling with water and Jesus was sleeping
• The disciples woke Him up as they thought they were all going to die
• Jesus stilled the storm and calm returned
• Jesus questioned the disciples as to why they were afraid and still had no faith
• Disciples were amazed at His authority over the wind and sea

Principles

• It is okay to remove yourself from the crowd
• Even with Jesus beside us we still have doubts
• Jesus is in complete control even when things seem out of control
• Jesus asks why our faith is so small
• We should we amazed at the authority He has over all things

Questions

• Do we take time out just to be with Jesus on a regular basis?
• What do we do with our doubts?
• Do we believe that Jesus is in control?
• Do we trust Him to do what He says He can do?

Mark 4:30-34

 

1. Position yourself to hear God

 

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the main points

 

3. Pull out the spiritual principles

 

4. Pose the question

 

5. Plan obedience and pin down a date

Mark 4:30-34 New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

³⁰ Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. ³² Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
³³ With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. ³⁴ He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Paraphrase

• Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed
• It is the smallest seed but grows to be the largest plant and big enough for the birds  to perch in it
• Jesus always spoke in parables to the people but to His disciples He explained everything

Principles

• Big is not always better.  Birds signify Satans helpers in this parable
• A form of godliness without the power of the Holy Spirit is not a good thing
• Jesus sought to teach His disciples so that they would have understanding

Questions

• What are our motives for growing our ministries bigger?
• In our ministries are we doing it God's way or our own way?

Mark 4:26-29

 

1. Position yourself to hear God

 

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the main points

 

3. Pull out the spiritual principles

 

4. Pose the question

 

5. Plan obedience and pin down a date

Mark 4:26-29 New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Growing Seed

²⁶ He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”


Paraphrase

• Kingdom of God is like a man scattering seed on the ground
• The seed grows whether the man is awake or not and yet doesn't know why
• The stalk produces grain in the right order of stalk, head and the kernel
• When the grain is ready it can be harvested

Principles

• Man plants but God does the rest.  We are in partnership with God even if we don't understand how it all works
• The Word of God has a mysterious and hidden power
• The seed is small but the harvest is big, thanks to God

Questions

• Am I sowing seeds?
• Am I relying on God to His part?
• Do I believe the Word of God has power

Mark 4:21 -25

1. Position yourself to hear God

 

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the main points

 

3. Pull out the spiritual principles

 

4. Pose the question

 

5. Plan obedience and pin down a date

Mark 4:21-25 New International Version (NIV)

A Lamp on a Stand

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? ²² For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”
²⁴ “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. ²⁵ Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”



Paraphrase

• A lamp is meant to be seen not hidden
• Use your ears so you hear the truth of God's Word, don't be deceived
• God will respond to us as we hve responded to Him and His Word
• God will give us more desire to hear His Word
• When we have Godly habits they can be built upon, just don't lose them as it is difficult to get them back

Principles

• We need to be bold and shine for Jesus and not hide
• We should have discernment when hearing God's Word
• We need to be intentional with God and His Word
• We need to maintain Godly habits and be disciplined

Questions

• Are we being bold for Christ with family, friends and people we come in contact with?
• Are we going through the motions of obedience or are we truly obedient?

Mark 4:10-20

1. Position yourself to hear God

 

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the main points

 

3. Pull out the spiritual principles

 

4. Pose the question

 

5. Plan obedience and pin down a date

Mark 4:10-20New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. ¹¹ He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables ¹² so that,

“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
    and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’^[a]”

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

 

 

Paraphrase

 

• Jesus explained the purpose of parables
• The seed is sown by the farmer and some people are like the seeds
• Satan can steal the word that has been sown
• The seed sown on the rocky ground has no foundation and people give up when hard times come
• The seeds sown amongst the thorns is choked by the cares of this world
• The seed sown on the good soil, hears the Word, accepts it, bears fruit and it multiplies

 

Principles

 

• Be a sower of the Word
• Satan wants to steal the seeds that are planted
• Unless the seeds have a sure foundation there will be no growth
• Don't be choked by worldly things
• Ensure the seed is planted where it can grow and bear fruit

 

Questions

 

• Am we letting Satan steal the seeds that are being sown?
• Do we give up when hard times come?
• Do things get in the way of what God is sowing in our lives?
• Are we obedient to His Word and let is bear fruit in our lives?

Mark 4:1-9

1. Position yourself to hear God

 

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the main points

 

3. Pull out the spiritual principles

 

4. Pose the question

 

5. Plan obedience and pin down a date

Mark 4:1-9 New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Sower

4 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. ² He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: ³ “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

⁹ Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”


Paraphrase

• So many people crowded around Jesus that He had to get into a boat and speak from there
• Told a parable about a sower who sowed seeds
• Seed fell on a path and the birds took it
• Seed fell on rocky ground and couldn't grow properly and its roots were shallow.  The sun scorched the plants and so they withered and died
• Seed fell among thorns and they were choked so they did not produce grain
• Seed fell on good soil and they grew and produced a good crop
• Jesus said those those have ears listen to what I have to say

Principles

• God's word should go deep into our hearts so when the trials come the truths are not taken away from us
• Busyness should not hinder (choke) us from from being in His Word
• We should not allow other people to steal the joy of being in God's Word
• Being in God's Word should be our priority so that we might grow and live out a righteous life

Questions

• Do we make the time in God's Word a imporant part of our day?
• Do we put into practice the truths of God's Word or do they get pushed down and the problems and trials of the day take centre place?