week 3-‘What is the Gospel?1

Open with prayer: the third session-Mark 1 through 8:26

 Tim Keller: “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

• The Greek word translated ‘gospel’ (euangelion) basically means ‘good news’. In v. 1 ‘the good news of Jesus Christ’ means, not the good news preached by Jesus Christ, but the good news about Jesus Christ.

Our goal in this 4-week lunch study is to make fresh our view of what the gospel is

The gospel is the story of…           how Jesus lived out his life on earth for us

how Jesus died for us

how Jesus rose again (bodily resurrection)

 IN SMALL GROUPS

Look at the following biblical texts from the first half of the Gospel of Mark, chapters 1 through 8:26. (From chapters 8: 27-16:20 the character of Jesus ‘Messiahship is gradually disclosed.) Read each text and discuss what Mark seeks to demonstrate about Jesus’ identity.

MARK 1:1-11                     –              Jesus’ identity (also consider MALACHI 4:5-6 & 2 Kings 1: 8)

MARK 1: 12-15                  –              The battle and then the ministry begins

MARK 1:21-28                   –              Jesus’ authority

MARK 2: 1-17                    –              Healing and forgiveness

MARK 4: 1-14                    –              Parables

MARK 7-8:26                     –              A second collection of the teaching of Jesus’                        –