St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Winter 2012
Mark: The First Gospel
Opening Discussion - January 8, 2012
As we start a new year and embark upon a study of Mark’s gospel, let’s reflect back on issues raised in Peter Gomes’ chapter on “The Good Life” from his book The Good Book.
 | What do you think people are looking for when they turn to the Bible? |
| What are you looking for? |
| What questions do you hope the Bible can help answer? |
| What do you think of when you think of living a “good life”? |
Here are the questions regarding the “good life” that Gomes thinks people look to the Bible to answer:
- Am I the only one who is confused?
- Who can I trust?
- Am I on my own?
- Can I feel good about myself?
- How can I face the future?
What do you think the Bible has to say about these questions? How does “hope” enter into this discussion?
And now…on to Mark. Let’s begin to read together the first chapter. What surprises you? What themes seem to emerge in the first chapter?
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Here are questions to think about for next week (Mark 1-3):
| How is Jesus identified at the start of the gospel? What connections are made to Hebrew scripture? |
| What does Jesus’ baptism signify? |
| Why does Jesus’ fame spread so quickly? |
| How is the authority of Jesus established in these first chapters? |
| To whom does Jesus preach? Where? Do we know much about what he preaches? |
| Who opposes Jesus? Why? |
| With what kind of people does Jesus associate? |
| What do you think of Jesus as portrayed in these chapters? |