St. Paul’s Adult Forum
Winter 2012
Mark: The First Gospel
January 22, 2012
Mark 4-5
Parables in chapter 4:
 | What are some themes of these parables? |
| The parable of the sower and the seeds is given a lot of time. What does it mean to you? Did the disciples understand it? What does the parable and Jesus’ explanation reveal about Jesus and his relationship with the disciples? |
| What parables do you like best? Which raise questions in your mind? |
The calming of the sea story in 4:35-41:
| Why is it significant? |
| What does it say about Jesus? |
| About the disciples? |
| To the reader? |
The story of “Legion” in 5:1-20:
| How is the observers’ reaction different from past healing stories? |
| How is Jesus’ response to the demoniac different? |
| Why do you think these differences might exist? |
The story of the healing of Jairus' daughter and the healing of the hemorrhaging woman are woven together in 5:21-43:
| How are the themes of the stories related? |
| Why do you think these stories are significant? |
| What is the significance of the fact that Jairus is a leader of the synagogue? |
| What is the significance of the fact that the woman’s ailment is hemorrhaging? How does this impact the meaning of the story? |
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There is no class on 1/29 due to the Annual Meeting. Here are questions to consider for 2/5 when we discuss Mark 6-8:26:
| What is the importance of the feeding of the 5000? |
| How does Jesus challenge the interpretation of the Pharisees? |
| What is your reaction to the Syrophoenician woman in 7:24-30? |
| How are the disciples portrayed in 8:13-21? |
| What do you make of the healing of the blind man in 8:22-26? |