Son of God

A Bible Study for Women on

the Gospel of Mark (Volume 2)
Mark 9:14–16:8

Keri Folmar

© 2018 by Keri Folmar. All Rights Reserved

CruciformPress.com | info@CruciformPress.com
 Praise for Keri Folmar’s Inductive Bible Studies for Women

“With simple clarity, Keri Folmar guides us in learning to study the

Bible…Keri encourages us to read God’s Word carefully, to understand
clearly, and to apply prayerfully…she encourages her readers first and
foremost to listen well to God’s inspired Word.”
Kathleen Nielson is author of the Living Word Bible Studies; Director of Women’s Ini-
tiatives, The Gospel Coalition; and wife of Niel, who served as President of Covenant
College, 2002 to 2012.

“Keri’s Bible study will not only bring the truths of [Scripture] to
bear upon your life, but will also train you up for better, more effective
study of any book of the Bible with her consistent use of the three
questions needed in all good Bible study:  Observation, Interpretation,
and Application.”
Connie Dever  is author of The Praise Factory children’s ministry curriculum and wife
of Mark, senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church and President of 9Marks.

“It is hard to imagine a better inductive Bible study tool than

this one. So many study tools wander from the biblical text, but Keri
Folmar’s study concentrates on what [the biblical author] says...
unfolding its message with accuracy and clarity.”
Diane Schreiner, the wife of SBTS professor, author, and pastor Tom Schreiner and
mother of four grown children, has led women’s Bible studies for more than 20 years.

“No clever stories, ancillary anecdotes, or emotional manipula-

tion here. Keri takes us deeper into the text, deeper into the heart of [the
biblical author], deeper into the mind of Christ, and deeper into our
own hearts… a great study to do on your own or with others.”
Kristie Anyabwile is a North Carolina native and graduate of NC State University with
a degree in history. Her husband, Thabiti, serves as a pastor in Washington, DC, and as a
Council Member for The Gospel Coalition.

“Keri is convinced that God is God-centered and that for the

sake of our joy, we should be, too…She skillfully created these rich
resources—and not only that, she has put the tools in your hands so
you can study God’s word for yourself…I highly recommend that you
embark on these studies with some other ladies. Then you can all watch
in amazement at how God gives you contentment in him.”
Gloria Furman is a pastor’s wife in the Middle East , and author of Glimpses of Grace,
Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full, and The Pastor’s Wife.
 Table of Contents

Introduction��������������������������������������������������������������������������������5

Week 1 Mark 9:14–41������������������������������������������������������������������������������11

Week 2 Mark 9:42–10:27 ������������������������������������������������������������������������27

Week 3 Mark 10:28–52����������������������������������������������������������������������������45

Week 4 Mark 11����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������59

Week 5 Mark 12:1–34������������������������������������������������������������������������������73

Week 6 Mark 12:35–13:13����������������������������������������������������������������������91

Week 7 Mark 13:14–37��������������������������������������������������������������������������105

Week 8 Mark 14:1–26����������������������������������������������������������������������������119

Week 9 Mark 14:27–72��������������������������������������������������������������������������133

Week 10 Mark 15:1–32����������������������������������������������������������������������������149

Week 11 Mark 15:33–6:8 ������������������������������������������������������������������������163

 We offer several more Bible studies for women
from Keri Folmar, including these...

JOY! FAITH:
A Bible Study on Philippians A Bible Study on James
for Women for Women

bit.ly/JoyStudy bit.ly/FaithStudy

CruciformPress.com

Son of God – A Bible Study for Women on the Gospel of Mark (Volume 2)

Print / PDF ISBN: 978-1-941114-82-7

Published by Cruciform Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Copyright © 2018 by Keri Folmar. All rights
reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from: The Holy Bible: English
Standard Version, Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by
permission. All rights reserved. Italics or bold text within Scripture quotations indicates emphasis added.

4
 Introduction: Why Study the Bible?

T his Bible study workbook is designed to assist you in examining

the second half of the Gospel of Mark in an inductive way.
Inductive study means to read the passage in context and ask
questions of the text with the purpose of deriving the meaning and
significance from the text itself. We do this automatically every day
when we read the newspaper, blogs, or even recipes. When we study
the Bible inductively we are after the author’s original intent; i.e., what
the author meant when he wrote the passage to his original audience.
In this workbook, you will unpack the meaning by answering a series
of questions about the text, paying close attention to the words and
context of the passage. After discovering the meaning of the text, there
will be questions to help you apply it to your life.
In the Gospel of Mark, you will immerse yourself in eyewitness
accounts of Jesus and read about the wondrous things he said and
did. We study the Bible to obtain true knowledge about God. We
want to know who Jesus is and what he has done. Studying the Bible
gives us head–knowledge but also heart–knowledge of Christ. We
can know him truly through the Scriptures. As you read through the
Gospel of Mark, may the Holy Spirit open your eyes to more deeply
understand and rejoice in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

How to Do Inductive Bible Study

Step 1 – Begin with prayer. “Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18).
Step 2 – Read the text.
Step 3 – Observation. The goal of this step is to figure out
what the text is saying. These questions should be
answered from the very words of the text.
Step 4 – Interpretation. The goal of this step is to figure out
what the text meant to the original hearers. Your job
in interpretation is to figure out the main point of the
passage and understand the arguments that support the
main point. Your interpretation should flow out of your

Son of God, Volume 2 5

 observations, so keep asking yourself, “Can I support
this interpretation based on my observations?”
Step 5 – Application. Prayerfully apply the passage to your
own life. The application should flow from the main
point of the text.

Keep God’s Redemptive Plan in Mind

We study the Bible so that we can know Christ, repent, be forgiven,
and proclaim him to the nations. We must keep Jesus in mind when
we study Scripture. Adrienne Lawrence writes, “God has one
overarching redemptive plan—to glorify himself by creating and
redeeming a people for himself through Christ. Christ is at the center
of God’s plan. All of Scripture in some way speaks to that plan. Keep
this in mind as you are doing your study of Scripture.”
[Note: This “How to” has been adapted from Adrienne
Lawrence’s pamphlet on Inductive Bible Study.]

Note s
There are three different types of questions in this study guide:
observation, interpretation, and application questions. The questions
were written based on language from the English Standard Version of
the Bible. However, you are welcome to use any reliable translation to
do the study.
To assist you in recognizing the different types of questions asked,
the questions are set out with icons as indicated below.

Observation: Look closely in order to figure out what the

text is saying. Get answers directly from the
text, using the words of Scripture to answer
the observation questions.
Interpretation: What is the “true north” for this verse?
Determine the author’s intended meaning by
figuring out what the text meant to its original
hearers.
Application: Based on the author’s meaning of the text,
apply the passage to your own heart and life.

6 Introduction
 Because Scripture interprets Scripture, many of the questions
cite passages in addition to the one you are studying in Mark. If the
question says, “Read…” you will need to read the additional verses
cited to answer the question. If the question says, “See…” the verses
help you answer the question but are not necessary. “See also…”
signals you to read the verses if you would like to study the answer to
the question further.
You only need your Bible to do this study of Mark, and, in fact,
I highly recommend first answering the questions directly from
your Bible before looking at any other materials. That said, it may be
helpful for you to confirm your answers, especially if you are leading
others in a group study. To check your answers or for further study,
The Gospel According to Mark by James R. Edwards, Mark by R.
Alan Cole or Mark by J.C. Ryle are all good commentaries to use.
For more general help in knowing how to study the Bible, I
highly recommend Bible Study: Following the Ways of the Word
by Kathleen Buswell Nielson and Dig Deeper! Tools to Unearth the
Bible’s Treasure by Nigel Beynon and Andrew Sach, and Knowable
Word: Helping Ordinary People Learn to Study the Bible, by Peter
Krol.. Bible study teachers and students who want a closer look at
New Testament theology that will also encourage your heart can read
Thomas Schreiner’s, Magnifying God in Christ: A Summary of New
Testament Theology. For information that explains why Christians
base their life and doctrine on the Bible, see my book, The Good
Portion: The Doctrine of Scripture for Every Woman.

Note s for Leaders

This Bible study can be done by individuals alone, but the best
context for Bible study is in the local church. Studying the Bible
together promotes unity and ignites spiritual growth within the
church.
The study was designed for participants to complete five days
of “homework,” and then come together to discuss their answers in
a small group. If you are leading a small group, you will have some
extra homework to do:
Before leading discussion, make sure you know the main

Son of God, Volume 2 7

points of the text by carefully studying the passage and checking
yourself using a good commentary like one of those listed above.
You may also find a Bible dictionary and concordance helpful. Second
Timothy 3:16–17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, that the man [or woman] of God may be competent,
equipped for every good work.” Scripture is powerful. That power
comes through truth. Scripture is not like a magical incantation where
we say the words and see the effect. We must know what the text of
Scripture means before we apply it and see its work of transformation
in our lives. Your job as a discussion leader is not to directly teach, nor
to simply facilitate discussion, but rather to lead women in finding the
accurate meaning of the text and help them see how it is “profitable”
and can make them “competent, equipped for every good work.”
Pray. Pray for the women in your group during the week while
you prepare. Pray as you start your small group study, asking the
Holy Spirit to illuminate the Scripture to your minds and apply it to
your hearts. And encourage women to pray at the end of your small
group based on what they studied.
Work to draw women into discussion and keep your discussion
organized. Choose what you determine are the most important
questions from the study guide, focusing the bulk of your discussion
on the interpretation and application questions.
Keep your focus on the Bible. The Holy Spirit uses the
Scriptures to change women’s hearts.
Explain the gospel clearly. In your prep time, ask yourself what
the text has to do with the gospel and look for opportunities to ask
questions to bring out the gospel.
Enjoy studying the Scriptures with your group. Your love
and passion for the Word of God will be contagious, and you will
have the great joy of watching your women catch it and rejoice in the
Word with you.

8 Introduction
Mark
Mark, also called John Mark, was a close companion of several
apostles and partnered with them in the spread of the gospel. He
traveled with Paul and Barnabas at the beginning of their first
missionary journey (Acts 12:25–13:13), visiting Antioch, Cyprus,
Paphos and Perga. Mark then left Paul and Barnabas and returned to
Jerusalem, later causing a “sharp disagreement” about whether to take
Mark on a second journey with them. Barnabas ended up taking Mark
with him to Cyprus, and Paul took Silas to Asia Minor. Paul was later
reconciled to Mark and asked Timothy to bring Mark to visit him in
jail because he considered Mark so useful to his ministry (2 Timothy
4:11; See also Colossians 4:10).
The apostle Peter goes so far as to call Mark his son (1 Peter 5:13).
Peter would have known Mark from the earliest days of the church
because the church met in the home of Mark’s mother. In fact, this
home is probably where Peter went when an angel broke him out of
Herod’s prison (Acts 12:12). Early church tradition is unanimous that
Mark wrote his Gospel under the direction of the apostle Peter. Likely
written shortly before or after Peter’s death in Rome (sometime in
the mid 60s AD), Mark’s Gospel was probably the first Gospel and
was recognized as canonical because of its connection to Peter. Papias,
an early church father who knew the apostles, said that Mark wrote
down everything he heard from Peter about Jesus and included
nothing false in the accounts.
The Gospel that Mark wrote is all about Jesus, who he is and
what he has done. Mark 1:1–9:13 is covered in Son of God, volume
I. Mark 1:1 begins: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Son
of God.” The Gospel then introduces us to John the Baptist, whose
ministry prepared the way for Jesus, the Christ. Mark goes on to
systematically show Jesus’ authority over men, demons, sickness, the
forgiveness of sins, nature, and even death. “Who can forgive sins but
God alone?” (Mark 2:7). The turning point of the Gospel comes when
Jesus’ disciple, Peter, confesses that Jesus is the Christ (Mark 8:29).
Then Jesus begins to teach his disciples that he will suffer, die, and be
raised from the dead and that his disciples will be called upon to take
up their own cross and follow him. The Son of God, volume I ends in

Son of God, Volume 2 9

Mark 9:1–13, where Jesus is transfigured, providing a glimpse of his
coming. This Volume II picks up after Jesus and his closest disciples
have come down off the mountain to encounter a father whose boy
has an unclean spirit.

10 Introduction
Week 1
Day 1 Mark 9:14–41

Pray this week to understand the Scriptures and to live more fully
with Jesus as your king.

Pray, then read Mark 9:9–32.

Mark 9:14–29

1. What scene greets Jesus, Peter, James, and John after they come
down the mountain?

2. What is the argument about?

3. How does Jesus respond to the father’s explanation?

4. What do you think causes Jesus to respond in this discouraged

way? Who are the faithless ones in this situation?

5. How does this show Jesus’ compassion for the boy?

6. What happens when the boy is brought to Jesus?

Son of God, Volume 2 11

 7. How long has the demon been tormenting this boy, and what
is the demon trying to do?

8. What does the father say to beg Jesus to help them?

9. How does Jesus respond?

10. What does the father cry out in response to Jesus?

11. What does Jesus do next, and what is the immediate result?

12. What does Jesus then do as the boy lies there like a corpse, and
how does the boy respond?

13. This father brings his boy to Jesus to get help, but then says to
Jesus, “if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help
us.” What do you think would make the father doubt Jesus’
ability to help?

14. Jesus responds, “All things are possible for one who believes.”
What do you think he is telling the father to believe?

12 Week 1
 15. Why is the father’s response to Jesus’ statement particularly
appropriate?

16. In what ways are you like the father when you go to God for
help? Are there circumstances where you doubt God’s ability
or desire to help?

17. How does the father’s cry, “Help my unbelief!” give you hope
in these circumstances?

18. When Jesus is alone with his disciples, they ask him why they
couldn’t cast the demon out. How does Jesus answer?

19. Back in 6:7, we saw Jesus give his disciples authority over
unclean spirits. But they could not cast out this unclean spirit.
Jesus rebukes them (along with the entire generation) for their
lack of faith, and then privately tells his disciples they needed
to pray to cast out this demon. Whom does this suggest the
disciples were relying upon to cast out the demon?

Son of God, Volume 2 13

 20. What is it about prayer that would have changed the situation?

21. Are you facing trials that seem insurmountable? For example,
are there people in your life who seem so hard hearted that
they will never acknowledge Jesus as Lord, or is there some
besetting sin in your life that you cannot overcome? How
would you counsel yourself according to Jesus’ words in verse
29?

Day 2

Pray, then read Mark 9:14–37.

Mark 9:30–32

1. Why did Jesus not want anyone to know his whereabouts?

2. What was Jesus teaching his disciples?

3. How do the disciples respond to this teaching?

4. Jesus first taught the disciples about his death and resurrection
after Peter confessed him to be the Christ. Then he repeated

14 Week 1
 this teaching to Peter, James, and John after the transfiguration.
Why is this so important for Jesus to get across to his disciples?

5. Why is it important for us to read in this historical account of

Mark that Jesus was teaching his disciples that he would die
and rise again?

6. Why was it so hard for the disciples to believe?

7. Look back in verse 24 at the father’s response when Jesus tells

him to believe. How does the disciples’ response in verse 32
contrast with the father’s response?

8. Describe a time in your life when you have found the promises
of God or any of the Scriptures hard to believe. Were you
fearful about bringing these doubts to God?

Son of God, Volume 2 15

 9. Describe a time when you did bring your worries or doubts to
the Lord. What was the result?

Day 3

Pray, then read Mark 9:30–41.

Mark 9:33–37

1. What does Jesus ask his disciples?

2. How do they answer, and why?

3. What does Jesus then say to his disciples?

4. How is the disciples’ argument consistent with their inability to

understand Jesus’ teaching in verse 31?

5. How does Jesus’ statement show that he knew what was on the
minds and hearts of his disciples?

16 Week 1
 6. How can Jesus’ statement, “If anyone would be first, he must
be last of all” make any sense?

7. What does being a servant of all have to do with being last and
being first?

8. Jesus uses a child for an object lesson. What does he do with

the child?

9. Write out Jesus’ statement in verse 37.

10. Whom do you think the child represents in this object lesson?

a. All children (probably under the age of 12 or 13)

b. Any human being

c. Any person who cannot pay us back for our kindness or

anyone we serve without expecting anything in return

Son of God, Volume 2 17

 11. What does receiving “one such child” have to do with being
“last of all and servant of all”?

12. What does it mean to receive someone in Jesus’ name?

13. What does it mean to receive Jesus?

14. When one receives Jesus, whom else does one receive?

15. How does receiving Jesus and the Father relate to being
“first”?

16. Mark was very intentional in choosing the accounts he

included in his Gospel and placing them strategically to
teach his readers. Why do you think this passage follows the

18 Week 1
 previous passage where Jesus teaches his disciples about his
death and resurrection?

17. Write a statement that sums up the essence of what Jesus is

teaching his disciples in 33–37:

18. In what ways do you see pride in your heart that desires to be
“the greatest”?

19. Whom are you serving in life? Whom are you receiving in
Jesus’ name? (Moms, your own children count!)

20. How can you better serve the needy and those who cannot
repay you, particularly those in your church (Galatians 6:10)?

Son of God, Volume 2 19

Day 4

Pray, then read Mark 9:30–41.

Mark 9:38–41

1. What did the disciples see, what did they try to do, and why
did they try to do it?

2. In whose name was the exorcist acting, and whom was he not
following?

3. Whom does this suggest the exorcist was following?

4. How does John’s statement contradict the spirit of what Jesus

taught about servanthood in the previous verses?

5. Why does Jesus tell the disciples not to stop the exorcist? Write
the three statements that begin with “for”:

For

For

20 Week 1
 For

6. How does the first statement beginning with “for” relate to the
second?

7. How does the second statement relate to the third?

8. What is the main point that Jesus is making in these statements?

9. How does this suggest we should treat one another in the

church?

10. How should we deal with disagreements, not over who Jesus is
(the exorcist was acting in Jesus’ name), but over secondary or
tertiary issues in the universal church?

Son of God, Volume 2 21

 11. What is your attitude toward others who disagree with you
on secondary or tertiary theological matters? Can you partner
with them in the gospel? If so, how?

12. What are some specific ways you have seen brothers and sisters
in your church serving one another?

13. In what ways do you serve others in your church? In what

ways do you serve people in other local churches?

14. How do you feel about being rewarded by God for even the
smallest act of service toward your brother or sister in Christ?
Does this motivate you to look for more ways to serve?

15. Notice that Jesus is teaching his disciples in verses 33–41 (and
following) after teaching them about his death and resurrection.
How do these passages on servanthood relate to the cross?

22 Week 1
Day 5

Pray.

Read 9:14–41.

1. What did Peter, James, and John witness before the incident
with the demon possessed boy?

2. At the beginning of Mark, Jesus is baptized and declared by the

Father to be his beloved Son; then he is confronted by Satan.
At the end of Mark 4, Jesus calms the winds and the waves;
and as soon as he arrives on shore, he is confronted by the man
with the legion of demons. In Mark 9, Jesus is transfigured,
comes down the mountain and is confronted with a demon
possessed boy. What do these glimpses of glory followed by
confrontations with evil tell you about Jesus and his mission?

3. Reread Mark 9:20–25 and look back at the account of the

demoniac in chapter 5:3–5. What is the goal of demons in this
world?

Son of God, Volume 2 23

 4. There was an epic battle going on in the first century between
Jesus, the king of heaven, and Satan, the ruler of this world
(John 12:31). How do the demons fare against Jesus?

5. How does each of the passages that we studied this week

illustrate the difference between the kingdom of heaven and the
kingdom of this world?

Verses 14–29

Verses 30–32

Verses 33–37

Verses 38–41

24 Week 1
 6. In what ways do you see Satan at work in this world?

7. How does your life show that you are no longer a citizen of
this world but are a citizen of heaven?

8. How can you live more fully with Jesus as your king?

Notes

Son of God, Volume 2 25

Notes

26 Week 1
Week 2
Day 1 Mark 9:42–10:27

Pray to take sin in your life seriously and to know that salvation is
only possible through Christ.

Pray, then read Mark 9:30–50.

Mark 9:42–48

1. What does Jesus say will happen to someone who causes one
of these little ones who believes in him to sin?

2. To whom do you think “these little ones” refers? Does the

child in verse 36 symbolize a particular group of people?

3. A millstone was a huge, heavy stone that was pulled in a

circle by oxen to crush grain into flour. A great millstone
hung around a person’s neck would pull her quickly down,
headlong, to the bottom of the sea. How could this be better
than the consequences of causing a little one to sin? What is
Jesus saying?

4. Are you careful to not cause other Christians to sin? Think

about the movies you watch with others or the music you
listen to or the places you hang out. Do you engage in worldly
activities with your friends that might be dangerous to their

Son of God, Volume 2 27

 souls? In what ways can you redirect your activities to
encourage others around you?

5. Consider your conversations with other Christians. Do they

ever deteriorate into complaining or gossip? Are your words
causing others to sin?

6. What does Jesus tell his disciples to do if parts of their bodies

cause them to sin?

Hand:

Foot:

Eye:

7. Why does Jesus say it is better to cut off these body parts?

8. Jesus is using hyperbole here. Hands, feet, and eyes don’t

actually cause us to sin (Mark 7:20–23) so it would be futile for
us to maim ourselves. What point is Jesus trying to get across
to his disciples?

28 Week 2
 9. How seriously do you take sin? Are you willing to figuratively
cut off your hand or foot or gouge out your eye to root sin out
of your life?

10. What painful steps have you already taken to combat sin in
your life?

11. What painful steps do you now need to take to combat your
sin?

Day 2

Pray, then read Mark 9:42–50.

Mark 9:43–50

1. How does Jesus describe hell in these verses?

2. What sends people to hell?

Son of God, Volume 2 29

 3. Some claim that there is no literal, eternal hell. Some say that
everyone goes to heaven, while others argue that people who
do not trust in Christ simply cease to exist when they die.
What do Jesus’ statements about and descriptions of hell tell us
about hell and the reality of its existence?

4. Everyone sins. How can we avoid going to hell?

5. What warning does Jesus give in verse 49?

6. What does fire do? Read Numbers 31:23 and Malachi 3:2.

7. Salt was used in Old Testament sacrifices (Leviticus 2:13 and

Ezekiel 43:24) and symbolized God’s covenant with his people.
What do you think Jesus means by “salted with fire”?

30 Week 2
 8. Why would Jesus warn of the seriousness of sin and then make
this statement? What do the two things have to do with one
another? See also Romans 12:1–2.

9. Notice that Jesus speaks of the fire of hell (v. 48) and being
salted with fire (v. 49). How are these two fires different? See
also 1 Peter 1:6–7.

10. Have you experienced purifying fire? What were the

circumstances, and how were you purified?

11. Jesus says that salt is good, but what can happen to it?

12. What two commands does Jesus give at the end of this passage?

13. In the Old Testament, salt was used as a preservative and for
flavor just like it is today. How do disciples of Jesus act as
preservatives and flavor?

Son of God, Volume 2 31

 14. How can they lose their saltiness?

15. What does saltiness have to do with being “at peace with one
another”?

16. Are you salty? What are some ways you act as a preservative or
flavor enhancer?

In the church:

In the world:

Day 3

Pray, then read Mark 9:42–10:12.

Mark 10:1–12

1. As crowds again gather to Jesus, what does he do?

32 Week 2
 2. We have seen Jesus perform miracles, healings, and exorcisms,
but what words in the last sentence of verse 1 suggest that
teaching is Jesus’ priority?

3. What do the Pharisees ask Jesus, and why do they ask him the
question?

4. Jesus asks the Pharisees about the command of Moses. How do

they describe the command?

5. Deuteronomy 24:1–4 describes a situation where a man

writes his wife a certificate of divorce “because he has found
some indecency in her” (Deuteronomy 24:1). There was a
contentious debate among the Jews of Jesus’ day about what
“indecency” meant—whether it was sexual indecency or
something more trivial. The Pharisees were posing the question
to Jesus to see if he would misinterpret the law. What does
Jesus give as the reason Moses allowed a certificate of divorce?

6. Instead of the Law of Moses (which was not actually giving

a justification for divorce but was protecting women by
requiring husbands to write out a reason for the divorce),
where does Jesus point to argue against divorce?

Son of God, Volume 2 33

 7. Read Genesis 1:27 and 2:24 and then write Jesus’ argument in
Mark 10:6–8 in your own words:

8. What was God’s purpose for man and wife from the
beginning? Read Genesis 1:26–28.

9. What does it mean for husband and wife to become one flesh?

10. How does the one-fleshness of marriage relate to God’s

purpose for mankind?

11. Honoring one’s father and mother is one of the Ten

Commandments. If a man is to leave his father and mother and
hold fast to his wife, what does this say about the priority of
the marriage relationship?

34 Week 2
 12. If you are married, in what areas have you struggled to “leave
and cleave” to your husband? If you are not married or you
haven’t struggled in this area, what kind of leaving and cleaving
struggles have you seen in other marriages?

13. What is Jesus’ command in verse 9?

14. When Jesus’ disciples speak to him further about this matter,
Jesus says it is adultery when a man or woman divorces
one spouse and marries another (see Matthew 5:32 and 1
Corinthians 7:15 for possible exceptions to the absolute
prohibition against divorce). Why is marriage so important to
Jesus? Read Malachi 2:14–16 and Ephesians 5:31–32.

15. Jesus gives a clear command against divorce, but in our day
and time we have easy “no-fault” divorce laws. If you are
a Christian, what should you do if you feel you and your
husband are “incompatible” or your marriage is in trouble? Is
divorce for incompatibility a biblical option? Where can you
seek help?

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 16. How would you counsel a friend who is going through a
difficult time in her marriage? How could you help her think
about the true purpose of marriage?

17. The blood of Christ covers all of our sin. How would you
comfort a friend who has gone through a divorce?

18. How would you use Mark 10:6–8 and other related passages to
explain to a friend why homosexual “marriage” is not biblical?

Day 4

Pray, then read Mark 10:1–16.

Mark 10:13–16

1. For what were the disciples rebuking people?

2. How did Jesus feel about what the disciples were doing?

3. What does Jesus say to his disciples?

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 4. Then what does Jesus himself do?

5. In Mark we have read about many who opposed Jesus, but

this is the first and only time Jesus is described as indignant.
Why do you think Jesus feels so strongly about the disciples
preventing children from coming to him?

6. Children are not innocent—they are born with sinful hearts

(Psalm 51:5) as every parent has experienced when her child
asserts his or her will from infancy. In addition, these children
would not have been old enough to understand who Jesus was.
(The Greek term for children used here means very young,
like an infant.) Considering these things, what does Jesus mean
when he says, “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God
like a child shall not enter it”? What is required to enter the
kingdom of God?

7. What does this have to do with the previous verse where Jesus
says the kingdom of God belongs to such children?

Son of God, Volume 2 37

 8. What do the words and actions of Jesus show us about the
value of children?

9. Do you have children in your life? How are you taking them
to Jesus?

10. Have you received the kingdom of God like a child? Do you
go to Jesus with nothing to offer him, except your helplessness
and sin? If so, how would you describe your state before Jesus?
If not, what do you think you have to offer him?

Day 5
Pray, then read Mark 10:13–31.

Mark 10:17–27

1. What does the man ask Jesus as he kneels before him?

2. What is unusual about this question? (What does a person

usually “do” to inherit?)

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 3. What does Jesus ask the man, and what is his reason for asking?

4. Why do you think Jesus says this to the man before answering
his question?

5. In answer to the man’s question, Jesus asks the man if

he has obeyed some of the Ten Commandments. Which
Commandments does he leave out? Read Exodus 20:1–17.

6. Why do you think Jesus adds, “Do not defraud,” to the

Commandments he mentions?

7. What do the Commandments that Jesus names have in

common?

8. How does the man answer Jesus’ question about the

Commandments?

Son of God, Volume 2 39

 9. What do the Commandments that Jesus doesn’t name have in
common?

10. What does Jesus tell the man to do?

11. With what attitude and emotion does Jesus speak to the man?

12. The man’s original question was about inheriting eternal life.
What does Jesus tell the man he will have if he sells all he has
and gives to the poor?

13. In telling this man to sell his things, give to the poor and follow
him, what is Jesus implying that the man lacks? Does this have
to do with the Commandments that Jesus hasn’t mentioned?

14. How does the man respond, and why?

15. We can tell from this account that Jesus knows this man’s heart
idols. Because he “loved” the man, Jesus tells him how to be

40 Week 2
 rid of his idols and follow him. What does this tell you about
Jesus’ attitude toward you and your idols?

16. Jesus gives the man a drastic but necessary solution to ending
his dependence on idols. What kind of necessary but possibly
drastic solutions do you need to implement to end your
dependence on idols?

17. Do you struggle with greed or materialism? Jesus does not ask
everyone to sell all they have to give to the poor, but he does
ask all of his followers to rid their lives of idols. How can you
fight against idolizing money or the security it brings?

18. After the man leaves, what does Jesus teach his disciples?

19. The disciples are “amazed” at Jesus’ words because the Jews of
that time thought that wealth was evidence of God’s blessing
for living a righteous life. But Jesus illustrates how difficult it is
for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God with an analogy of
the impossibility of a camel going through the eye of a needle.
What about a rich man would make it so difficult for him to

Son of God, Volume 2 41

 enter the kingdom of God? (Why is it difficult for a rich man
to receive the kingdom like a child?)

20. The disciples are “exceedingly astonished” at the camel-and-

needle analogy, and ask Jesus, “Then who can be saved?” How
does Jesus answer them?

21. How is Jesus’ statement an answer to the question of who can

be saved?

22. Do you recognize the impossibility of anyone entering the

kingdom of God on her own merit? What are the implications
of this in your life?

23. How does this affect how you share the gospel with others?

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 24. This week we have seen Jesus advocate harsh measures to deal
with sin and idolatry. Pray for your own heart that you will
take whatever measures are necessary to deal with your own
sin and idolatry. Also pray for your church to lovingly spur
one another on in their fights against sin.

Notes

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Notes

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