• Chapter 8: Verse 29 is seen as the "dividing point" in Mark’s Gospel. Till now Jesus was known to perform miracles, to feed, and to teach--and for the first time now he tells his disciples that he will undergo suffering, that he will be killed and also be raised again. This is Jesus’ first of three predictions of his passion (8:30-32, 9:30-32, 10:33-34). We might relate more to the disciple Peter who wanted to protect Jesus from the cruel suffering and death, but with the upcoming Lenten season, we realize the importance of Jesus’ sacrifice for us. How do you plan to observe the six weeks of Lent?
• Chapter 9: The story of the transfiguration (9:2-8, see also Matthew 17:1-8, Luke 9:28-36) is traditionally preached about on the last Sunday in Epiphany, the Sunday prior to Ash Wednesday. People who are celebrating Mardi Grass or Carnival might feel like being on a "high mountain" before Lent. Where are your "mountaintop experiences" and "valley points" in your faith journey?
• Chapter 10: Today is Ash Wednesday. Part of today’s reading is the question of: How do I inherit eternal life? As we are receiving the ash cross tonight as a visible symbol of being a follower of Jesus, how do you "accept the joy and cost of discipleship" (as stated in the UCC statement of faith)?
• Chapter 11: The first 11 verses of today’s chapter are traditionally read on Palm Sunday. It is our first day of Lent--and we already know what’s coming up before Jesus endures his suffering and death. It feels getting ahead of ourselves, like fast forwarding a movie or skipping chapters in a book. How do we stay focused in our daily walk?
• Chapter 12: Jesus is answering questions about the resurrection (Verses 18-27). Some people seem to be worried about details, they wonder how exactly certain aspects of faith "work" or they just ask questions in order to prove a point or point out any possible contradictions. How do you react to people who want to know it all? How do you share your faith? How are inspired by the ‘poor widow’ who gives all what she has out of love and devotion to God?

• The first story in Mark 3 is the conclusion of a series of five stories in which Mark stresses how Jesus is different from and in many ways stands in opposition to the established religious leadership of His time. Do you see this story (and each of the previous 4) as a serious challenge by Jesus that will lead to the eventual decision of the established leadership to have Him arrested and executed?
• What differences do you see in the list of the Twelve Disciples as Mark names them in 3:13-19 with the lists in Matthew 10:1-4 and Luke 6:12-16? John tells of Nathaniel and perhaps other disciples not mentioned at all in the other Gospels. Do any of these differences cause you concern?
• We are in a section of Mark's Gospel in which Matthew used almost every story for his Gospel. Are there any differences that strike you as significant in how Mark wrote them (remember that his Gospel was first) and how Matthew would then repeat a certain story?
• The final story for the week--Mark 7:31-37--is an especially significant one for me. Matthew tells this story, but with much less of the detail Mark includes. Mark's version has a very "earthy" Jesus, spitting, touching, sighing deeply as He reaches out to cure a man who is deaf and impeded in speech. Did Matthew (and the later Church) shy away from such a story because this earthiness of Jesus caused them to be uncomfortable, or simply because all that detail wasn't necessary?
• Another focus here is what scholars call "The Messianic Secret," which is by far strongest in Mark's Gospel. He tells again and again how Jesus did not want anyone telling that He was the Messiah--especially not because they had been healed or witnessed another miracle. (Jesus wanted people to come to believe in Him as Messiah out of he revealing of their faith, and not because of popular opinion or dramatic signs.) In Matthew's and Luke's Gospels the "Secret" is still requested by Jesus but not nearly as much. By the time of John's Gospel (last to be written) this is not an issue at all, with Jesus is proclaiming "who He is" over and over. (See all the "I am" statements in John--"I am the way, the truth, and the life," etc.--found only in John.) How important is this "secret" to you, and can you see how and even give thanks for the ways it changed to be so openly proclaimed during the decades that the Church was continuing to expand?

• Matthew 26: Who do you compare yourself with? Is it the woman who poured out the expensive oil over Jesus or the disciple with their more practical thinking that this is a waste of money which could have been used better to serve the poor?
• We read about the Lord’s Supper. There are four different versions of the Lord’s Supper described in the Bible--in the gospels Matthew, Mark (14:12-25), and Luke (22:7-20) (John writes about the act of foot washing--see John 13:1-17) and in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (11: 23-25). How does it feel for you to read those familiar words in context compared with hearing them when we celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion on Sunday morning?
• Matthew 27: In the big city Jerusalem to this day, the place, which is assumed to be the field, that Judas ended his life (a different version in Acts 1 is left empty and nothing is built upon. It is difficult to read the stories leading up to the crucifixion and the death of Jesus?
• How do you view Pilate’s reaction toward pleasing the crowds? It is not easy to do what is right and to follow our conscience. Have you ever acted under peer pressure even though you knew it was wrong?
• Matthew 28: How wonderful to read the Easter story after the horrors of the last days. Every gospel has a different report about the resurrection. In Matthew, the women who experience the empty tomb, “hurried away from the tomb, afraid, yet filled with joy.” (28:8) How would you have reacted if you witnessed the empty tomb?
• Matthew’s gospel ends with Jesus’ assurance (after Jesus commissions the disciples to make disciples, to baptize people, and to teach them everything he taught them): “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” If you would write about Jesus, what would be your final sentence?
• Mark 1: The second gospel in our Bibles is probably the first one written. The books in the Bible are not published in chronological order. Mark’s gospel is the shortest of the four. He focuses on the relationship of discipleship and Jesus’ prediction of his passion and death, Jesus is seen as the “teacher.”  The disciples do not really understand who Jesus is and Jesus tells them specifically not to tell anybody who Jesus is till after Easter (9:9). This is also called the “Messianic secret.”  Mark does not have a typical Christmas story--but he starts his gospel with reference to the prophet Isaiah and John the Baptist. What would be your "topics" and how would you start telling the “gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1)?
• Mark 2: The second chapter continues describing Jesus’ authority. Jesus has not only power to heal, but even power to forgive sins (2:5). Jesus calls Levi, the tax collector as one of his disciples and he is also not respecting the religious laws to observe the Sabbath as seen by the religious leaders. All these were outrageous in the eyes of the “teachers of the Law” and religious authorities. Jesus doesn’t shy away to argue with the Pharisees and finally says: “The Sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” (2:28) How does the Sabbath (observing Sunday and regular worship) serve you in your daily lives?

• In the Palm Sunday story Matthew is so focused on how Jesus fulfilled the many Old Testament prophecies, that in the story he creates an "impossible image" (well, maybe it was possible for Jesus--but not for any other human!). In 21:5 Matthew tells of Jesus riding on both a donkey and a colt. Or do you picture Matthew's imagery differently? What else do you see in this passage that is of most importance to you?
• I used to wonder how it was that the authorities would be so angry with Jesus that they would want to have Him put to death. But as I read this week's passages I can see how Jesus did many things that would anger those who were (and wanted to remain) in control. Take note of the actions and teachings of Jesus that would have had this effect (cleansing the temple, denouncing the scribes and pharisees, saying what He did about the temple tax, and more). Was Jesus trying to anger the religious and civil authorities to the point of having them unify in arresting and convicting Him?
• These chapters contain several of Jesus' longest and most controversial parables. Why would this have been the time that Jesus chose to teach these specific parables? What are some of the lessons that come to you from these parables in your reading of them at this time?
• In the midst of these chapters--the high drama unfolding and strong parables being taught--Jesus also teaches what we may remember and quote most of all, the Greatest Commandment. Again, in his concern about and admiration for the Old Testament, Jewish teachings, and Jesus' fulfillment of them, Matthew goes so far as to quote Jesus in saying that this Greatest (combination of two) Commandment fulfills all the law and prophets of the Old Testament teachings. (Note that Luke will place this story earlier and next to Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, who was not a pure Jew, and will not mention the "law and prophets" as part of it.) Reading this teaching of loving God and neighbor as self as the Greatest Commandment at this point in Matthew's account, how are you moved right now to hear and respond?
• The final teaching of Jesus before the Passion Story will begin to unfold in chapter 26 is the parable of the Great Judgment in Matthew 25. While many Christians focus on the "words of salvation" that must be said or "the prayer that must be prayed" to be saved and enter heaven, note that in this parable Jesus welcomes all who have done the work of His Kingdom, and that no specific words or prayers are required. Is Jesus saying that only the good works of caring for Jesus' family are necessary? Does He stress this aspect at this time for another reason? How do you read the message of this parable in light of the concern (and sometimes controversy) there is in our society today over how much should be done to help those who are hungry, in prison, and more?

• Jesus says to his disciples: “If any of you want to be my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). How do you follow Jesus?
• Jesus talks about faith ‘the size of a mustard seed’ (Matthew 17:20) . How big is your faith? How have you experienced the power of prayer and faith that can move mountains?
• Lots of us have difficulties to forgive- why is it so hard? Can we forgive ‘seventy-seven’ times? (Matthew 18:21) Let us ask God to help us soften our heart, so that we all can move on.
• We know the 10 commandments – which ones is the hardest one for you to keep? (Matthew 19:17-19) How would you react if you were the one asking Jesus of how to have eternal life?
• In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, all workers get paid the same amount- regardless of how many hours they labored. (Matthew 20:1-16) What is fair? How do we react when we are not treated fairly? How do we react when we are the ones who have worked the least and get paid the same?

 Monday, January 16  Matthew 11  Tuesday, January 17  Matthew 12  Wednesday, January 18  Matthew 13  Thursday, January 19  Matthew 14  Friday, January 20  Matthew 15  Saturday, January 14  Reflection  Sunday, January 15  Worship Questions for the Week For me, one of Jesus' most compelling responses to any question asked of Him was how He responded to the disciples of John the Baptist. "Are you the one or not?" Why doesn't Jesu...

 Monday, January 9  Matthew 6  Tuesday, January 10  Matthew 7  Wednesday, January 11  Matthew 8  Thursday, January 12  Matthew 9  Friday, January 13  Matthew 10  Saturday, January 14  Reflection  Sunday, January 15  Worship Questions for the Week Does it make a difference for you to read the Lord's Prayer in context? What is different about the prayer than when you say it? Jesus speaks about the "wise man who built his house o...

 Monday, January 2  Matthew 1  Tuesday, January 3  Matthew 2  Wednesday, January 4  Matthew 3  Thursday, January 5  Matthew 4  Friday, January 6  Matthew 5  Saturday, January 7  Reflection  Sunday, January 8  Worship Questions for the Week How many people through the years do you think have decided to "give up trying to read the entire New Testament" after starting with the opening 17 verse geneology in Matthew 1?! What are th...