MARKED

Gospel of Mark Study Guide

March 10 - April 21, 2019 Message Series
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We’re diving deep into the life of a man who fundamentally changed the
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world, leaving his mark on mankind and upsetting the religious and cultural
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order not only of his time, but for all time. Jesus Christ came as a suffering
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servant to establish his radical upside-down kingdom on earth, to assert his
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authority and power over Satan, and encourage his followers to put their
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faith in God.
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We’re excited you’re joining us for this “Marked” series! Please bring this
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study guide to church with you each week to take notes and be sure to grab
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our events postcard to stay up-to-date on all the latest happenings at MCC.
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Table of contents: ______________________________________________________________________________
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Introduction to Mark 2-4 ______________________________________________________________________________
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Reading Plans & Resources 5 ______________________________________________________________________________
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Sunday Message Notes & Study Questions 6-23
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Biblical Maps & Pictures 24-31 ______________________________________________________________________________
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Notes 32-34
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1 34
 ______________________________________________________________________________ message overview
______________________________________________________________________________ • Part 1 - The King Has Come (March 10)
______________________________________________________________________________ • Part 2 - The Hidden Kingdom (March 17)
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• Part 3 - The Upside-Down Kingdom (March 24)
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• Part 4 - Who is the King? (March 31)
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______________________________________________________________________________ • Part 5 - Mountaintop Experience (April 7)
______________________________________________________________________________ • Part 6 - A Man on a Mission (April 14)
______________________________________________________________________________ • Part 7 - The Darkest Hour (April 21)
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______________________________________________________________________________ introduction to mark
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______________________________________________________________________________ about the author:
______________________________________________________________________________ John Mark wrote the book of Mark. He was not one of the 12 disciples, but
______________________________________________________________________________ accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:13). Mark wrote
______________________________________________________________________________ down the chronicles of Peter as Peter journeyed with Jesus. John Mark was
______________________________________________________________________________ the cousin of Barnabas, a co-worker of Peter and Paul. The church started in
______________________________________________________________________________ John Mark’s home (talk about good credentials for being a biblical writer!).
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______________________________________________________________________________ date written:
______________________________________________________________________________ Between A.D. 55 & 65
______________________________________________________________________________ The gospel was written some time around the Jewish War (A.D. 66-70) and
______________________________________________________________________________ the destruction of the temple (A.D. 70) and could have been written at any
______________________________________________________________________________ point within the two decades before the fall of Jerusalem.
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______________________________________________________________________________ AUDIENCE:
______________________________________________________________________________ The gospel of Mark was written primarily for a gentile audience outside of
______________________________________________________________________________ Palestine. Mark felt compelled to translate words from Aramaic (the
______________________________________________________________________________ language of Palestine) as evidenced in Mark 5:41 and 15:22. He also explains
______________________________________________________________________________ Jewish customs and beliefs in 7:3-4 and 12:18 to accomodate a non-Jewish
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 Additional notes:
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Setting: ______________________________________________________________________________
The Roman Empire under Tiberius Caesar. The empire had an excellent ______________________________________________________________________________
transportation and communication system and a common language which ______________________________________________________________________________
made it ripe for the spreading of Jesus’ message. ______________________________________________________________________________
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What makes this gospel unique? ______________________________________________________________________________
Mark is one of the four autobiographies of the life of Jesus (Matthew, Luke ______________________________________________________________________________
and John are the other three gospels). Mark is unique in that it’s the shortest ______________________________________________________________________________
gospel and most likely the first one written. ______________________________________________________________________________
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All but 31 verses, of it’s 660 verses, are quoted in other gospels. It’s fast- ______________________________________________________________________________
paced with two-thirds of the verses beginging with the word “and.” The ______________________________________________________________________________
words “immediately,” “instantly” or “quickly” are used over 40 times. There’s ______________________________________________________________________________
a clear sense of urgency and speed throughout the gospel. ______________________________________________________________________________
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It’s action-packed. Mark records 19 miracles and only four parables. All but ______________________________________________________________________________
3 of the miracles happen in the first half of the book. Only Mark stresses the ______________________________________________________________________________
works of Jesus rather than the words of Jesus. ______________________________________________________________________________
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And it is evangelistic. The entire book is based on answering the question, ______________________________________________________________________________
“Who is Jesus?” ______________________________________________________________________________
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What is the purpose? ______________________________________________________________________________
To answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” In Mark 1:1, Mark makes the claim ______________________________________________________________________________
“Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.” He then goes on to prove that claim ______________________________________________________________________________
throughout the book. Mark writes to encourage Roman Christians and to ______________________________________________________________________________
prove beyond a doubt that Jesus is the Messiah.
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 Why the lion image?
The lion represents and reminds of persecution, God’s power and Satan’s
savageness. Throwing Christians into an arena to be devoured by lions was a
common form of entertainment in Rome during the writing of Mark. Biblical
writers depict Jesus as both a powerful conquering lion and a lamb that was
slain for the sins of the world. Through 19 miracles, Mark shows us just how
terrifyingly powerful Jesus is. Peter, who told John Mark what to write down,
said this about Satan in 1 Peter 5:8: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great
enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone
to devour.”

a Tip for reading:

The meaning of the events recorded in Mark are not complete without taking
into account the entire overarching narrative of the book. To truly under-
stand Mark, you must read and study the whole gospel, paying close atten-
tion to the themes Mark traces throughout.

Themes:
• the identity of Jesus
• the connection between Jesus’ identity and His destiny
• the person and work of Jesus (His miracles)
• Jesus as Messiah
• fear versus faith

What are some more themes you notice?

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helpful overview:
The gospel of Mark can be divided into three acts.
• ACT I: Mark 1-8a (Set in Galilee)
• ACT II: Mark 8b-10 (Jesus on the way from Galilee to Jerusalem)
• ACT III: Mark 11-16 (Set in Jerusalem)
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Reading Plans:
1. Follow the message series:
Week 1 : read Mark 1-2
Week 2: read Mark 3-4
Week 3: read Mark 5-6
Week 4: read Mark 7-8
Week 5: read Mark 9-10
Week 6: read Mark 11-13
Week 7: read Mark 14-16

2. Read through the gosel of Mark once a week for 7 weeks:

Monday: read Mark 1-2
Tuesday: read Mark 3-4
Wednesday: read Mark 5-6
Thursday: read Mark 7-8
Friday: read Mark 9-10
Saturday: read Mark 11-13
Sunday: read Mark 14-16

memory verses:
Each week we’ll select one theme verse from the teaching on Sunday morn-
ing. We encourage you to memorize these and other verses throughout the
study. Find the memory verses on the message notes page for each week.

recommended Resources for further study:

• Biblegateway.com
• Asbury Bible Commentary
• Life Application Study Bible (New Living Translation)
• Glo Bible App
• The Bible Project - Visual storytelling meets the Bible
https://thebibleproject.com/#watch
• ESV.org and ESV Study Bible
• You Version App (Bible.com) - reading plans, devotionals, topical studies

5 30
 The King has come
March 10, 2019
Mark 1:1-13

MESSAGE notes:
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 FURTHER STUDY QUESTIONS:
What was the relationship between John Mark & Peter?
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What is the thesis of the book of Mark?

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What was life like for early Christians in Rome at the time this book was
written?
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What makes the gospel of Mark unique?

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The opening section of Mark’s writing tell of the significance of the person of
Jesus and prepares the reader for Jesus’ first public act of ministry:
the calling of the disciples.

Week one Memory Verse:

“This is the Good News about Jesus the
Messiah, the Son of God.”
M a r k 1 : 1 ( N LT )
7 28
 the hidden kingdom
March 17, 2019
Mark 1:14; 4:1-34

MESSAGE notes:
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FURTHER STUDY QUESTIONS:
How did John the Baptizer prepare the way for Jesus?
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What’s the purpose of a parable?

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Why did Jesus use parables to communicate to His followers?

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Describe the Kingdom of God (4:26-34):

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Week two Memory Verse:

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he
announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent
of your sins and believe the Good News!”
M a r k 1 : 1 5 ( N LT )
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 the Upside-down kingdom
March 24, 2019
Mark 1:16-20, 2:13-17, 3:13-19, 6:6-13, 8:34-38, 9:30-36, 10:13-52

MESSAGE notes:
The Christian Martyrs’ Last Prayer, by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1883) ______________________________________________________________________________
Christians who were about to suffer martyrdom either by being devoured by the wild ______________________________________________________________________________
beasts or by being smeared with pitch and set ablaze. ______________________________________________________________________________
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William T. Walters commissioned this painting in 1863, but the artist did not deliver ______________________________________________________________________________
it until 20 years later. In a letter to Walters, Gérôme identified the setting as ancient ______________________________________________________________________________
Rome’s racecourse, the Circus Maximus. He noted such details as the goal posts and the
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chariot tracks in the dirt. The seating, however, more closely resembles that of the Col-
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osseum, Rome’s amphitheater, in which gladiatorial combats and other spectacles were
held. Similarly, the hill in the background surmounted by a colossal statue and a tem- ______________________________________________________________________________
ple is nearer in appearance to the Athenian Acropolis than it is to Rome’s Palatine Hill. ______________________________________________________________________________
The artist also commented on the religious fortitude of the victims who were about to ______________________________________________________________________________
suffer martyrdom either by being devoured by the wild beasts or by being smeared with ______________________________________________________________________________
pitch and set ablaze, which also never took place in the Circus Maximus. In this instance, ______________________________________________________________________________
Gérôme, whose paintings were usually admired for their sense of reality, has subordi-
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nated historical accuracy to drama. W. M. Brady & Co, New York, in “Drawings and Oil
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Sketches 1700-1900,” 27 January 2009 - 12 February 2009, No. 21, offers “Study for the
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‘Death of Caesar,” an oil on canvas with pen and ink underdrawing, measuring 7 5/8 x 13
in. (19.5 x 33 cm), which formerly belonged to Maurice Aiccardi, Paris. This sketch may be ______________________________________________________________________________
the one that Theophile Gautier alluded to during a visit to the artist’s studio in 1858 (G. ______________________________________________________________________________
Ackerman, Jean-Leon Gerome: Monographie revisee 2000, pp. 240-241). ______________________________________________________________________________

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 FURTHER STUDY QUESTIONS:
According to Mark, who were the first disciples Jesus called? (1:16-20)
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Who does Jesus invite to be his disciple in 2:14 and why did this upset the
Pharisees?
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List all twelve disciples below. (Mark 3:16-19)

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10. _____________________________
11. _____________________________
12. _____________________________

What authority does Jesus give his twelve disciples in 6:7?

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What then do you think is the significance of Jesus’ shed blood on the cross What message were the disciples to tell everyone they met (6:12)? What
during Passover? What does this tell us about who Jesus was? other acts did the disciples perform in verse 13?
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Mark reiterates throughout his gospel that even the disciples were struggling
to grasp who Jesus really was. Chapter 8:34-38 lead us into Act II (see “Help-
ful Overview”) of the book. In 8:27 Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people
For further explanation of these two events in Jewish history, search for say I am?” Peter replies, “You are the Messiah,” which means that Jesus is a
“Truth or Tradition” on YouTube and the video “The Feast of Passover” by victorious military king from the line of David who will rescue Israel from the
Dan Gallaher. There you’ll find a playlist full of videos explaining each feast Romans. How does Jesus describe Himself in 8:31, 9:31, 10:33-34?
of Israel. ______________________________________________________________________________
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Week seven Memory Verse: Week three Memory Verse:

“When the Roman officer who stood facing him “ I f a n y o f y o u w a n t s t o b e m y f o l l o w e r, y o u m u s t
saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man give up your own way, take up your cross, and
truly was the Son of God!” follow me.”
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M a r k 1 5 : 3 9 ( N LT ) M a r k 8 : 3 4 ( N LT ) 12
 FURTHER STUDY QUESTIONS:
Chapter 14 opens with the story of woman anointing Jesus with oil. What was
the significance of this moment according to Jewish customs (v.8)?
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Who is the king? In the Passover meal with His disciples (14:12-26), Jesus takes the symbols of
the Old Testament Passover and gives them new meaning. What are we liber-
March 31, 2019
ated from now because of Jesus’ death and resurrection?
Mark 4:35-5:43
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MESSAGE notes:
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Why do you think Mark concludes his gospel so abruptly without a
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resurrection story? See Hebrews 11:1.
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______________________________________________________________________________ A note about Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread:
______________________________________________________________________________ The word feast is actually translated to “appointed times,” so the
______________________________________________________________________________ biblical feasts refer to God’s “appointed times.” They’re celebrated every year
______________________________________________________________________________ with the Feast of Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread occurring in the
______________________________________________________________________________ Spring (Leviticus 23). The feasts of Passover and of Unleavened Bread were
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______________________________________________________________________________ Passover.’
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______________________________________________________________________________ Moses and the plagues of Egypt. In Exodus 11 Moses explains the final judge-
______________________________________________________________________________ ment of Egypt- the death of the firstborn sons. The Israelites were protected
______________________________________________________________________________ from the destroying angel by the sacrificing of a lamb (Exodus 12). The lamb’s
______________________________________________________________________________ blood was then sprinkled on the doorposts to set God’s people apart and
spare them of judgement.
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 FURTHER STUDY QUESTIONS:
The scene of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4 follows closely on the heals
of his teaching and seems to pose the question of will the disciples
understand and believe what Jesus has taught them and the miracles He’s
performed? How do the disciples react to the storm in verse 38 and what
does their reaction prove about their level of faith in Jesus?
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The darkest hour ______________________________________________________________________________
April 21, 2019
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Mark 14:1-16:8
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MESSAGE notes:
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The Bible often uses bodies of water as symbols for evil, death, and chaos.
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What, then, do you think is the significance of Jesus calming the storm? Why
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did the disciples react the way they did in verse 41?
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Mark is an action-packed gospel. He quickly moves on from one miraculous
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event to the next- from Jesus calming the storm to healing a demon-
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possessed man (5:1-20), healing a suffering woman (21-35), and even raising a
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girl from the dead (35-43).
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It’s important to note that in the cases of the woman and girl, Jesus was
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rejecting cultural norms by recognizing the dignity and value of women and
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children. He touched them, healed them, spoke with them directly and in
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public and never treated them as inferior.

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What role do you think faith plays in these four stories (Mark 4:40,
5:34 & 36)?
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Week FOUR Memory Verse: Week six Memory Verse:

“Jesus overheard what they were talking about
“Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God.”
a n d s a i d t o t h e l e a d e r, “ D o n ’ t l i s t e n t o t h e m ;
M a r k 1 1 : 9 - 1 0 ( N LT )
just trust me.”
Mark 5:36 (MSG)
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 FURTHER STUDY QUESTIONS:
In chapter 11 we now enter the third act of the book of Mark. We see Jesus
riding triumphantly into Jerusalem, the final destination and culmination of
his ministry. Jesus knew of his impending death and yet rode into Jerusalem
publicly and even cheerfully. Was He afraid of His enemies? What does this
scene tell us about the identity of Jesus?
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Mountaintop experience
April 7, 2019
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Mark 8:27-9:13
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MESSAGE notes:
When Jesus enters the temple courtyard, He asserts His royal authority by
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running out the thieves and crooks and stopping the sacrificial system. What
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stands out to you in this story? (11:15-25)
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In Mark 12:1-12 Jesus answers the Jewish leader’s question in the previous
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passage with this parable. If the religious leaders are like the evil farmers and
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God is the owner of the vineyard, then who is Jesus? Do you think the Jewish
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leaders grasped the meaning of Jesus’ message (12:12)?
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 FURTHER STUDY QUESTIONS:
Describe the scene in Mark 9:2-13. Who was with Jesus on the mountaintop?
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Who were the two prophets who met with God on Mt. Sinai in Exodus 33 and
A man on a mission
April 14, 2019
1 Kings 19?
Mark 11:1-12:12
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MESSAGE notes:
What does this mountaintop experience tell us about Jesus?
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What was Peter’s reaction to seeing Jesus in this glorious state?
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Week five Memory Verse: ______________________________________________________________________________
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“Then he asked them, “But who do you say ______________________________________________________________________________
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I a m ? ” Pe t e r r e p l i e d , “ Y o u a r e t h e M e s s i a h . ” ______________________________________________________________________________
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M a r k 8 : 2 9 ( N LT )
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