Preaching From the Gospel of Mark

Key Text

1 Timothy 4:13–16 ESV

13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

This class is to teach us how to extract the truth from what the text says. There is only one way to interpret the Bible. This is done by looking carefully at what the author was saying to the original audience. When we do this we are staying on the line of Truth.

Introduce Clowney’s Diagram and what our journey will be the next few days we teach.

First Principle: Staying on the Line

We will be looking at the Clowney’s Diagram throughout this class.

The Three main points we will look at will be:

Emphasis

Narrative Arc

Context

The Illustration of the Rope and the piece of wood that distorts the line.

When we bend the line of truth, we will become legalistic or liberal in our walk. Both are wrong.

Legalism is when you make yourself more righteous than others and look down on others who do not meet your standards of righteousness.

Legalism is a works based faith. Because of my good works, I will earn God’s favor.

Liberalism is being more relaxed and below the line of truth. We bend truth to try and get away with more.

Liberalism says, “ If God did all the work for me then I have no need to be holy and follow all of his word.”

Both Legalism and Liberalism are centered on self, not centered on God’s Truth.

We must remain on the line of Truth and apply God’s word to our life based on God’s truth.

Deuteronomy 4:2 ESV

2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.

Exercise #1 Eve in the Garden

Genesis 3:1–5 ESV

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

What is the serpent adding or subtracting from God’s word?

What is Eve adding or subtracting from God’s word?

Why did you reach this answer? Give text support.

Genesis 2:16–17 ESV

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Knowing what God actually said, what is the serpent and Eve adding or removing from God’s word?

Tell me why you conclude this answer?

Exercise #2 The Pharisees and Jesus

Mark 7:1–13 ESV

1 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” 9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban” ’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

What do the leaders do to deviate from God’s word/command in Verses 1-5?

Why does Jesus call them hypocrites in Verses 6-8?

What do they do with the line of Truth in scripture in verses 9-13?

What are the consequences of going above or below the line?

How Can We Avoid These Mistakes?

Context

Pray for the fear of God to guide us.

Read complete book

Be objective when reading.

Take the word literally.

Ask Prepared individuals.

Investigate.

Seek feedback from those who are prepared.

Out of Context

If we rush to go from the text to us today, we risk mis-interpreting and bending the truth. This will force us to apply God’s word in our lives incorrectly.

Emphasis:

The emphasis is the main idea of what the author is saying in the text.

Illustration of Rationalism - In architectural structures, the structures are designed based on their function.

Most houses here in Papua, i’ve noticed are designed to be inhabited on the upper level. Most houses have posts that work as a foundation for the upper level. Rationally, we can conclude that we build our houses like this because of the rain, potential floods, and termites. It is to keep creatures and elements away from where we sleep and live.

In the same way when we look for the emphasis we can see evidence throughout the text that points us towards a rational conclusion. This rational conclusion comes from seeking the emphasis in the text.

The author has a literary point or main idea. The main idea is seen by the structure of the text. Every story and text in the bible has a structure and we must ask, why did the author write it this way? Look for the evidence within the text and discover the line of truth in the text.

What is the Structure of the text?

How did the author organize the text?

What is the main idea of the author?

The MAIN IDEA of the author should be the MAIN IDEA of the preaching.

How can we find the Emphasis ?

The Narrative Arc

The Narrative Arc is a tool to find the Emphasis/ Main Idea.

The Narrative Arc is composed of the following:

Circumstances/ What is happening?

Conflict/ What is the problem?

Climax/ What happened that changed everything?

Resolution/ What is the result?

New Setting/ What happens Next?

We can most of the time find the emphasis with the conflict, climax, and resolution.

When the Narrative Arc is not applicable we must look for these three things to find the emphasis:

Repetition of words

Characters and why they are mentioned.

The change in scenes

Exercise #3 - Demon Possessed Man

Mark 5:1–20 ESV

1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. 14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

What verses show the circumstances or what is happening in this story? Verses 1-5. What is the condition of this character in the beginning of the story?

What verses show the conflict in the story? Verses 7-11

What verses show the climax / what changes everything in the story? Verses 12-13

What verses show the resolution or the result in the story? What is the condition of the man in the end of the story? Verses 14-20

What is the emphasis of the story?

Exercise #4 The Sick Woman

Mark 5:25–34 ESV

25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

What verses show the circumstances and conflict in the story? what was the condition of the woman? Verses 25-28

What verses show the climax of the story? Verses 29-30.

What verses show the result of the story? What was the condition of the woman in the end? Verses 31-34

What is the Emphasis of this story?

Exercise #5

Mark 5:21–24 ESV

21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.

Mark 5:35–43 ESV

35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

What verses show the circumstances in the story? What is the condition of the child? Verses 21-24

What verses show the conflict in the story? Verses 34-40.

What verses show the climax in the story? Verses 41-42

What verses show the result of the story? Verses 43

What is the emphasis of the story?

The Context

Literary Context - This is the context you find within the text you are reading. You can get more literary context when you read the entire chapter or a few chapters before and after the text you are studying or read the entire book.

Historical Context - This is the context you find when you look at the historical implications of the author and the audience. Most of these authors were writing during Roman oppression and Jewish persecution of christians. Understanding this context will help understand the text. We only know that Mark was writing to a Roman audience.

Cultural Context - This context you can find in the author’s and original audiences culture. Their culture was rooted in Jewish law and Roman law. Understanding their culture will help understand the text as well. What do the celebrations mean, like the passover? Why did they sacrifice offerings to God? What was the sabbath?

Biblical Context - This context you can find throughout the bible. We believe there is only one author of all the text in the Bible and that is God. This is why it is true and why we follow it. The Bible interprets the Bible. Different books in the bible complement other books. The old testament complements the new and the new complements the old.

Exercise #6 Literary Context

Mark 14:3–9 ESV

3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

What is the typical emphasis that someone will get from this text without any further context?

Mark 14:1–2 ESV

1 It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, 2 for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.”

2. Based on these two verses, does your emphasis change for verses 3-9?

Mark 14:10–11 ESV

10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

3. What is the emphasis of the text? JESUS IS PREPARING FOR HIS DEATH AND BURIAL.

JESUS IS THE CENTER OF THIS STORY.

Other texts in the book of Mark emphasis his death:

Mark 8:31 ESV

31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Mark 9:31 ESV

31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”

Mark 10:34 ESV

34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

“THE SON OF GOD MUST DIE”

Exercise #7 Historical Context

We only know that Mark is writing to a Roman audience.

We know that the Roman law and customs were imposed on the Jews.

They needed to pay taxes to the Roman Government.

They were punished for breaking laws.

During Jesus’ time the Roman Emperor was Cesar and Jesus was judged by Pontius Pilate.

Mark 15:1–2 ESV

1 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.”

Exercise #8 Cultural Context

Mark 7:9–13 ESV

9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban” ’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

What does Corban mean?

What were the pharisees’ traditions?

Exercise #9 Biblical Context

Luke 19:28–40 ESV

28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

These are biblical references that talk about this passage:

Zechariah 9:9 ESV

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Psalm 118:22–26 ESV

22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.

Habakkuk 2:11 ESV

11 For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond.

These all point to the passage in Luke.