Q2 — Israel's History | Mark & Early Letters
Israel's History | Mark & Early Letters
Goal: Understand the Story
Let's fill in the gaps in Israel's story and begin noticing how the New Testament works.
New Testament: Mark & Early Letters
Now back to "the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ" (Mark 1:1). We'll read Mark — the earliest of the four gospels — and then dive into the earliest letters in roughly the order we think they came. Relish the fast-paced, action-packed gospel of Mark, who loves the word "immediately" (Mark 1:10, 12, 18, 20, etc.) almost as much as he loves relaying Jesus' amazing acts of power. And as we start reading some of the letters, try to put them in the context of the basic timeline we established in quarter one.
Psalms: Book Two
The second book (Ps. 42-72) continues to focus on David, including David's famous psalm of penitence (Ps. 51) and ending with the joyful realization that David's covenant blessings have passed onto his son (Ps. 72).
Old Testament: Israel's History
This quarter, we'll see Israel go from a homeless people to an established kingdom to a people in exiled captivity all over again. Don't miss plot points like entering the promised land (Josh. 4), David's anointing (1 Sam. 16), the temple dedication (1 Kings 8), the kingdom split (1 Kings 12), and the fall of both kingdoms (2 Kings 17 & 25). But the Bible really hinges on the promises to David in 2 Sam. 7 after the Ark enters Jerusalem in 2 Sam. 6. We'll also enjoy some of Scripture's most breathtaking prophecies in the book of Isaiah.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS
What can we learn about the ideal leader from the stories in Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings?
What issues did the early letters focus on? Do these concerns still come up?
How does Mark’s gospel present the power of Jesus?