Mark 4-8

Jesus didn’t see people the way the world sees them. Jesus cared for people the world thought of as outcasts because
Jesus knew that all people are created with value and are loved by God.

Jesus’ acceptance of others (Read Mark 2:13-17)

Jesus calls a tax collector named Levi (also called Matthew) to be his disciple. Jesus catches a lot of heat for his
decision to ask a tax collector to be his follower. Those criticizing Jesus had a problem seeing what was actually going
on. They couldn’t see Levi as anything but a cheating tax collector.
How did Jesus see Levi?
How did everyone else see Levi?
How did Jesus attempt to change the way his critics saw people like Levi?
Jesus didn’t see “sinners” as people with a label, to be avoided. Instead he saw them as people in need of hope and
salvation. If he refused to spend time with Levi, he would have to refuse to spend time every single one of us!
Romans 3:10 tells us, “there is no one righteous, no not one!”
Jesus was a loving person. That doesn’t mean Jesus accepted every action of everybody. It does mean he was patient
enough with people to give them a chance.
Why is it important that Jesus has this same compassion and patience with us?

Jesus teaches his followers (Read Mark 4:1-9)

In Mark 4 Jesus teaches a parable about a man who was scattering seed on the ground (how they used to plant their
crops).
Sum up the four types of soil Jesus describes.
What is it that makes the difference for how well the seed grows and lasts?
In Mark 4:13-20Jesus explains the parable.
What does Jesus say the seed represents?
What does Jesus say the different soils represent?
Who is the sower?
Every single person who hears the word of God is like that soil. We all fit in this parable somewhere. The question for
us is this, which type of soil are we going to be?
Jesus is not dooming us to only be one kind of soil. The more we listen, see and understand, the more God can work on
our hearts and soften us up to receive His Words and grow. Anything that is worthwhile takes work, time and effort.
What does Jesus say happens if the sower’s seed lands on good soil?
Jesus is not saying that if you believe what he is teaching that your savings account will automatically go up by 30, 60
or 100 times. Jesus is saying that when you put your faithin Jesus, God will be at work in your life to make your life
spiritually full and abundant. Most people want to live a meaningful and full life.
Why is it important for your life to be about something bigger than yourself?
Is your life producing what God wants it to produce or are things getting in the way and choking out the growth God
desires?
What are some things you feel are distracting you from growing closer to God?

Jesus Sends His Followers (Read Mark 6:7-13)

It was mentioned earlier that to follow a rabbi or teacher meant to learn to do what he was doing and to teach what
he taught. That means at some point in time faith is more than just believing. Faith requires action. Most people don’t
want to take on a new set of beliefs to just sit on the couch and think it over for the next 20 years. Instead, people
want their beliefs to change their lives and move them to meaningful action.
Why is it important for our beliefs result in action?
If you were preparing people to be sent out on a long journey where they would be walking their way to and from places
what would you tell them to pack?
Why do you think Jesus’ packing list was so short?
How would you respond if Jesus gave you that packing list?
Preparation for our journey in life will not require all the world says it requires. 
What kinds of things does the world say we need in order to be successful in life? Is that really true?
Jesus was making them walk the walk. The walk is going to require trusting that God will take care of your needs.
What were the results of their journey?
What makes it challenging to trust God like they did?

Jesus Has Compassion (Read Mark 8:1-10)

How long had the crowd following Jesus been following him without food?
It is kind of funny that Jesus would ask his 12 disciples how many loaves of bread they had with them. Did he
expected them to pull 4000 loaves from their 24 pockets? Jesus already knew they didn’t have enough. Turns out they
had 7 loaves and some fish. Jesus knew that would be enough.
Why did Jesus take the time to feed all of these people?
Jesus was connected with people. Jesus was connected through compassion to see through the surface of who they
were and see what they needed most. Jesus also did this as he called his disciples from careers like tax collecting and
fishing to come and follow him and one day, change the world. Before Jesus can take his disciples further there is one
more thing they must understand about Jesus. Jesus asks them the question they need to answer in Mark 8:27.

Who is Jesus? (Read Mark 8:27-30)

What two questions does Jesus ask his followers?
What is the difference between those two questions?
When it comes to your own personal faith, it is not about what others have to say about Jesus. Some people have
hope because their parents were Christians and so they hope it will count for them too but don’t care to live like it.
When it comes to your relationship with God, it doesn’t matter what anyone else has to say, the question for you is not
what do others say about who Jesus is but what do you say?
Up to this point there is a lot to base the answer to this question on. We have looked at Jesus’ miracles, his teaching,
his compassion and his mission. Jesus was up to something. He was on a mission. That mission has everything to do
with who Jesus is and what Jesus came to do.
The question for you is this, Who do you believe Jesus is?
Peter believes Jesus is the Messiah but he doesn’t yet understand everything that means. That is okay because Jesus
has more to teach him and he has more to teach us at this point in the story. There is more to discover about Jesus to
help our faith continue to grow.

Questions to consider:

In this lesson we have talked about the acceptance and compassion of Jesus. Randy Harris has said “There is
nothing you can do that will make God love you more than he already does.” How important is it to you that Jesus is
compassionate, patient and loving?
We have also talked about how Jesus teaches us how to live and how important it is to walk the walk instead of just
having all the right beliefs. What are some important things in your life and how do those things require action?
How does following Jesus require action?
Last, we talked about who Jesus is. Are there any areas of doubt that you still have about Jesus being the Messiah and
Son of God?
Do you have any questions that were not covered in this lesson?