The Transfiguration - Mark 9:2-13
Understand It
- Where did Jesus take Peter, James, and John? (9:2)
- Whom did Jesus take with Him to the mountain? (9:2)
- What happened to Jesus on the mountain? (9:3)
- Who appeared with Jesus in the transfiguration? (9:4)
- What was significant about the people who appeared to Jesus? (9:4)
- How did Peter respond to the transfiguration of Jesus? (9:5)
- Why did Peter want to put up three shelters? (9:5)
- Why were the disciples frightened when they saw Jesus? (9:6)
- How did God appear to Jesus and the others? (9:7)
- *What did God say to the disciples? (9:7)
- *What did God want the disciples to do? (9:7)
- What did the disciples see after the cloud vanished? (9:7-8)
- What orders did Jesus give the disciples? (9:9)
- How did Peter, James, and John respond to Jesus’ order? (9:10)
- What caught the "elite three" off guard and became the topic of discussion as they headed down the mountain? (9:10)
- Why did the disciples ask Jesus about Elijah? (9:11)
- About whom was Jesus speaking when He said, "Elijah has come"? (9:12-13)
Apply It
- What specific word or command of Jesus can you obey more carefully this week? How?
- *What can you do over the next week to become more sensitive to God’s voice (whether from His Word or His Spirit)?
The Healing of a Boy With an Evil Spirit - Mark 9:14-32
Understand It
- What was the setting of the events in this story? (9:14)
- How did the people react when they saw Jesus? (9:15)
- What did Jesus ask the crowd and the teachers of the law? (9:16)
- What were the people arguing about? (9:17)
- What had the evil spirit done to the boy it possessed? (9:17-18)
- *Why were the disciples unable to cast the demon out of the boy? (9:19)
- *How did Jesus feel at this point? (9:19)
- What was the evil spirit’s response to Jesus? (9:20)
- What was the boy’s life like before Jesus healed him? (9:21-22)
- *How were prayer and faith related in this situation? (9:22-23)
- What problem did the father need to overcome? (9:24)
- When did Jesus cast the demon out? (9:25-26)
- How did Jesus treat the demon-possessed boy? (9:24-27)
- What necessary step had the disciples failed to take in this situation? (9:28-29)
- Why did Jesus want to avoid the crowds of people? (9:30-31)
- What news did Jesus repeat privately to the disciples? (9:31)
- What frightened the disciples? (9:31-32)
Apply It
- *About what in your life will you pray every day this week? When?
- What concrete action can you take today to show a commitment to prayer?
Who Is the Greatest? - Mark 9:33-37
Understand It
- What did Jesus ask the disciples when they got to Capernaum? (9:33)
- Why did the disciples suddenly stop talking? (9:33-34)
- *How did Jesus get His disciples’ attention? (9:33-34)
- What does the disciples’ argument tell you about their understanding of who Jesus was and why He had come? (9:33-34)
- Why were the disciples embarrassed to answer Jesus’ question? (9:34)
- *How did Jesus explain what it means to be great? (9:35)
- What kind of person tries to be a servant? (9:35)
- *How did Jesus illustrate His point? (9:36)
- What did Jesus say about children? (9:37)
- How is it possible to welcome God? (9:37)
Apply It
- *What is one concrete way you can serve another person this week?
- In what specific situation can you consciously choose to be a servant for Christ’s sake sometime this next week?
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us - Mark 9:38-41
Understand It
- Who told Jesus about the dilemma facing the disciples? (9:38)
- How did John refer to Jesus and how was that significant? (9:38)
- *What issue concerned the disciples? (9:38)
- Why did the disciples try to stop a man from driving out demons? (9:38)
- *What attitudes did the disciples have in this situation? (9:38)
- *How did Jesus respond to the disciples’ question? (9:40)
- Why did Jesus not mind others, who were not part of His group of disciples, performing miracles in His name? (9:40)
- What attitude did Jesus want the disciples to have? (9:41)
- How will God treat those who do good in Christ’s name? (9:41)
- What principle was Jesus trying to teach the disciples? (9:39-41)
Apply It
- What step can you take this week to help another person in Christ’s name?
- *What can you do to support someone who does good and is "not against you"?
Causing to Sin - Mark 9:42-50
Understand It
- To whom did Jesus refer when He spoke of "little ones"? (9:42)
- What behavior did Jesus condemn? (9:42)
- What figure of speech did Jesus use to show how serious His point was? (9:42-47)
- *What was Jesus’ attitude toward sin? (9:43-47)
- What does this passage teach about the kingdom of God? (9:43-47)
- *Why did Jesus use extreme examples in this context? (9:43-48)
- How did Jesus use figurative language to get His message across? (9:43-48)
- How did Jesus describe hell? (9:48-49)
- What did Jesus mean when He said, "Everyone will be salted with fire"? (9:49)
- *When Jesus talked about "salt," to what exactly was He referring? (9:50)
- Why is "saltiness" necessary in a Christian’s life? (9:50)
- With what final instruction did Jesus conclude? (9:50)
- How do Jesus’ final words relate to the rest of the passage? (9:50)
Apply It
- *What concrete action can you take this week to avoid a sin that you have struggled with in the recent past?
- What can you do this week to make your witness for Christ clearer to the unbelievers around you?
