Jon & Stephen discuss the transfiguration: Jesus’ true nature revealed, Peter’s response, fighting our mortality and the human tendency to contain experiences of God.
Mark 9:2-13
Politics and Power • Dig Deeper E13
Jon & Stephen discuss: the story so far in Mark and major themes - politics and power, faith and allegiance and repentance.
Mark 8:22-9:1
The way of Jesus • Dig Deeper E12
Jon & Steve-O discuss: the Messianic declaration at Caesarea Philippi, the triple rebuke, Jesus’ temptation to power, what it means for us to take up our cross now, and challenging our attitude of self-preservation.
Mark 8:22-9:1
What can you do that honours Jesus but makes you look foolish in your culture? How can you confront your own self-preservation?
Itching ears and Charismania • Dig Deeper E11
Jon & Stevie B discuss: Jesus groaning, ‘charismania’, miracle-hunting and false prophets, food being a leveller, yeast of the Pharisees, Aramaic and Greek baskets, the Herods vs Jesus, and back to the offence of miracles.
Mark 7:31-8:21
Blinded by a smokescreen • Dig Deeper E10
Jon and Dr Stephen discuss: the importance of touch, Pharisees and Sadducees, the traditions of the elders, sin being personal but never private, the smokescreen of empty religious practice, quiet times, Jesus using a racist term and the Syrophoenician’s clever response. Mark 7:1-30
If you’d like to give a gift to Stephen, you can do so here: bit.ly/drbgift
Hard of heart • Dig Deeper E9
Jon & Dr Stephen discuss: feeding the 5000, how the disciples missed a trick, the 2 cultural contexts of Mark, the ‘Messianic secret’, Jesus walking on the water and looking like a phantom, hardness of heart, and not trusting God’s provision.
Mark 6:30-56
Don't clutch tightly • Dig Deeper E8
Jon & Dr Stephen discuss: the gathering clouds, Jesus causing offence in his hometown, revisiting offence vs faith, sending the Twelve and the picture of discipleship, having ‘just enough’, challenging the self-fulfillment and self-reliant culture of our day, Herod beheading John the Baptist and the use of power, and not clutching tightly to what is rightfully yours.
Mark 6:1-29
Undesirable No. 1 • Dig Deeper E7
Jon & Dr Stephen discuss: Jesus sleeping on a pillow and calming the storm, fear, faith and losing control, the sign of Jonah, the region of Gerasenes, the Roman demon Legion, Jesus causing economic disruption, Jesus hanging out with the ‘ochlos’ (crowd of undesirables), Jairus and his daughter and the bleeding woman.
Mark 4:35-5:43
Who are the people in your world who count the least to you? Jesus values and elevates them.
Hearing, but not listening • Dig Deeper E6
Jon and Dr B discuss: the mustard tree (actually a bush), structures and institutions, the nature of parables, Jesus being offensive, cultivating the soil of our lives, and hearing but not listening.
Mark 4:1-34
Binding the strong man • Dig Deeper E5
Jon and Dr Stephen discuss: the ‘eternal sin’ and blaspheming the Holy Spirit, what Jesus meant by the eternal age, Jesus challenging more socioeconomic structures (this time the tribal family way of life), a time Jon experienced grieving the Holy Spirit, ‘binding the strong man’, Jesus’ band of merry men, strongholds and exorcism. Also, Jesus: William Wallace or Robin Hood??
Mark 3:13-34