Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, July 6, 2024.

Main Theme: The first step this week will be to learn about Mark as reported in Scripture, to see his early failure and eventual recovery. Then the study will turn to the opening section of Mark with a look forward to where the story is headed and a look backward at why a failed and then restored missionary would write such a text.

Read in Class: Acts 13:1-5, 13. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: How did John Mark get attached to Saul and Barnabas, and what was the outcome?

Apply: Recall a time when you backed off from something—or even flat out failed at it—in your Christian walk. What did you learn from the experience?

Share: Your friend is the Pathfinder leader in your local church. She is getting discouraged, because a few of her assistant leaders keep quitting whenever there are challenges. Now she feels like quitting. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Acts 15:36-39, 2 Timothy 4:11, and Philemon 1:23-24. What are these passages telling us?

Study: Why did Paul reject John Mark, and why did Barnabas give him a second chance? What details about Mark’s recovery do these verses suggest?

Apply: Consider a time when you or a friend failed and were given a second chance. How did that experience change you and those who helped you? How did it modify your ministry to others?

Share: Your friend, who is the pathfinder leader. is telling you about a Pathfinder girl and boy who were caught in the woods alone acting inappropriately with each other. The kids are being disciplined, but she is wondering if they should both be kicked out of the club? She asks you where you draw the line between a second chance and getting kicked out? What do you tell your Pathfinder leader friend?

Read in Class: Mark 1:9-13. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: Who is present at the baptism of Jesus, and what happens?

Apply: What does it tell you about the amazing love of God that, though Jesus was God, He would take upon Himself our humanity in order to save us?

Share: Yiour friend asks you why the Sprit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted? What do you tell your friend? See also Matthew 4:1-11.

Read in Class: Mark 1:14-15. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study:  What are the three parts of the gospel message that Jesus proclaimed?

Mark summarizes here the simple and direct message of Jesus. Its three parts are illustrated in the following table:

Category	Content
Time Prophecy	The time is fulfilled.
Covenant Promise	The kingdom of God is near.
Call to Discipleship	Repent and believe the gospel.

Apply: Read Daniel 9:24-27 and Acts 10:38. When was the last time you studied the 70-week prophecy? How can knowing this prophecy help increase your faith not only in Jesus but in the trustworthiness of the prophetic Word?

Share: If someone asked you, “How do you know Jesus was actually the Messiah?” What Scriptures from the Old and New Testament could you share with them to show Jesus was the Messiah? See The Messiah in Scripture.