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BIBLE STUDY

UNTIL WE’RE ABLE TO MEET AT CHURCH AGAIN, THE GOSPEL READING FOR THE COMING SUNDAY AND SOME QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT WILL BE POSTED EVERY WEDNESDAY.  WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR OWN ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS. PLEASE EMAIL THEM TO:      

barbfletcher2@aol.com

 

ALL COMMENTS WILL BE COMPILED (ANONYMOUSLY) AND ADDED TO THE POSTING ON SATURDAY.   WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE GOSPEL READING EACH WEEK.

 

BIBLE STUDY FOR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2020

 

PRAYER:     Holy Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit, prepare our hearts and minds to receive all that You want us to learn.  As we read your word, shine on us the light of your truth.  May we gain a deeper understanding of who You are and what your will is in each of our lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

CONTEXT:   This reading for the First Sunday of Advent celebrates the need to prepare.  At the beginning of this Chapter from Mark, Jesus had told the disciples that the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed, and that the early church would be persecuted.  The temple had long been the center of Jewish worship and life. The new center of worship and life would be Jesus, the Son of Man.  By the time this Gospel was written, those predictions had indeed come true, the future of the early church seemed fragile, and believers could take comfort in these promises of Jesus that He would come again.  We too are reminded to be prepared, to watch for the new thing God is doing in Advent.

 

READING:   Mark13:24-37     

 

The Coming of the Son of Man

24 “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

The Necessity for Watchfulness

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

 

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

1. When you read verses 24-27, what emotions do you feel, and why?How can we be sure that we will be “gathered” with the “elect”?

2. The words in verse 31 must have been reassuring to the early church in those turbulent times.In what ways are we also living in turbulent times, and how can those words be reassuring to us as well?

3. If Jesus is the “man” and we are the “slaves” in verse 34, what “work” do you personally feel called to do?What “work” can we do as the church, here at Saint Bart?

4. Imagine for a moment that Jesus were to come back right this minute?How do you think He would react to the work we have done in the world that He entrusted to us?

5. How might we be “found asleep” when Christ comes again? What do you think constitutes “wakefulness”?

6. What is the spiritual purpose of the season of Advent? In what ways is this reading particularly appropriate for the season’s first Sunday?

7. What preparations are necessary in your life to be fully ready for the coming of the Lord? Do you have unfinished business to attend to? How can you use the season of Advent to prepare?