Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.
🌿 The Journey Continues: Return to Mark
Although our three-year group study has ended, our journey through Mark does not have to end here.
We encourage you to reread the Gospel of Mark at your own pace. As you read each chapter, pause and carefully consider What We Saw in Jesus. Notice His character, authority, compassion, words, actions, and responses to people.
Then take time to consider each Personal Reflection question. Record your thoughts, prayers, and responses in a notebook or journal. There is no need to hurry. The goal is not merely to finish Mark again, but to see Jesus more clearly and allow His Word to continue shaping your life.
Choose Your Own Pace
- 16-Day Journey: Read one chapter each day.
- 16-Week Journey: Read and reflect on one chapter each week.
- Your Own Pace: Take as much time as needed to read, pray, and respond.
For Each Chapter
- Read the complete chapter.
- Note what you see in Jesus.
- Review the main lesson.
- Answer the personal reflection questions in your notebook or journal.
- Pray about what God has shown you.
Before reading, pray:
Lord, open my eyes to see Jesus clearly, and help me respond faithfully to what You show me.
Respond faithfully. Continue following Jesus.
🤝 Gather and Grow
Optional Guide for Group Discussion
Some readers may wish to meet with others as they reread Mark. This may be done in person, by telephone, or online.
Each person should read the chapter before the meeting and consider the What We Saw in Jesus, Main Lesson, and Personal Reflection sections. Bring a Bible and a notebook or journal to record anything you want to remember.
Discuss the Chapter Together
- What stood out to you as you read this chapter?
- What did the chapter show us about Jesus?
- Was there anything you noticed that you had not seen before?
- Which words or actions of Jesus encouraged, challenged, or corrected you?
- What does this chapter teach us about following Jesus?
- Which personal reflection question spoke to you most?
- What is one practical way we can live out this chapter?
- Is there a truth we should treasure or share with someone?
- How can we pray for one another in light of what we learned?
No one should feel pressured to answer every question or share personal information. Select the questions that best suit the group and allow everyone time to think and respond.
A Simple Meeting Format
- Welcome and prayer: 5 minutes
- Read or review the chapter: 10 minutes
- Discuss what you saw in Jesus: 15 minutes
- Discuss practical application: 15 minutes
- Share one takeaway and pray: 10 minutes
The meeting could last about 45–55 minutes, but each group may adjust the time.
Keep the discussion grounded in Scripture.
Listen patiently to one another.
Leave with one truth to practise.
Close by praying for one another.
📖 Mark 1 — Jesus Calls Us to Follow Him
Looking Back
John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by calling people to repentance. Jesus was baptized, tempted in the wilderness, and began preaching the good news of God’s kingdom. He called Simon, Andrew, James, and John, taught with authority, drove out an unclean spirit, healed the sick, and showed compassion to a man with leprosy. Even when many people wanted His attention, Jesus made time to pray.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus is the beloved Son of God.
- He has authority over sickness and evil.
- He calls ordinary people to follow Him.
- He is compassionate and prayerful.
Personal Reflection
- How has my understanding of following Jesus grown?
- Is Jesus asking me to leave something behind?
- Has prayer become more important in my life?
📖 Mark 2 — Jesus Forgives and Makes Us New
Looking Back
Four men brought a paralyzed man to Jesus and lowered him through the roof. Jesus first forgave the man’s sins and then healed him. Jesus also called Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him. When criticized for eating with sinners, He explained that those who are sick need a doctor. He came for people who recognize their need for Him.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus has authority to forgive sins.
- He sees faith and welcomes those whom others reject.
- He knows the motives of the heart.
- He offers new life, not merely outward religion.
Personal Reflection
- Do I believe that Jesus has forgiven me completely?
- Am I helping others come to Him?
- Have religious habits replaced a living relationship with Jesus?
📖 Mark 3 — Called to Be With Jesus
Looking Back
Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. The religious leaders cared more about their rules than the man’s need. Jesus appointed twelve apostles whose first calling was to be with Him; then He sent them to preach and serve. He also taught that those who do God’s will belong to His spiritual family.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus values mercy and is grieved by hardened hearts.
- He calls people to be with Him before sending them to serve.
- He welcomes obedient believers into His family.
Personal Reflection
- Am I spending time with Jesus?
- Is my heart open to correction?
- Am I showing mercy to those in need?
📖 Mark 4 — Learning to Hear and Trust
Looking Back
Jesus used the parable of the sower to describe different responses to God’s Word. Some hear but quickly lose it. Others allow trouble, worry, or the desire for possessions to prevent growth. Good soil receives the Word and produces fruit. Later, Jesus calmed a violent storm while crossing the sea with His disciples.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus teaches us how to receive God’s Word.
- He produces growth from small beginnings.
- He has authority over creation.
- His presence gives us reason to trust.
Personal Reflection
- What kind of soil describes my heart?
- Is worry choking God’s Word in my life?
- What storm do I need to trust Jesus through?
📖 Mark 5 — No One Is Beyond His Reach
Looking Back
Jesus delivered a man living in terrible bondage, healed a woman who had suffered for twelve years, and restored Jairus’s daughter to life. Each situation appeared hopeless, but none was beyond His authority and compassion.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus has authority over evil.
- He notices individuals even in a crowd.
- He responds to desperate faith.
- Delays do not mean He has forgotten us.
Personal Reflection
- What has Jesus done that I should tell others about?
- How do I respond when God’s timing feels delayed?
- Where is Jesus asking me to trust rather than fear?
📖 Mark 6 — Jesus Sends and Provides
Looking Back
Jesus was rejected in His hometown, but He continued His mission and sent His disciples to preach and serve. After teaching a large crowd, He fed thousands with five loaves and two fish. Later, He walked on the water and came near to His frightened disciples.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus remains faithful when people reject Him.
- He sends His followers to serve.
- He has compassion and can use what appears small.
- He comes near when His followers are afraid.
Personal Reflection
- What has God placed in my hands that I can use?
- Am I depending on God or only on what I can see?
- How can I show compassion to someone in need?
📖 Mark 7 — Jesus Looks at the Heart
Looking Back
The religious leaders criticized Jesus’ disciples for not following their traditions. Jesus explained that outward practices cannot cleanse an unchanged heart. He also responded to the humble faith of a Gentile woman and healed a man who could not hear or speak clearly.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus values truth above human tradition.
- He sees the condition of our hearts.
- His compassion crosses cultural boundaries.
- He responds to humble, persistent faith.
Personal Reflection
- Am I more concerned about appearance than my heart?
- Have I treated a tradition as though it were God’s command?
- What heart attitude do I need to surrender?
📖 Mark 8 — Seeing Jesus Clearly
Looking Back
Jesus fed another large crowd, yet the disciples still struggled to understand. He healed a blind man in stages, reflecting their gradual spiritual sight. Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ but resisted His teaching about suffering. Jesus then taught that anyone who follows Him must deny self and take up the cross.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus patiently helps us understand.
- He is the promised Christ who came to suffer and save.
- He corrects wrong ideas about His mission.
- He calls us to wholehearted surrender.
Personal Reflection
- Am I seeing Jesus clearly?
- What does denying myself mean in this season?
- Is anything competing with my obedience to Him?
📖 Mark 9 — Listening and Serving Humbly
Looking Back
Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John. The Father declared that Jesus was His beloved Son and commanded the disciples to listen to Him. Jesus later delivered a suffering boy. When the disciples argued about who was greatest, He taught that true greatness is found in humble service.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus is the glorious Son of God.
- He deserves our attention and obedience.
- He meets us in both faith and weakness.
- He defines greatness through service.
Personal Reflection
- Am I truly listening to Jesus?
- Where do I need to pray, “Help my unbelief”?
- Am I seeking recognition or an opportunity to serve?
📖 Mark 10 — The Way of Surrender
Looking Back
Jesus welcomed children and taught that God’s kingdom must be received with humble dependence. A wealthy man walked away because he was unwilling to surrender his possessions. James and John sought honour, but Jesus taught that leadership is expressed through service. Blind Bartimaeus called persistently to Jesus and received his sight.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus welcomes those who come humbly.
- He lovingly exposes what controls our hearts.
- He makes possible what is impossible for us.
- He came to serve and give His life.
Personal Reflection
- Is there anything I value more than obedience?
- Do I lead by serving?
- Where do I need to believe that God can do the impossible?
📖 Mark 11 — Welcoming the King
Looking Back
Jesus entered Jerusalem as the promised King. He cleansed the temple because it had become a place of dishonest business rather than prayer. The fruitless fig tree pictured religious appearance without genuine fruit. Jesus also taught about faith, prayer, and forgiveness.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus is the promised King.
- He deserves sincere worship.
- He desires spiritual fruit, not empty appearance.
- He values prayer and calls us to forgive.
Personal Reflection
- Is Jesus truly King over my choices?
- Is my life producing spiritual fruit?
- Is there anyone I need to forgive?
📖 Mark 12 — Loving God With Everything
Looking Back
Jesus answered questions intended to trap Him and exposed the wrong motives of religious leaders. When asked about the greatest commandment, He said we must love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbours as ourselves. Jesus also noticed a poor widow whose small offering represented great sacrifice.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus answers with truth and wisdom.
- He sees our motives.
- He teaches us what matters most.
- He values sincere and sacrificial giving.
Personal Reflection
- Does God have first place in every part of my life?
- How has my understanding of my neighbour changed?
- Am I offering God my best?
📖 Mark 13 — Faithful While We Wait
Looking Back
Jesus warned His disciples about future troubles, persecution, and deception. He told them not to panic or be misled. Instead of giving them a date for His return, He repeatedly told them to watch, remain faithful, and continue their work.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus knows the future.
- He prepares His followers for difficult times.
- He warns us against deception.
- He calls us to remain watchful.
Personal Reflection
- Is my life spiritually alert?
- How do I respond to troubling events?
- Would Jesus find me faithfully carrying out my assignment?
📖 Mark 14 — Faithful in the Time of Testing
Looking Back
A woman poured costly perfume upon Jesus in loving devotion. Judas chose to betray Him. During the Passover meal, Jesus used the bread and cup to point to His body and blood. In Gethsemane, He prayed honestly about His suffering but submitted to the Father’s will. Jesus was arrested; His disciples fled, and Peter denied Him.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus receives sincere worship.
- He knowingly gave Himself for us.
- He submitted to the Father’s will.
- He remained faithful when others failed.
Personal Reflection
- What costly act of worship can I offer Jesus?
- Am I praying or depending on my own strength?
- Can I honestly say, “Not what I will, but what thou wilt”?
📖 Mark 15 — Standing at the Cross
Looking Back
Although Jesus was innocent, Pilate gave in to the crowd and sentenced Him to crucifixion. Jesus was mocked and placed on the cross between two criminals. When He died, the temple curtain was torn from top to bottom. A Roman centurion declared that Jesus truly was the Son of God. Joseph of Arimathea courageously placed His body in a tomb.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus willingly suffered for sinners.
- He remained faithful through injustice and rejection.
- He gave His life so that we could approach God.
- He completed the mission He came to fulfil.
Personal Reflection
- What does the cross teach me about Jesus’ love?
- Have I fully trusted Him for salvation?
- Where is He calling me to stand courageously for Him?
📖 Mark 16 — The Risen Lord Sends His Followers
Looking Back
Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went to Jesus’ tomb. They wondered who would move the large stone, but it had already been rolled away.
A young man announced that Jesus, who had been crucified, had risen. The women were told to inform the disciples—and Peter—that Jesus would meet them in Galilee. The special mention of Peter showed that his failure had not placed him beyond Christ’s grace and restoration.
In the longer ending, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene and later to two other followers. When the disciples refused to believe their reports, Jesus appeared to the eleven and corrected their unbelief. Yet He did not reject them. Instead, He commissioned them to preach the gospel throughout the world.
Jesus said that signs would accompany the spread of the gospel, showing that the risen Lord was working through His followers. These signs were not commands to handle snakes, drink poison, or deliberately place themselves in danger. They pointed to God’s power and protection as the disciples carried out His mission.
Jesus then ascended into heaven and sat at the right hand of God. The disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them.
What We Saw in Jesus
- Jesus rose from the dead and kept His promises.
- He remembered and restored those who had failed.
- He corrected His followers without abandoning them.
- He entrusted the gospel to imperfect but willing people.
- He ascended into heaven and reigns with authority.
- He continued working through His followers.
Personal Reflection
- How does Jesus’ resurrection give me hope?
- What do the words “and Peter” teach me about grace after failure?
- Is there a truth from God’s Word that I have been slow to believe?
- With whom can I share the good news about Jesus?
- How will I continue living the message of Mark?
🌾 What We Learned About Following Jesus
Through Mark, we learned that following Jesus means repenting and believing the gospel; listening to His Word; trusting Him during storms; depending upon Him in prayer; serving rather than seeking recognition; denying ourselves; loving God wholeheartedly; loving our neighbours; remaining faithful during testing; and sharing the good news that Jesus is alive.
The disciples did not understand everything immediately. They experienced fear, confusion, pride, weakness, and failure. Yet Jesus patiently continued teaching them. Their journey gives us hope. We do not have to be perfect to follow Jesus, but we must remain willing to listen, learn, repent, and continue with Him.
✍️ Remembering Our Journey
Complete one or more statements—or share your own reflection:
- Through Mark, I learned that Jesus…
- The chapter that affected me most was…
- A truth I never want to forget is…
- One way God has changed me is…
- One way I understand others better is…
- Because Jesus is alive, I will…
📓 My Response to the Gospel of Mark
Use a notebook or journal to complete any or all of these statements:
- I now understand Jesus to be…
- The truth about Jesus that affected me most is…
- One chapter I want to study again is…
- One way Jesus is calling me to change is…
- One habit or attitude I need to surrender is…
- One person with whom I can share the good news is…
- As I continue following Jesus, I will…
- Or write your own response.
🙏 Our Response
As followers of Jesus, may we continue to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; love our neighbours as ourselves; support one another through difficult seasons; respond generously when God places a need before us; and tell others about the great things the Lord has done.
We studied Jesus the Servant—and He taught us to serve.
We studied His command to love—and He helped us care for one another.
We studied Jesus the Provider—and we experienced His provision.
We studied Jesus the Healer—and we witnessed His restoring compassion.
We studied the risen Lord—and He gave us hope to continue following Him.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing who You are through the Gospel of Mark.
As we read each chapter, open our eyes to see You clearly. Help us to receive Your Word, respond honestly, and obey faithfully.
Teach us to trust You, serve others, love God wholeheartedly, and love our neighbours as ourselves.
Keep us faithful as we continue following You. Help us share the good news that You are risen and reigning.
May You remain at the centre of our lives and everything we do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“He hath done all things well.”
—Mark 7:37
To Jesus Christ be all the glory!
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