Mark My Words

Facilitator Guide to the Reading Series on Mark This is called a narrative guide rather than a bible study guide because the goal is to engage young people in reading the gospel as they would a story, unfiltered by a predetermined set of learning objectives or themes. Having said that, it is also recommended that the facilitator be a mature Christian with a creedal understanding of the gospels as found in The Nicene Creed or The Apostles’ Creed; one who is able to begin each lesson by opening with prayer for wisdom, guidance and understanding. (See Appendix 5 – Short opening prayers based on scripture.) The role of the facilitator is to: • Help the group to develop an appreciation for reading the Gospel of Mark as a complete narrative account of Jesus’ life, rich with plot, setting, characters and conflict. For those who have attended Sunday School, they may think they are already familiar with the gospel stories and that there is nothing new to learn. I suspect they have not read the life of Jesus in the context of a complete gospel narrative. Try having them take the quiz in the appendix to test their knowledge of the sequence of events, the places where they take place and the extent of Jesus’ travels. (See Appendix 9 – Quiz on the life of Jesus (sequence and place.) • Affirm a creedal understanding of the Gospel of Mark based on The Nicene Creed or The Apostles’ Creed. If participants in your group are preparing for baptism or confirmation, another approach to take is to read the Gospel of Mark in conjunction with a study of the creeds. This may help to deepen their understanding of those creedal beliefs and how it came to be that Jesus’ decisions and life choices led to his becoming the Savior of the world. (See Appendix 2 – The Nicene Creed.) Bible Reading Tips and Strategies • Reading an entire book of the bible in context is a fundamental first step towards any serious bible study, one that even mature Christians might skip over. Reading the gospel as a complete narrative, will help readers to appreciate Jesus as a person, living in a specific time and place, and facing the most difficult life and death choices. Even those who believe they know the Gospel of Mark may benefit from reading it again to refresh and renew their understanding of Jesus and the radical actions he took to save the world. Reading Tips • Immerse Yourself: Approach the text like a good book, diving into the flow of events, characters and plot. • Read Between the Lines: Look for hints at hidden meanings, secrets and mysteries that are not revealed right away. • Identify Tension: Notice signs of tension or suspense that contribute to the climactic unfolding of events. • Read Critically: Engage with the text critically and questioningly to deepen your understanding of the meaning. • Reflect: Think about unusual events or words that seem puzzling, and ask yourself why it is significant and what it might mean. • Read Prayerfully: Be open to what the Holy Spirit wants to share with you as you read. • Be Amazed: Allow yourself to be amazed and to wonder, as if you were an eyewitness or hearing the story for the first time.