Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62:5-12 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20
Jonah 3:1-5, 10 - Nineveh repents at Jonah’s preaching
Background Information
The Book of Jonah is very different from the other prophetic books because this is a story about one legendary prophet’s call, his reluctant response, and the repentance of a neighboring enemy nation. Review the first part of the story in Jonah1-2. Nineveh was the ancient capital of Assyria which destroyed Israel in 722 BC. The book was probably written in the 5th century post-exilic times when the returned exiles were tempted by narrow exclusive Jewish nationalism. The story calls Israel to repentance and reminds it of its mission to preach God’s mercy and forgiveness to all nations..
Questions
1. What are the main events and implications of the familiar story of Jonah and the whale (Jonah 1-2)?
2. Have you ever run away from something you knew you really ought to do? What happened?
3. How did Jonah respond when God called him a second time? How do you think he felt?
4. Read 3:1-10 including 6-9 omitted in today’s reading. How did Nineveh respond? What did God do?
5. Have you ever seen God change something which you thought totally impossible? Explain.
I Corinthians 7:29-31 - Advice about living in critical times
Background Information
Much of chapter 7 is concerned with answering the Corinthian Christians’ questions about marriage, celibacy, and related practical concerns in light of early Christian belief that the end of the present form or shape of the world was near. Indeed in 70 AD the Jewish temple was destroyed and the Roman Empire itself would end several centuries later. Paul wrote with a sense of urgency because he felt he lived in the “appointed time”, the kairos or critical moment when Christians should not let worldly matters like marriage, death, joys, possessions, distract them from doing God’s work. (See 7:32-35.)
Questions
1. If you felt that the end of your life, society or the world, was coming soon, what would be your highest priorities, and what would be unimportant? How can you “Live each day as if it were your last”?
2. What things distract you from drawing close to God? Are there things you should change?
Mark 1:14-20 - Repent and believe the good news
Background Information
Mark separates the ministry of John the Baptist (1:1-11) and the ministry of Jesus with a brief narrative of the temptation (1:12-13). Only after the arrest of John (1:14) does Jesus begin his ministry in earnest. The calling of these first four disciples introduces Mark’s story of the early Galilean ministry (1:14-3:6). Then an account of the calling of more disciples (3:13-19) introduces the rest of Mark’s story of Jesus’ ministry leading to the cross. The faith and doubts, questions and misunderstanding of the disciples is a recurrent theme in Mark’s narrative.
Questions
1. Why was the arrest of John such an important turning point for Jesus and his disciples?
2. It has been said that the whole of Mark’s Gospel (Good News) is an expansion of verse 1:15. Would you agree? What are the main points in that verse and what do they mean to you?
3. Jesus called these fishermen to follow and become fishers of people. What does this familiar image imply? In what ways is it a good image for modern evangelism, and what ways problematic?
4. These four disciples were apparently prosperous enough to have boats, nets and hired employees, yet Mark says they “immediately” left their assets and families and followed. Compare the sense of urgency, and willingness to leave everyday possessions in this story, and in 1 Corinthians 7:29-31.