Eagles and Doves
We’ve just spent the past four weeks in the book of Ruth and throughout the series, we have made the parallels between Boaz and Jesus. Just as Boaz was the kinsman-redeemer for Ruth and Naomi and able to rescue their family from the outskirts of society, so Jesus is our hope for redemption in a world corrupted by sin. But what exactly does that mean? Who exactly is Jesus and what was his message? Gospel quite literally means “good news,” so what makes the life, death, and resurrection of Christ good news for not just us, but the entire world? Over the next six weeks, we’ll be diving into the Gospels seeking to understand our promised hope. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, whether you’ve been a Christian for most of your life, are brand new to discipleship, or are still exploring the call to discipleship, there is always something new to learn when we return to the core of our faith: the call to follow after Jesus Christ, our redeemer, and friend. This week we’ll be focusing on what differentiated Jesus and his message from that of the prevailing culture and ruling powers. Our time will be spent primarily in the Gospel of Mark as we aim to return to the basics, so to speak. My hope and prayer is that as we undergo a period of transition as a congregation that we can rally behind the good news we have in Jesus Christ and devote ourselves to faithfully following him as disciples and ambassadors for the kingdom of God.
Discussion Questions:
- Why do you think the Gospel of Mark begins with the introduction of John the Baptist? What is his role in the story of Christ?
- If Jesus is without sin, why was he baptized? What does this teach us about God?
- Is our own culture more like that of the kingdom of God or that of the Roman empire? Why?
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