1)
What have you been learning about yourself
as we studied Mark?
- I learned the preliminaries of finding rest in
God. I learned about needing to listen
to go where God wants. I learned some of
what it means to be a disciple. I
learned about what my community could like if it was the kingdom of God. I learned what the kingdom of God was for
me. I learned what it really means
to make Jesus bigger than my problems, and I finally learned [about] quiet
time. I finally understood about the
loaves.
- I have been learning to be able to ask to
understand things and contemplate them over time without being frustrated. Mark has helped me to be able to understand
the nature of being receptive of what God’s trying to teach me.
- I’ve learned a lot about myself that has been
sort of independent of Mark, but not independent of God. Mark has brought up some important questions
I have about God and my relationships to Him but I’ve ultimately realized that
my understanding of God at any given moment doesn’t change who God is. So I can have faith that even when I’m
sitting in tension or don’t quite understand an aspect of God or scripture, God
is still God. He is good and cares for me
just the same. So my love for Him
shouldn’t change just because I’m in tension with something.
2)
What have you been learning about studying
scripture?
- How to ask good questions, how to look for
clues, how to accept unexpected answers, how to let go of dead-ends, and how to
be good soil.
- I’ve been learning how to make connections
between sections of the text. Before I
always like it was a stretch to make multi-page connections but since Mark
wrote us a book with intention, it makes sense to make connections.
It’s so good!
I loved studying Mark manuscript-style.
As much as it frustrated me that [Donan] and Brandi wouldn’t reveal
understanding to us, I realized we’re just like the disciples in that way. Jesus didn’t give them direct answers
either. So, studying scripture is
similar to the disciples and live with encountering Jesus.
