First Baptist Church of Independence
" If you believe what the Bible teaches, attend a church that teaches the Bible!"
Service Schedule
Sunday School 10:00 am
Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 am
Sunday Prayer Meeting 5:30 pm
Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 pm
Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 pm
Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 am
Sunday Prayer Meeting 5:30 pm
Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 pm
Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 pm
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Here we see the introduction to the book of Mark. The books of Matthew and Luke
began with Jesus’ birth. The book of John goes back even further and begins with
Christ in eternity. But here in Mark the gospel starts with the ministry of John the
Baptist. He seems a strange character to begin a gospel with. He lives in the
wilderness, wears odd clothes, and eats locust and wild honey. But if you go back to
the book of Malachi you see that the Old Testament ends with the promise of his
coming. This was the forerunner and herald of the coming Messiah. It is fitting that
this gospel now begins with the fulfillment of that promise. Mark takes up right where
the Old Testament leaves off.
John is an often overlooked character. If we were to rate the ministry of the men of
the Bible surely he would not be greater than Moses, Elijah, or Daniel. But Jesus,
who looks upon the heart, states that John is truly the greatest of all the prophets
(Matthew 11:11). If Jesus placed such prominence upon the ministry of John and if it
is recorded in all four gospels, he is surely worth our study. Consider in this lesson
what role John played in the ministry of Jesus. What can we learn from his preaching
and his testimony?
Scripture Reading: Malachi 3:1, 4:5-6; Luke 1:5-17, 76-80; Luke 3:1-18; Matthew 3:1-
12; John 1:14-33, Matthew 11:1-14.
Study Questions:
1) What does the first verse of this book tell us about the gospel?
2) Why is it significant that John is referred to as “the voice”?
3) How did John prepare the way of the Lord?
4) What was the central theme of his preaching?
5) Why did John baptize?
6) What did John teach that Christ would do?
7) What are some characteristics of John we should seek after in our lives?
began with Jesus’ birth. The book of John goes back even further and begins with
Christ in eternity. But here in Mark the gospel starts with the ministry of John the
Baptist. He seems a strange character to begin a gospel with. He lives in the
wilderness, wears odd clothes, and eats locust and wild honey. But if you go back to
the book of Malachi you see that the Old Testament ends with the promise of his
coming. This was the forerunner and herald of the coming Messiah. It is fitting that
this gospel now begins with the fulfillment of that promise. Mark takes up right where
the Old Testament leaves off.
John is an often overlooked character. If we were to rate the ministry of the men of
the Bible surely he would not be greater than Moses, Elijah, or Daniel. But Jesus,
who looks upon the heart, states that John is truly the greatest of all the prophets
(Matthew 11:11). If Jesus placed such prominence upon the ministry of John and if it
is recorded in all four gospels, he is surely worth our study. Consider in this lesson
what role John played in the ministry of Jesus. What can we learn from his preaching
and his testimony?
Scripture Reading: Malachi 3:1, 4:5-6; Luke 1:5-17, 76-80; Luke 3:1-18; Matthew 3:1-
12; John 1:14-33, Matthew 11:1-14.
Study Questions:
1) What does the first verse of this book tell us about the gospel?
2) Why is it significant that John is referred to as “the voice”?
3) How did John prepare the way of the Lord?
4) What was the central theme of his preaching?
5) Why did John baptize?
6) What did John teach that Christ would do?
7) What are some characteristics of John we should seek after in our lives?
| Lesson 1 - The Ministry of John the Baptist - Mark 1:1-8 |
| by Paul D. Brown |
| A Study Guide to the Book of Mark |