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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to give special thanks and recognition to all the wonderful people in my life who worked through this Jesus Series course and exam in knowledge, practice, and prayer with me, including: Alida Viljoen, Chris Viljoen (Senior), Cheri Viljoen, Vincent Viljoen, Harry Osborne, Joey van Wyk, and Eugene van Wyk. Also, for my main mentors, Ps. Morné & Crystal du Plessis, my family and friends, and my entire spiritual family in the NLB congregation in Boksburg. Thanks also to God who continues to guide and motivate us through the Holy Spirit, and most of all, thanks to Jesus Christ our Savior who makes everything possible. My prayer is that you will live in prosperity, safety, and health forever. Amen!

REFERENCES, NOTES, AND INDICATIONS

1. This course consists of 18 lessons, 18 homework pieces, 18 home- & watch-together film suggestions, 16 listening lessons, 9 practical lessons, an assignment, 2 class tests, 3 pop quizzes, as well as a proper exam.

a. To get the most out of this course, follow the practical guidelines carefully.

b. Students are encouraged to chat together and actively collaborate.

c. Also prepare 3 students, to open, close, and share a Bible fact with the group.

2. If homework was not read, feel free to discuss the topics during listening lessons later.

3. At the end of each lesson, you can discuss/reflect in summary what we have learned.

4. REFERENCES at the bottom of each lesson answers 99% of student questions about that lesson.

5. The lines on some questions were difficult to fit, so a smaller handwriting would work better.

6. Sometimes an entire Bible verse is not written down. For example: Verses can be written like this: John 3:16. But also like this: v6. In this case, the chapter was mentioned earlier on that page, or in the title. These types of verse quotations are the same in the book of Mark's chapters.

7. Gray texts are further reading that can be used for reference.

8. Information highlighted in black is critically important.

9. The exam for this series is an open-book test, covering this entire textbook.

10. All the art photos and country maps in this series have been provided without copyright restrictions by Pixabay artists and Google Maps and are given special thanks and recognition.

11. GotQuestions.org, Joyce Meyer Ministries, and John Hagee Ministries among others were used to research and confirm much of the material in this series, and their 2016 copyright rules on the website gave full permission to use their information in this way.

12. Look at Google Maps for the best indications of contemporary geography on country maps.

13. Enjoy it!

C Viljoen

Note to the student!

This translated series has been proofread.

However, it’s not impossible for a minor grammar-error to have slipped through. If you find any meaning discrepancies, please let us know so we can fix it, using the contact info on the copyright page. Thank you so much for being awesome!

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

THE BOOKS OF JESUS, AND HIS PROPHECY OF OLD

Jesus is the Undefeated Champion! According to John 1:1 & Jeremiah 23:24 Jesus is the Word of God, and the Son of God, and the Great God himself. Jesus is everywhere. The whole Bible speaks of Him. The Old Testament ______________ the Savior. The ______________ describes Christ's life on earth. We must spread news about the gospel that Jesus left behind for us. The gospel is the summary of everything that Jesus is for us! Jesus himself commanded us to ______________ the news of the Gospel. So, what exactly is the gospel?

o What does the gospel mean? _________________________________________________________

o We need this good news after learning from Romans 3:23, 5:12 & 18, 6:23 & Matthew 25:46.

o The good news of Jesus is 1 Peter 2:24, Acts 4:12, 10:43, Romans 4:25, 6:23 & 10:13.

The Old Testament predicts him, the New Testament is a record of him, but the 4 gospel books tell the clearest story of Jesus' life on earth, while he was still on earth. The 4 gospels tell the whole Good News Gospel! The whole - Gospel - of Jesus. The gospels are: __________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

o __________ the doctor writes of Jesus' entire life and complete birth to the whole world.

o __________ begins with the bloodline of Jesus, and he writes to the Jews also about His whole life.

o __________ gospel is about what Jesus said, and about who Jesus was on earth.

o __________ tells us what Jesus did on earth, and he writes to a Roman group.

The word says we must first seek the kingdom of God, and then we will get all these things we are asking for. Matthew mentions the kingdom of heaven 32 times. And Nicodemus wanted to know precisely from Jesus how to go to Heaven. Interesting... The gospels describe our whole circle of life with Jesus. Life, and death, and resurrection from the dead. We have nothing to fear because of Love - 1 Peter 4:8. ☺

How was Jesus foretold in the Old Testament Bible?

o Birth (and birthplace) of Jesus: Isaiah 7:14, 9:5-6 & Micah 5:1-3.

o Jesus' ministry and death: Zechariah 9:9 & Psalm 22:16-18.

o The clearest prediction is Isaiah 53, but let's look at v3-7.

o The date of Jesus' death: Daniel 9, but in v24-27.

o Jesus' punishment in detail: Isaiah 50:6 & Zechariah 12:10.

The good news is summarized in ______________________________!

WHAT GOOD NEWS HAVE WE LEARNED?

OPEN: __________ | BIBLE FACT: __________ | CLOSE: __________

REFERENCES: Genesis 49:10, Isaiah 11:10, Jeremiah 23:5, Matthew 1:2 & 22-23, 2:14-15 & 23, 3:16-17, 11:13-14, 21:16, 22: 44, 26:67, 27:1-66, 28:6, Mark 11:7-11 & 24, 15:4-5 & 27-28, 16:19, Luke 1:1-80, 3:33-34, 4:18-19, 23:34-35, John 1:11, 3:3-5, 3:16, 7:5, 19:28-34, 20:25-27, Acts 3:20- 22, Romans 1:3, 5:6-8, 1

Corinthians 15:1-6 & 28, Colossians 4:14, & Hebrews 1:8-12, 5:5-6, & 7:14.

C Viljoen

HOMEWORK – TO READ

What is BC & AD?

o BC is “Before Christ” and AD is “Anno Domini”. It is Latin and it means “In the day of our Lord Jesus”. It does NOT stand for “After Death”. If 1 BC means “Before Christ” and 1 AD means “After Death”, then that means there are roughly 30 years (Jesus' entire life) that disappear in between.

Don't believe that lie.

o BC is before Christ was born, and AD is after Christ was born.

o AD is written in Latin because the words “In the day of our Lord Jesus” are too long to make an abbreviation with. It cannot be AC, because “After Christ” means “After Christ's lifetime”. We must know for sure that AD is talking about the birth of Jesus, the separation between old and new.

o BC/AD was designed to use the birth of Christ to separate the old era and the new era. Later someone found out that there was an error in the date summaries, and that Jesus was actually born in roughly 6-4 BC, not 1 AD. It's not important. It still means that Jesus is the separation between the old things, and the new things.

o Evolutionists and atheists have tried hard lately to replace BC and AD with BCE and CE, but they have not succeeded. It means “Before the Common Era” and “the Common Era”; so that Jesus can be taken out of the picture. It's even more evidence that Jesus' birth is true, and that many people are afraid of it and don't want to admit it.

What are the different “sevens” of Daniel 9:24-27?

o See the illustration at the end of this homework.

o This information is also available in further detail in the Revelation Series.

o Babylon took over Jerusalem in roughly 587 BC. The Persians then took over in 464 BC. They decided to rebuild Jerusalem in roughly 445 BC.

o Daniel gets a prediction here that says: From the time Jerusalem's rebuilding begins by the Persians, until when Messiah DIES for the atonement of our sins (7x7) + (62x7) or 483 years in total, and then comes the destroyer in the last 7 years and destroy Jerusalem again, and this gives them a total of (70x7) or 490 years.

o According to Daniel's prophecy, if we count the years from 445 BC to 483 years later at the DEATH

of Jesus, we see an age of +/-38 Jewish years at which Jesus died. Jesus was born in +/- 6 BC, so He was roughly 38 Jewish years old when He died according to this count. BUT REMEMBER: The Jews used a 360-day calendar, and we use a 365-day “Gregorian” calendar. So, from our point of view, Jesus was born (of course in +/- 6 BC), and then killed in roughly AD 33. So that's roughly 6 years less in our modern calendar since there is no 0 BC or AD 0. The end of BC 1 is the beginning of AD 1.

So, from 587 BC to AD 30 is more than 600 years. Jesus' death was predicted by Daniel almost 600

years BEFORE Jesus was born. Jesus → 6 BC-AD 33.

o Let's look at these (+/-) dates in an easy way, with our own modern calendar:

- 587 BC – Babylon takes over Jerusalem.

- 464 BC - Persians take Jerusalem from Babylon.

- 445 BC – The Persian decision to rebuild Jerusalem.

▪ 483 Jewish years later Jesus will die according to Daniel's prophecy.

- 6 BC – Jesus is born (0-Years old).

- 4 BC – King Herod has all children 0-2 years killed (Matthew 2:16 & 19-20).

- AD 28 – Jesus was +/-33 when he began the gospel (Luke 3:23), starting just after John.

- AD 28-33 – The Bible records 4 Easter festivals that Jesus attends here.

- AD 33 – Jesus crucified. (38-Years old, on Friday 3 April AD 33).

- AD 70 – Jewish temple destroyed by Romans led by Titus, only the Wailing Wall remains.

- AD 2024 – We live here today.☺

- Unknown day - We await the rapture; the last 7 years of Daniel's prophecy (483+7=490

Years or 70x7) in which Lucifer stands with the tribulation in the temple; and the second coming of Jesus happens!

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

o Notice with the timeline above, that Jesus died in AD 33, but according to the prophecy, Jesus was to die in AD 38. Why did he die 5 years earlier? Because we must remember that Jesus was actually born in +/- 6 BC, not in AD 1, after the calendar error was noticed. The prediction was perfect, if we look at Jesus who should have been born in the end of 1 BC, and He was the beginning of AD 1, then that would mean the dates are perfect according to prophecy. The calendar error exists because the Jews follow a 360-day calendar, but we follow the 365-day Gregorian calendar.

o Jesus' 3 (maybe 4) Easter feasts: John 2:13 & 23, 6:4, 11:55 & 12:1 & possibly Matthew 12.

o Also note in Daniel's prophecy the 7x7 years of the Babylonian captivity by the Babylonians (released by the Persians) are explained, plus the 62x7 years in which the temple is rebuilt in a time of trouble and also in which Jesus dies at the end of it, it's now 69x7=483 years, and then there is only a little pause before the last “week” comes, the 70th week. We have moved all the way to 69x7 and now there is first talk of the destruction of the temple, and then we wait “until the end”

in verse 26, AND THEN ONLY HAPPENS THE LAST “WEEK”, or the last 7 year, the 70th year in verse 27. IT'S THE 7-YEAR TRIBULATION! In Daniel, our entire lives are summed up in a comparison of 490

years. That's why the “mind” is needed in verse 25.

o In the end it is important to remember that God is a mystery, and the Word inspired let it be written in parts and mysteries (Isaiah 28:10 & Psalm 78:2-4), so that we can admire it and it investigation. It activates us! It stirs us to search! God has not shared the whole story with us either.

God doesn't want us to know everything. There are many things we can guess, such as dates of Jesus' birth and death, but we will know for sure one day when we can ask Him ourselves, because Jesus' dates are simply not in the Bible. NOT BY ACCIDENT! It was made that way because slaves and workers' birth and death dates were not important to remember in His lifetime. He was born in a manger, in a barn surrounded by animals (Luke 2:12). He was born to look like a humble one, like one of US! How do you explain that others' birth and death and age appear exactly in the Bible, but Jesus' birth has no date, and around 30 years later his age is also only given as “around 30”, and not a specific age? It is no accident that God does not want us to know Jesus' dates now. Jesus' birth was explained in such vivid detail, and then the dates are gone. How could it be by accident? He was already foretold from the Old Testament… The wise men were then sent to travel to Jesus with the help of the shining star... In fact, the stars are a calendar for them... And there we lose Jesus'

dates? We have nothing to worry about, because if His dates could save us, we would know it by now. He was born lowly, but He will return one day with great honor and glory.

o There are many more predictions of Jesus in the Old Testament, and we find out that the New Testament tells exactly this story in the same way. Here are most of the Old Testament predictions:

- Isaiah 7:14, 11:1-4, 50:6, 53:1-12, & 61:1-2 → Jesus will be born of a virgin, His name will be Immanuel, He will be rejected, He was sent to heal grief, He will be silent before the people who accuse Him, He will be spit on and He will be beaten , and He will hang other sinners together. He will be buried with rich people, and His life is a sin offering.

- Genesis 17:19, & 49:10 → Predict that Jesus comes from Isaac's bloodline, and that He will come from the tribe of Judah in Israel.

- Many other Bible verses make predictions about Jesus, about His throne, where He would spend time on earth, what His work on earth would be, what people would think of Him, how they made Him drink vinegar, and so much more, in these verses: Numbers 24:17, Deuteronomy 18:15, 2 Samuel 7:12-13, Psalm 2:6, 8:2-3, 22:1-32, 45:6-7, 69:21-22, 110:1 -

4, Daniel 2:44, Hosea 11:1, Malachi 4:5-6, & Zechariah 12:10.

C Viljoen

ILLUSTRATION OF THE 70 SEVENS

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

WATCH MOVIES

WATCH FOR HOMEWORK

John Hagee's lesson on The Enemy at the Gate.

WATCH TOGETHER

Bible Story Animation King David.

C Viljoen

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

THE BIRTH OF JESUS & HIS BLOOD LINE

Where did Jesus come from? Where does His life begin? Matthew & Luke tells the story of Jesus' birth in vivid detail. First it starts with the bloodline of Jesus, and then John the Baptist comes to go before Jesus, and then Jesus himself comes! Did He have any brothers or sisters? Who were His parents? Where was Jesus born?

My mother Alida enjoys Mary of Bethany very much!

The Bloodline of baby Jesus is the opening of Matthew:

o Matthew 1:1-17 (v16-17)- From Abraham to David, and then all the way through the Babylonian exile to __________, the betrothed husband of the virgin __________ from which Jesus was born __________ generations ago. It is important to know that Jesus is a descendant of David, because according to the prophecy in Genesis 49:9-10 and the fulfillment of the prophecy in Revelation 5:5, Jesus is the _______________, who will have the scepter forever, and who will forever _________!

Mary and Joseph receive the news of baby Jesus who is on the way in the beginning of Matthew and Luke: o Luke 1:26-56 & Matthew 1:18-25 – Angel __________ appeared to Mary in her __________ and brought the news of baby Jesus. The Holy Spirit made her pregnant because Mary was another __________. God is Jesus' “biological” father, not Joseph. Joseph wanted to __________ from Mary when he found out she was pregnant without it being his child, and then an angel appeared to him in a __________ and explained it to him. This was prophesied by Isaiah 7:14! Jesus' purpose in Titus 3:3-7 is to redeem us from _______. His name is Jesus, or Immanuel, and it means _____________.

Baby Jesus' birth story happens in detail here, and we see how He escaped death: o Luke 2:1-52 & Matthew 2:1-23 – In these days, everyone had to get __________ for the first time throughout the world. Joseph went to Bethlehem in Judea, the city of David, because he came from the line of David and wrote himself there with Mary. According to Micah 5:1-2, baby Jesus was born there in __________. He was then wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid down in a __________, because they could find no other place. In the same country there was __________ tending their sheep in a field at night. An angel appeared to them with a great multitude in heaven praising God, and the angel told the shepherds the story of the Christ’s __________. Then they immediately traveled to Bethlehem and saw the Child, and immediately spread the news everywhere. The shepherds were __________ men of the East, and they followed the __________________ of Jesus.

They paid homage to the Child, and gave Him ______, ______, and _____. After the wise men have left, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream and tells him to flee with Mary and the Child to _______

because _______ wants to find and kill the baby (Hosea 11:1). Herod had all the boys 0-2 years old killed at Bethlehem to try to wipe out Jesus (Jeremiah 31:15). Then Herod died and an angel sent them back to Galilee in Nazareth, so that Jesus could be called a ________ as the prophets foretold.

The Old Testament does not say who prophesied it, so only Matthew describes it once here.

OPEN: __________ | BIBLE FACT: __________ | CLOSE: __________

WHAT GOOD NEWS HAVE WE LEARNED?

REFERENCES: Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1, John 1:14, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 2 Corinthians 1:13-18, Galatians 4:4-5, 1

Timothy 1:15-17, 1 John 5 :11, & Revelation 5:5 & 12:1-5.

C Viljoen

HOMEWORK – TO READ

The birth of John:

o Luke 1:5-25 & 57-80 - The birth of John occurs in the days of King Herod of Judea. His parents are the priest Zechariah and Aaron's daughter, Elisabet. Both were old and Elizabeth was barren, but they begged God for a child. Angel Gabriel appears to Zachariah in the temple and tells him that his prayer has been answered, and that he should name the child John. Zechariah is John's father. The son will bring joy to the earth (1 Corinthians 1:14-17). He will not use alcohol, and he comes to convert Israel, with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will have the Holy Spirit from birth. Zechariah did not believe it, and then Gabriel silenced Zechariah until John was born because he doubted.

Elisabet then became pregnant and hid for 5 months. In the 6th month, Mary the mother of Jesus went to visit her for 3 months, and then went home again. Elizabeth then gave birth to the boy, and on the 8th day they came to circumcise him, and his parents then named him John. Immediately after this, Sagaría was able to speak again. He praised God and prophesied that John would go before Jesus to correct His woes by preaching the forgiveness of sins. And he grew.

Jesus' brothers and sisters:

o Mark 6:3 & Matthew 13:55-56 speaks of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon who were Jesus' brothers, the sons of Mary, and the verses also speak of sisters that Jesus had. Of course, it is close brothers and sisters because Jesus was born from God himself. No one knows if this Judas is also Judas Iscariot. We'll find out one day in heaven. The Bible says that Judas Iscariot is the brother of James, and one of the Jameses is the brother of Jesus. Joseph, Jesus' father, had NO previous wife before Mary. No such Bible evidence exists. It is a lie that the Catholics made up to be able to “prove” that Mary was not always a virgin, before and after Jesus' birth. It is NOT like that in the Bible. It is entirely possible that all these brothers of Jesus are his real stepbrothers, and that Judas is not mentioned in the book of Jude as the “brother of Jesus” but rather the “brother of James”, because Judas may not have been seen as Jesus' brother in a spiritual family, because he betrayed Jesus.

This is also just speculation, and we don't know at all. The Bible doesn't tell us, but it's much closer to the truth, because the Bible says that Joseph and Mary definitely came together after the birth of Jesus, so the Catholics definitely lie.

The various “Marias” in the Bible, one of which is Jesus' mother: o Mary was a very common name in that era, and the Bible mentions many Marys, such as Mary the mother of Jesus, and her sister Mary, and Mary Magdalene who were all three at Jesus' cross in John 19:25, Matthew 13: 55, & Mark 6:3.

o In John 20:1, Matthew 28:1, & Luke 24:10 (& Luke 23:55) we also hear of different Marys at the tomb of Jesus.

o There may also be other Marys among the “women” in Luke 23:49.

o There are possible Marys in Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, Luke 24:10, Acts 12:12-16, & Romans 16:6.

o Mary Magdalene had the 7 demons in her in Luke 8:2.

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

o Mary of Bethany, sister of Magda & Lazarus sat at Jesus' feet and listened to Him and poured expensive ointment in an alabaster jar over Jesus' head and feet in Luke 10:38-42, Matthew 26:6-13, John 12:1-11, & Mark 14:1-9. She is one of the most beautiful Marys in the Bible, one of those who have great love in her heart for Jesus, because we see her 3 times in the Bible and all three times with Jesus. First at Jesus' feet, listening (Luke 10:38-42), then with the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead, Mary went to Jesus to find comfort (John 11), and the third time is just before Jesus'

crucifixion, when she poured the expensive ointment over Jesus' head (Matthew 26:1-6, Mark 14:3-9, & John 12:1-8). The disciples were wondering who was going to be the greatest in heaven, while Mary of Bethany realized that Jesus was going to die, be crucified, and rise from the dead for her sins... When Martha blamed Mary for just sitting still at Jesus' feet, she did not defend herself either. She had a real passion and faith and love for Jesus, and that was all she was interested in.

Other important points to remember:

o Luke 1:26-56 & Matthew 1:18-25 - Mary was pregnant with Jesus on the 6th month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, mother of John. Mary went to visit Elizabeth in Judah, and the child in Elizabeth's womb jumped for joy when Mary arrived, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Maria stayed there for 3 months and then went back home. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but He came from Nazareth in Galilee, and that is in Israel, and He only received the Holy Spirit after baptism. John was full of the Holy Spirit from birth. Jesus was born after John.

o Luke 2:1-52 & Matthew 2:1-23- The star of Bethlehem remained stationary above the place where the Child would be born, and even until after He was born. King Herod heard about Jesus and all Jerusalem was troubled. Herod then called the wise men as they traveled and questioned them, and told them to go and find Jesus, and then let Him know so that he too could come and pay homage to the Child. God told the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod, and so they set off another way back. The Baby Jesus was circumcised on the 8th day and named Jesus. They then took him to Jerusalem and presented him to God at the temple. Joseph and Mary were amazed at Simeon and Anna and the other people who spoke so well of Jesus. They then went back to their city of Nazareth in Galilee, and Jesus grew up there. Every year they went to Jerusalem for the Passover, and when the Child Jesus was 12 years old, he stayed behind in Jerusalem after the festival, without his parents knowing. Then they went looking for Him for 3 days and found Him in the temple in Jerusalem. He listened to the teachers and asked them out. Everyone was amazed at His intelligence. When His parents found Him, they quarreled with Him. Then He answered His parents and said that He must be in the things of His Father. Then He went back with them to Nazareth. He was submissive to His parents and Mary kept and admired everything in her heart.

And Jesus grew up.

Bloodlines:

o It's important because ALL scriptures are important - 2 Timothy 3:16. This shows us that: o God sees the individual, not the group.

o The Bible dates match our history.

o There were gentiles (ordinary people like us) in Jesus' bloodline - Ruth 4:21-22 & Matthew 1:5. Look specifically at Ruth and Rahab.

o It shows specific sinners' lives before yours.

C Viljoen

The wise men:

o Matthew 2:1 – Could this mean that there may have been more than just 3 wise men?

o Matthew 2:11 – They were not at a field, but rather in a house, so their journey took a long time.

Coming from the far East, most likely means Persia, and it is 1400km or 30 days on foot, to Bethlehem!

Interesting fact:

o Balaam led everyone in Israel into sin, as we see in Numbers 25 and Deuteronomy 23.

o Balaam's donkey speaks in Numbers 22:28.

o Jesus warns us against false paths for reward in Revelation 2:14, 2 Peter 2:15 & Jude 1:11.

John's purpose:

o He had to baptize Jesus and wake everyone up - Malachi 3:1, 4:5-6 & Matthew 25:40-45!

o Jesus is our example - Matthew 3:13, John 13:15, 1 Corinthians 11:1 & 1 Peter 2:21-23.

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

WATCH MOVIES

WATCH FOR HOMEWORK

None.

WATCH TOGETHER

Vintage movie Jesus of Nazareth 1977.

C Viljoen

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

MARK 1 – THE GOSPEL BEGINS

What did Jesus do while He was on earth? We are now going to start with the gospel according to Mark. He was one of Jesus' disciples who tells the whole gospel in a short powerful way. For more color after each lesson, the other gospels can be read together. Mark tells us about Jesus' actions. Like what Jesus did.

Read Mark 1.

In the first chapter we hear 6 different stories from Jesus. We see Jesus' baptism, His first disciples, & we see how Jesus healed many people from diseases & evil spirits. Let's see how quickly His gospel caught fire.

John comes to prepare the way (v1-8):

o Our homework teaches us that John was sent to prepare Jesus' way... To let everyone know that ____________________ is on its way! Everyone should expect Him! Mark 1:3, Matthew 3:3, Luke 3:3-4, Isaiah 40:3. In Malachi 3:1 Jesus is called an _____________. It's important in Revelation 10.

Jesus' baptism & temptation (v9-13):

o John was __________ with the Holy Spirit and had to baptize Jesus to also receive the Holy Spirit.

Jesus could have had the Spirit immediately, but it was specifically planned that way. We could not join Jesus in His watery grave if He did not also _____________ there. Jesus was the ____________

spotless sin offering of Exodus 12:5, and according to Ephesians 5:27 & 1 Peter 1:19 baptism symbolizes the _______-sacrifice. It’s the ________ of sin, and the _______ into God's family. Jesus died for our sins (Had Himself ________)! According to Philippians 2:7-8, it was specifically planned so that Jesus could __________ with sinners, because Jesus was also like an insignificant, dateless slave born in a manger, although He was always spotless. John 1:29-33 & Matthew 3:11-15.

o How does Jesus baptize with the Spirit and with Fire? Well one has already happened (John 14:26), and one is yet to come (1 Corinthians 3:13 & John 5:21-23)!

o Jesus immediately left to ____________________ in the desert, to be strong against the attacks of Satan. To cast out evil spirits. To heal the sick. It's a message on its own - Matthew 17:21!

Jesus calls His first disciples (v14-20):

o Note that everyone immediately ____________________ what they were doing and followed Jesus

- Hebrews 9:28.

Jesus heals a possessed person (v21-28):

o Jesus did not have an interview with the demons. He drove them out with ____________________, WITHOUT their having spoken one word. We will learn more in Mark 5 later.

(Simon) Peter's mother-in-law and other people are healed (v29-39): o Jesus always moves, & He __________ whom He can help. Luke 19:10, Isaiah 30:18, Psalm 46:2-3.

A leprous man is healed and spreads the good news (v40-45): o We must focus on Jesus’ ____________________, NOT the miracles. That's why Jesus wanted the man to go immediately to the priest and make a cleansing offering John 20:29.

OPEN: __________ | BIBLE FACT: __________ | CLOSE: __________

WHAT GOOD NEWS HAVE WE LEARNED?

REFERENCES: Matthew 3:7-12 & 16-17, Luke 3:7-17, John 1:29-34, 4:2, 16:8, Acts 2:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, 2 Thessalonians 1: 3-10, & Revelation 20:11-15.

C Viljoen

HOMEWORK – TO READ

Peter's name changed:

o It was first Simon, which means “God heard”, and then it became Céfas, which translates to Peter, a

“rock”. Jesus told Peter in John 1:43 & Matthew 16:18 that Jesus will build His church on this rock.

Names played a very important role in the Bible, and when God or Jesus changed someone's name, it means that he changed the person's future, for example: Abram the “exalted father’s name changed to Abraham, the “father of many nations”, and his wife Sarai “my princess’s name changed to Sarah “mother of the nations” - Genesis 17:5 & 15. Why did Jesus just now mention that He wants Peter as the foundation for His church use? Is it perhaps because Peter was a broken sinner?

Someone who was in pieces before Jesus came? Are we the foundation of Jesus' church? Peter calls us very small living stones in 1 Peter 2:5-7. It is terribly important to know that Jesus is the foundation or the CORNERSTONE (chief cornerstone), as well as the top point of the church. Peter was the first one to preach the gospel on the day Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 2:14-47 & 10:1-48), so Peter was, so to speak, the “foundation” of the church, but HE STANDS ON JESUS, THE ROCK

– Acts 4:11-12, 1 Corinthians 3:11, & Ephesians 5:23! We are little pebbles in His body. Jesus is the rock - Daniel 2:34 & 45! We are loaded on top of Jesus, and Peter is the first one. Just for interest: Notice how absolutely terrible and amazing this verse in Daniel really is. Do you know what it means when the rock is going to wipe out all the different metals on the image? God predicts here that in the end of days he will erase our history! Wow!

Names of the 12 disciples:

o Jesus called His 12 disciples, and their names are listed in Matthew 10:2-4. These 12 disciples are the 12 apostles of Jesus, in the New Testament. The 12 apostles of the Old Testament (the 12

children of Jacob who ruled over Israel) can be found in Genesis 49. These 24 together form the 24

elders in Revelation. The job of an apostle is to be a hard-working supporter of Jesus' mission. They are disciples who follow Jesus and do His work.

Extra notes on the lesson:

o Star of Bethlehem: Unfortunately, we do not know where this star is today, and because it is moving it is possible that it is too far away to see, but maybe one day it will make a return visit.

o Have you ever wondered: When we read about Jesus, Moses, David, Angel Michael, Angel of God, etc. then they sound very similar! WOW!

o John 4:1-2 - Jesus did not baptize anyone until after His ascension!

o Isaiah 6:8 - God speaks to Isaiah.

o Mark 1:9-13 - Notice Jesus was DRIVEN to the wilderness.

o Revelation 5 - Jesus' coming baptism of fire is sealed on the way in the book with 7 seals.

o Mark 1:14-20 & Luke 3 - At the time Jesus called His first disciples, John the Baptist was in prison, and Apostle John (the disciple whom Jesus loved) was appointed.

o Matthew 8:29 and Acts 16 teach us to wait for God, and to fast and pray before we free possessed people.

o Mark 1:35 - Jesus prays A LOT!

o Compare Mark 1:40-45 & 1 Thessalonians 4:14 - Believe in the resurrection! Share testimonies!

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

LISTENING LESSON & CONVERSATION ON MARK 1

After each lesson from Mark, we need to listen to his friends' point of view to see the full picture. For example, where Mark may tell a short story about Jesus' baptism, you can hear much more detail in Matthew and Mark, because John does not talk about this at all. Then also there are stories that John tells which Mark does not tell at all, and we also need to listen to them to be able to bridge from one lesson to another in Mark. This table lists all the chapters that correspond to Mark (these are cross-references), and all the chapters which Mark does not have at all, but which the other gospels do tell (these are bridge chapters). Listen to the sections that are marked. REMEMBER: Listen and read together in your Bible, then we discuss how we each feel about it.

JESUS SAYS

MATTHEW MARK

LUKE

JOHN

1-2

BIRTH AND

3-4 & 8

3-5

PREPARATION

9 & 12

5-6

6 & 8

5-8 & 11

8 & 13

8-9

10 & 13-14

MESSAGE AND

MINISTRY

15-16

18-19

10-17

7-11

19-20

21-23

20-21

12-13 & 18

14-17

DEATH AND

22-23

18-19

RESURRECTION

WHAT GOOD NEWS HAVE WE LEARNED?

OPEN: __________ | BIBLE FACT: __________ | CLOSE: __________

C Viljoen

WATCH MOVIES

WATCH FOR HOMEWORK

None.

WATCH TOGETHER

The Gospel of John 2003.

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

MARK 2 – HEALING AND THE RIGHT WAY TO FAST

How do you know you're fasting correctly? Why doesn't it always work when we pray for healing? Were there still disciples who

followed Jesus after Mark 1? Did Jesus ever heal people on the Sabbath? How much did Jesus move around? Mark 2 may help us

answer some of these questions.

Read Mark 2.

In chapter 2 we see the paralyzed man, we learn how to fast, and we hear what Jesus thinks about the Sabbath day. Let's learn what He taught His disciples to become free and strong!

The paralyzed man AND THE WORD (v1-12):

o What Word? ______________________________ – look at v25 and 1 Samuel 21.

o Jesus learned the books of Samuel and the Chronicles to develop this spirit (1 Samuel 21 & 1

Chronicles 24)!

o There is much to learn from the paralyzed man.

- Jesus knew the man had sin. So, nothing is hidden from God -Luke 8:17.

- When his sins were forgiven, he was healed! – Ezekiel 4:17, Psalm 38:3-4, & 107:17.

- There is so much more: Jesus forgives our sins (v10), we must ASPRIS be the salt of the earth (v10 & Matthew 5:13), the miracles happen ONLY where it magnifies God and where it saves sinners (v12).

Levi is called with the shortest sermon in the world (v13-17): o Matthew 9:9-13. We shouldn't break down _________________ and drags broken pieces into the church and say: “Look what I picked up outside!”. We must help _________________ convert and lead THEM to church! We ONLY tell them about the love of Jesus. God will take care of the rest.

o Focus very hard on v17!

To fast (v18-22):

o Why should we fast?

- 2 Chronicles 20:2-3, 1 Corinthians 7:5, Acts 13:2-5, Psalm 35:13, & Mark 9:29.

o When do you fast?

- Luke 4:2-4, Daniel 9:3-5, Joel 2:12-13, 2 Samuel 12:15-25 & Jonah 3:5-9.

o Just food, or water too?

- Esther 4:16, Acts 9:9, Deuteronomy 9:9, Daniel 10:2-3, & Luke 4:2.

o Can I fast something other than food or water? Exodus 19:15-18 & 1 Corinthians 7:5.

o For how long? Can we decide for ourselves? Esther 4:16

o Are we going to have to fast in heaven? Look at v19.

o How should we fast? Read carefully: Isaiah 58:3-8 & Matthew 6:16-18.

OPEN: __________ | BIBLE FACT: __________ | CLOSE: __________

WHAT GOOD NEWS HAVE WE LEARNED?

REFERENCES: Exodus 31:17, 1 Samuel 7:7, 2 Samuel 1:12, 1 Kings 21:9 & 25-27, Ezra 8:21, Jeremiah 14:11-15, Daniel 1, Hosea 7:1, Micah 6: 13, Luke 4:16, 5:27-32, 8:11-14, John 9:2, Hebrews 4:13, Romans 6:4, Galatians 6:15 & Colossians 2:16-17 & 3:10.

C Viljoen

HOMEWORK – TO READ

Fasting notes:

o Nowhere in the Bible are we obliged to fast Isaiah 58:6-7. Only in the old Jewish covenant did God give a command for a 1-day fast, for forgiveness on the burnt-offering day in Leviticus 23:27-32. In the Old Testament, fasting was a law, now it is your choice how big and strong you want your faith to become.

o We have been set free from the old testament's statutes by Jesus' new covenant, and nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus expect us to fast, but we can do it if we want to and can.

o God prefers that we fast as far as possible, otherwise Jesus would not have explained to us how we should fast. Jesus also said that we should not try to cast out demons without first praying and fasting, in Mark 9:29.

o If you have any medical condition such as diabetes, or any other condition that requires you to eat regularly, you can work around it and work out a fasting plan that will suit you as you learned earlier. It is also important to perhaps ask a doctor if you can fast if your condition is serious.

o Also remember that fasting will not change God's will, and the fasting is there to make your faith and strength strong enough to carry out God's will; NOT to make God answer your prayers. Here, like Daniel, we can only hope for the best, as with any of our other prayers.

o We must fast for the right reasons... Zechariah 7:4-7. Not for ourselves, but for God's sake!

o With the verses we read in the lesson, we learn that fasting usually happened on sackcloth and ashes. This means the people also fasted their soft warm bed, and clothes, and sometimes their houses too, by spending it outside. Fasting is a voluntary thing that people do to torment their bodies, as well as to remove the desires of their bodies and not to satisfy the body, so that faith in God can be strengthened. We fast when we seek God's face, and when we need Him for great help.

o Fasting reminds us that we are dependent on God.

o Notice that Jesus was tempted by Satan for 40 days. He was not only requested 3 times! He was tempted day and night for 40 days. Jesus did not eat anything in all these days. After the 40 days were over and Jesus was already terribly hungry, THEN we are told about the last 3 temptations against Jesus, in Mark 4:2-4. The Bible teaches us to resist the devil in James 4:7, and THEN he will flee. Jesus resisted him for a long time before he fled. We must NOT think it is an easy battle (Ephesians 6:10-18). But it will be worth it in the end.

o The battle then works like this (James 4:7 & Mark 4:2-4):

- First, we must submit ourselves to God (through prayer and FASTING)

- And then we must resist the devil (by knowing and speaking and performing the Word)

- And only then will Satan flee.

o Mark 2:21-22 speak of the old ordinances which cannot be mixed with the new gospel. We no longer have to observe the fast of the Jews like a law. We have a new covenant. The new wine (faith) is poured into new wineskins (new Christians) - 2 Corinthians 5:17.

The day of rest (v23-28):

o The point of the rest day is to worship God. Not just to rest. If you're hungry, you can bake bread, you can pick fruit, you can practice building your temple in the gym. The point is to glorify God, and rest from your bread-and-butter work, from your routine! It's God's holiday. He commands us to do what we ENJOY, to worship God, and not to do business. – Isaiah 58:13-14 & 1 Samuel 21.

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

Extra notes:

o Mark 2:2 & 25 → What word did Jesus preach to the people in His time? The Old Testament, specifically what David did in 1 Samuel 21, because the New Testament did not exist yet. He preached the original word in the same way, but with the difference that he set us free from the old statutes and showed us that it is possible to obey the law of God. The old AND new testaments are both important, and in full action unto salvation forever!

o Matthew 5:13 → Teach us to be the salt of the earth. Salt irritates a wound, but it heals it. Salt also flavors food and makes it pleasant! We must enlighten people regarding their sins, as John the Baptist did, but with gentleness and the covering of love.

o Mark 2:17 → Here we learn to go find LOST souls and lead them to Jesus... NOT Christians! Stop preaching to the choir and start saving the lost.

o The disciples did not fast while Jesus was with them on earth... Why? Because they cannot fast while Jesus gives a feast of Spiritual bread (the Word).

o We can fast for many reasons, among others: When we fear, to give glory to God, for the Work of God, for forgiveness, repentance, and healing, for punishment, in times of temptation, for the favor of God on our life, and so much more. Look at the main verses of the Mark 2 lesson. However, it is important to remember that we do not mix the old covenant's rules regarding fasting with the new.

We fast today because we want to... Not because it is law.

o Isaiah preached salvation during fasting like Jesus, in Isaiah 58:3-8. If you want to see great miracles now, follow this winning recipe from Isaiah and Jesus!

o You can choose what you want to fast. Food, water, both, your TV/mobile phone, specific foods...

C Viljoen

LISTENING LESSON & CONVERSATION ON MARK 2

JESUS SAYS

MATTHEW MARK

LUKE

JOHN

1-2

BIRTH AND

3-4 & 8

3-5

PREPARATION

9 & 12

5-6

6 & 8

5-8 & 11

8 & 13

8-9

10 & 13-14

MESSAGE AND

MINISTRY

15-16

18-19

10-17

7-11

19-20

21-23

20-21

12-13 & 18

14-17

DEATH AND

22-23

18-19

RESURRECTION

WHAT GOOD NEWS HAVE WE LEARNED?

OPEN: __________ | BIBLE FACT: __________ | CLOSE: __________

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

WATCH MOVIES

WATCH FOR HOMEWORK

John Hagee - The Power of the Blood.

WATCH TOGETHER

None.

C Viljoen

PRACTICAL LESSON TO MARK 2

A FASTING DAY

We have now learned all about fasting. Jesus started a 40-day fast immediately after His baptism because He knew that the devil comes to tempt people who belong to God. It is important that we fast regularly in all the different ways, so that we can stand strong with the help of the Holy Spirit against the evil forces in the air, and so that we fulfill God's Will with His help. We must learn to fast so we can know how to grow in faith. For this practical lesson we are going to practice one easy fast day from the examples we learned in Mark 2.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. DATE: The fasting start date is: ________________________________

2. TIME: It's a 1-day fast, which will last 6am-6pm, sunup to sundown.

3. TO DRINK: Lots of water or plain tea without sugar or milk.

4. TO EAT: No food. If you start at 6 o'clock, your last meal should be at 5 o'clock. Lee magic!

5. ANOINT YOURSELF with olive oil or salve oil and wash your face when you start.

6. THE POINT OF THE FAST: To be hungry, to rely on God to keep us alive during the hunger. To remember that we could be without food, but that God provides. To learn about people out there without food/clothes/homes/beds/family/friends. That God can feed our souls from the Bible. So that we always remember to pray when we feel hungry.

7. WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO DURING THE FAST:

a. Deep, intimate, supplication & prayer before God DURING the whole day, work included.

b. Help each other pray on a WhatsApp group, kneel on a pillow for your knees.

c. Always be positive and don't let anyone outside our group know you're stuck!

d. Pray, beg God on your knees, dance, sing, cry, listen to Christian music, raise your hands, recite verses out loud (search on Google), rebuke evil, talk privately with your Maker.

e. PRAY IN EXTREME DETAIL FOR: Health, prosperity, happiness, protection, deliverance from evil, forgiveness, help from God, private problems, family members, friends, yourself, etc.

f. SPEAK VERSES ABOUT YOUR PRAYERS: John 3, Psalm 41, 45, Isaiah 41, Ephesians 1-6, 1

Peter 3, 1 John 3, Ecclesiastes, 1 Timothy 6, 2 Timothy 3, 1 Corinthians 13, Proverbs 14-15, Mark 16, 1 Chronicles 4, Philippians 4, James, Matthew 5, etc.

g. REMEMBER: I pray in the Name of God the Father (THAT I AM, THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN

AND EARTH), the Name of God the Son (JESUS CHRIST THE NAZARENER, WHO OVERCOMED

DEATH ON MY BEHALF WITH HIS BLOOD), the Name of God the Holy Spirit (THE WORD OF

GOD, THE SHARPEST TWO-EDGED SWORD).

h. Plead the Blood of Jesus over everything you pray & ask that the Holy Spirit anoint you & your situation with spiritual anointing oil. Ask for wisdom, & protection from strong angels.

8. BREAK THE FAST: Preferably with fruit juice or yogurt 1 hour before your meal. Do NOT eat an overly large meal and avoid oily/fatty/acidic foods. Drink water with your first meal.

9. OTHER THINGS TO REMEMBER: During the fasting day, you may feel down or irritated. Do not make important decisions on this day. Take it easy. STOP if the fasting becomes too much for your health. It comes first, even to God. Also remember you don't have to stop praying at 6 o'clock when the fast ends. If you could not pray at work, you can watch and pray after the fast as well.

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

MARK 3 – JESUS' FAMILY AND THE BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT

Is it a sin to do God's work on the day of rest? Did Jesus preach alone or did his disciples simply start spreading the good news with him early on? What will happen if we ever blaspheme against God? What does it mean to slander? Should we be afraid if we spread God's Word today, for the consequences from the unbelievers?

Read Mark 3.

In chapter 3 Jesus heals a man with a crippled hand; He calls 12 disciples (apostles) to work with Him and spread the Word... He explains the punishment of blasphemy and teaches us an important lesson about family. Jesus performs many miracles. Let's find out what was on Jesus' heart.

The man with the crippled hand (v1-12):

o Jesus teaches us plainly and clearly that the work of God _______________ on the Sabbath (v4-5).

o The churches of Jesus' days _______ Him, as many churches do against each other today (v2 & 6).

Jesus calls 12 apostles (v13-19):

o God gives us specific works! We must __________, and pray for __________, and for freedom of __________. Note that Jesus had a large group of __________ and chose 12 out as apostles.

The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (v20-30):

o The Bible teaches us that this sin will never receive ____________________. Have we committed this sin by accident? What does it mean to slander? Will we never go to heaven then? Can we just give up trying to be good? Why is this sin so bad?

o Read carefully! The - __________ - blasphemed by saying that Jesus had a demon in Him. By saying that __________ himself is in Jesus. Jesus spoke this law for one reason only, and that is because the - scribes - said Jesus' Holy Spirit is __________ (v30).

o Read Matthew 12:31, Mark 3:29, Romans 10:13, & 1 John 1:9 together. Do they Contradict? _____

We are so used to tearing out the Word to judge others, and then we judge ourselves in the process, according to Matthew 7:1-2. We need to stop pulling the dam out from under the duck and remember __________. The Word has ______ contradictions, according to 2 Timothy 3:16, & 1

Corinthians 14:33. So all we have to do is find out! We need to __________ Isaiah 28:10 how these verses ________________, each in their own CONTEXT when it was spoken. God wants us to _____

for Him Hebrews 11:6. The things of God do not make sense to the __________ Matthew 13:13.

o Jesus wants to forgive EVERYONE from __________ 2 Peter 3:9. Paul admits 1 Timothy 1:13 that he

______________________________… By NOT __________ the Holy Spirit. Has he gone to hell?

John 3:18-19 tells which sin is never forgiven. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is to see a miracle of Jesus and to say it's from __________. This is context. You are Jesus’ __________ (v31-35): o The story of the rich man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31 says we will ________ each other in the next life. And here in Mark 3 Jesus says that we become part of His family when we accept Him. WOW!

OPEN: __________ | BIBLE FACT: __________ | CLOSE: __________

WHAT GOOD NEWS HAVE WE LEARNED?

REFERENCES: Matthew 8:30, 12:16, 17:1, Luke 9:21, 23:34, John 13:7, Acts 12:2, Romans 1:21-22, 7:15, 1

John 2:22, 2 John 7, 3 John 10, & Jude 1:10.

C Viljoen

HOMEWORK – TO READ

Jesus always silenced everyone who wanted to make Him known too early.

o Why did Jesus silence the demons in Mark 3:11-12? Jesus had a message to deliver. The message of the new life. The new covenant. The good news gospel. Jesus knew that if the news spread too quickly, He would not be able to convey the full message before He was caught and crucified. Jesus wanted the people to wonder. That's how to be a successful teacher. You place wonder in the hearts of your audience. Something that makes people curious. We see evidence of this in Mark 1:40-45 where Jesus heals the leper and tells him not to make it known. Because of the man's disobedience, Jesus could no longer enter the city, but had to preach outside to everyone following Him from all sides. The people began to lose interest in the good news and placed more interests in the miracles. We must believe WITHOUT needing a miracle as evidence. It is God's will - John 20:29-31.

Apostles and Disciples…

o A disciple is a student! It's someone who follows Jesus and learns from Him. Jesus called Levi in Mark 2:14 by saying: “Follow Me”!

o An apostle is a teacher! Someone who was once a disciple, and now can also convey the Word to others. Jesus chose from His disciples 12 whom He wanted to appoint to preach with Him, in Mark 3:14.

o We can see in Mark 3 that Jesus did not choose Mark or Luke to be apostles. But they were there too! God just had a different plan for them. Maybe Jesus knew that Mark would not be a serious Christian in the beginning, because he was still very young, between Acts 13-15... Maybe He needed Luke to help the apostles with their work, or maybe it was God's plan to make Luke the doctor in Colossians 4:14. God has a unique plan for all of us. In this case, Mark had been the helper for the apostles wherever they went, the young Christian, according to Acts 12:12, 25, & 13:5, and we find out that Mark was sometimes called John as well. In Philémon 1:24 we see that Mark was called a co-worker of Christ by Paul. All disciples are apostles because we all work for Christ as we learn more about Him.

John the Baptist or John the Apostle?

o Note that the John whom Jesus called to be an apostle in Mark 3:17 is not John the Baptist. This verse in Mark tells us that John is the son of Zebedee. John the Baptist's parents are Zechariah and Elisabet. John the Baptist was therefore not called to be an apostle either, because he was already appointed to be the Baptist. He was already an apostle sent out by God the Father, but in Mark 3

Jesus is looking for apostles that He can also send out.

o John the APOSTLE was the author of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Revelation. NOT John the Baptist.

o It is also John the Apostle who saw Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah Mark 9. He is called one of the “sons of thunder” because of his great passion for faith in Jesus, and because he had the same spirit as Elijah, who wanted to call fire from heaven to devour Jesus' enemies in Luke 9. We will learn more about this later.

o John the Baptist was killed in Mark 6, not John the apostle (and author of Revelation).

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

Sons of Thunder:

o John and his brother James were later nicknamed Boanérges (sons of thunder). About them being quick to want to beat lost souls with fire from heaven in Luke 9:54 just like Elijah... They had a great passion for Jesus, and Jesus often had to teach them how to be humble and with love to look after lost souls, and not to be so aggressive towards them.

More information about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit:

o It makes God very angry when we cause a fellow Christian to stumble by calling a miracle of God as something from Satan, as in Mark 9:42. What is so special about the Holy Spirit that is not equally special about God or Jesus?

o To be 100% clear:

- If you were disrespectful to God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, you can be forgiven!

- If you do not believe that the Holy Spirit exists, you can still be saved by believing!

- If you saw Jesus perform a miracle and said that the miracle was done by Satan, that is the slander that Jesus will never forgive. Proof? Mark 3:29-30. This sin can no longer happen today because Jesus is now in heaven! He is no longer on earth where we can judge His miracles as the works of Satan. The Pharisees did this in Mark 3:22 & John 10:20.

o Remember that light has no fellowship with darkness 2 Corinthians 6:14, so God told us here in Mark 3:29 that no evil person will ever be able to enter heaven! If you are not made clean by Jesus and do not have the Holy Spirit in you John 3:5, you cannot see heaven. In Romans 10:13 God tells us that EVERYONE who calls the Lord will be saved. It does not say “…all EXCEPT those who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit…”. The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit as Jesus named it can no longer happen today, because Jesus is no longer on earth. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit today is when we decide NOT to believe in God. By rejecting the Holy Spirit (for the Holy Spirit is the truth - 1 John 5:6), we are guaranteed to go to hell, and we remain in darkness without salvation, until we ourselves decide to start BELIEVING in God by welcoming Jesus Christ, and thus the Holy Spirit into our bodies!

Another exercise on contradictions:

o Read the following verses:

o 2 Peter 2:20 → Those who turn away from repentance are severely beaten.

o Hebrews 6:4-6 → You cannot be born again a second time.

o Zechariah 1:3 → Turn back to God!

o Hmm... Contradict these three verses?

o Remember what we learned earlier... If you reject the Holy Spirit so that He may not live in you, then you sentence yourself to eternal destruction (the eternal judgment).

o To make mistakes is human, and to turn back to God when, like Peter on the water, we have taken our eyes off Jesus for a moment, is another story, and God understands and forgives when we, like the prodigal son returns with repentance.

o If we do reject (push away) the Holy Spirit, then our place is automatically eternal destruction, because then the Spirit of God is not in us, and thus neither is the grace of Jesus.

C Viljoen

LISTENING LESSON & CONVERSATION ON MARK 3

JESUS SAYS

MATTHEW MARK

LUKE

JOHN

1-2

BIRTH AND

3-4 & 8

3-5

PREPARATION

9 & 12

5-6

6 & 8

5-8 & 11

8 & 13

8-9

10 & 13-14

MESSAGE AND

MINISTRY

15-16

18-19

10-17

7-11

19-20

21-23

20-21

12-13 & 18

14-17

DEATH AND

22-23

18-19

RESURRECTION

WHAT GOOD NEWS HAVE WE LEARNED?

OPEN: __________ | BIBLE FACT: __________ | CLOSE: __________

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

WATCH MOVIES

WATCH FOR HOMEWORK

None.

WATCH TOGETHER

Indiana Jones – The Last Crusade.

C Viljoen

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

MARK 4 – THE 25 PARABLES BEGINS AND JESUS DOES A GREAT MIRACLE

What is a parable? Didn't Jesus want everyone to go to heaven? Why did Jesus speak in these “riddles”? Are the miracles important? What did Jesus want to teach his disciples when he calmed the storm at sea? Why don't we see so many great miracles today?

Read Mark 4.

In chapter 4 Jesus begins to speak in parables to his disciples. There are many mysteries that Jesus talks about, but he specifically names 25 parables, and He does not explain them all to the disciples. The Holy Spirit must do this in our hearts. Let us hear the mysteries of the kingdom!

Parable 1 – The Sower (v1-25): Also in Matthew 13:1-23 & Luke 8:4-18.

o What does the parable of the Sower mean?

o _________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

o BUT there is an extra piece to this parable, in v21-25. The NOT a separate parable. It still explains this same parable of the Sower! Read it together Luke 8:16-18, and in context!

- v21-22 - Nothing is hidden from God. God searches the HEARTS 1 Samuel 16:7.

- v24-25 - Those who listen will understand the Word through GOD's help Luke 24:44-45.

- According to Luke 11:33-34, if our _____________ are bright, our ____________________

is bright. So, God tells us that what we ______________________________ matter – a lot!

Parable 2 – The seed (v26-29): Also, in Matthew 13:24-30.

o What does the parable of the seed mean?

o _________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Parable 4 – The mustard seed (v30-34): Also, in Matthew 13:31-32 & Luke 13:18-19. READ ALL 3.

o In Ezekiel 17:22-24 God foretold all of heaven like this. Luke 17:21 says the kingdom is _________!

NO, heaven is NOT in your head... Remember context and contradictions. Jeremiah 23:24 says God is ________! John 15:5 says we are the ________, and Jesus the ________. Also see Jeremiah 17:7-8, Colossians 2:6-7, Psalm 1:3, & Ephesians 3:16-19. More on birds & the kingdom in homework.

o What does the parable of the mustard seed mean when we look at what the Bible says above?

o _________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Jesus calms the storm (v35-41):

o Notice that Jesus __________ the disciples from safety to __________! To teach them a lesson of __________. We need to start making the hard days work for us! Matthew 5:11-12 & James 1:2-4.

OPEN: __________ | BIBLE FACT: __________ | CLOSE: __________

WHAT GOOD NEWS HAVE WE LEARNED?

REFERENCES: 1 Kings 8:27, Proverbs 16:2, Isaiah 57:15, Jeremiah 17:10, Matthew 13:10-13, Acts 16:13, 17:24, 2 Corinthians 2:11, Galatians 3:22, 2: 20, 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:12, Hebrews 4:12, & 1 John 4:4.

C Viljoen

HOMEWORK – TO READ

About the parables:

o There are roughly 25 parables in the Bible. There is no certainty about the amount because some teachers count them as if they included all the mysteries Jesus spoke about. For example: Some say that the story of the Rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 is a parable (and it is NOT). Jesus never said in scripture that it is. And Jesus never said it was like heaven either. It really happened. Other teachers say that the story of the Mustard Seed in Mark 14 is a parable (and it IS) but then they look at Jesus who says in Matthew 5 that we must be the salt of the earth, and that also counts as a parable, and it is NOT. And just because certain Bibles' headings say that something is a parable, it is NOT

necessarily always so, unless it has the characteristics of a parable.

o God makes it 100% clear to us that the things of the Christian DO NOT MAKE SENSE to the wicked people. And God is not going to give clarity to people who do not seek Him with all their heart and soul and spirit. If you don't SEEK God, you will NOT UNDERSTAND. God will ONLY make the Word make sense to His children. And they are the ones who will bear the fruit. Whether it's unfair or not, that's how God does it. Remember that He is boss, He can do what He wants. Matthew 13:10-11, 22:14 & 37, John 15:16, Ephesians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:9, Isaiah 29:16, 42:20, Revelation 14:3, Psalm 25 & 135.

o God will make the Word known to us if we follow Him: Luke 9:44-45, 18:31-34, 24:44-45, & John 8:43. God said: If you are not interested in the Word, it will not make sense to you, and that God himself makes sure that people do not understand the Holy things, if they are not interested, even if they or their interested when they talk to other Christians together 2 Corinthians 4:3-5.

o Parables have 4 very important characteristics:

- A parable brings eternal life to God, say followers, and they understand it - because they ask it of God. God will only save those who SEEK Him! Mark 4:10-12 & Hebrews 9:28.

- A parable brings eternal death to the wicked, and they do not understand it - because they do not seek God, and do not search the scriptures! Mark 4:10-12 & Hebrews 9:28.

- A parable is always a story that compares the heavenly kingdom to something on earth.

They often start with: “Heaven is like...” Mark 4:26 & 30-31.

- A parable is often called a Parable right in the Bible text. Luke 7:4 & 13:6.

o Further information on Parable 4 in the Mark 4 lesson, about the mustard seed:

- We must water the seed (Word) in us regularly to grow big like heaven. It's not a literal parable. Imagine if everyone could run around telling mountains to move? God said we must work Genesis 3:19. If everyone could literally move mountains, no one would cooperate! All would plow the ground with a word, and not with a deed. Maybe one day in heaven it will be literal, but not now. Don't let the devil deceive you like that and make you feel small-minded and doubt John 8:44 & James 1:6. A second example is the sons of thunder, or Elijah, or Moses. All 3 of them enjoyed calling down fire from heaven to devour their enemies, and Jesus didn't like it. They were all believers. Just imagine if this parable was literal?! God is inside you Ephesians 3:17! In Mark 3:14-15 16:16-20, & Matthew 28:19

Jesus gave us power to cast out evil spirits, to pray for healing for the sick, and gave us the ability to sow faith. Those are the true actions of faith! That's the power of the mustard seed in us. The power to care for others James 1:27. THOSE are the miracles that Jesus gave us to do! We must not be like the Pharisees Matthew 12:38-40! Jesus did not show them a miracle, but he shows miracles to His disciples without them asking. Is our intention to 30

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glorify God, or is it so that you can strengthen your faith? God wants us to believe WITHOUT

seeing John 20:29. Look at Proverbs 11:25-31.

- According to Mark 4:4 & 15, the birds are from the devil in this case. Why then does Jesus want the tree to come up late to shelter the “evil birds”? Because Matthew 5:44-45. God brings shade to us AND our enemies.

- God loves ALL races, every last person just as he/she is, and they are ALL included in the salvation that Jesus brings - Galatians 3:27-28.

- To be able to move mountains we must have the faith of heaven. What is this faith? It's THE

LOVE! Love is VERY important!

o Parables that happen between Mark 4 & 5 in the other gospels:

- Parable 3 – The tares (Matthew 13:24-30):

o Jesus sowed Christians. Satan has sown the wicked. Both on the same earth. Both are left to fully develop, to make sure there are no errors when they are brought in.

Why? Because young wheat looks exactly like weeds. Like new Christians huh? You can say you believe in Jesus, but how do you know He is within you, so that you don't end up like Matthew 7:22? God says we must test ourselves to be sure we are of God 2 Corinthians 13:5. How do we do it? Study 1 John long and hard. Notice in the parable that God says this time the seed was sown over the EARTH, not over the field. It's not just the church that God is focusing on here, but the WHOLE world! See Matthew 13:36-43 for more. At the end the tares are burned, and wheat brought into the barn. What are you?

- Parable 5 - The leaven (leaven/yeast) (Matthew 13:33-35): Also, in Luke 13:20-21.

o This parable tells the same story as all the previous ones about the seed. The leaven is put “seeded” into the dough, and no one can see how it works, but as the Holy Spirit grows, the dough will rise until Jesus can be fully seen in the person. The exact same thing is true when you look at the whole church of God. It started small (12

disciples) and has grown to millions today. – Luke 17:21.

o The prophet Asaph in Psalm 78:1-2 is spoken of here.

- Parable 6 – The hidden treasure (Matthew 13:44):

o We realize that Christianity is NOT a “get-rich-quick scheme”. We are promised to go through much tribulation John 16:33. But to inherit the Kingdom we must swallow the tribulation as part of the pill Philippians 3:7-8 & Revelation 3:18. In the case of the hidden treasure, the man had to swallow the bland land as part of the pill to get the treasure.

- Parable 7 – The pearl (Matthew 13:45-46):

o The man sells everything to be able to buy the precious pearl. As Jesus says we must do, in 1 John 2:15-17. Sell all your possessions (earthly satisfactions), follow Jesus (buy the pearl), and find the Kingdom of God (value for your “money”)!

- Parable 8 – The fishing net (Matthew 13:47-52):

o This parable is explained by Jesus in the same verses. It's the same as the parable of the weeds Matthew 3:12.

o All the parables explain to us how to find the kingdom:

- Jesus says we must first seek the kingdom of God, and then all these things will be added to us! Matthew 6:33. There are great promises from God in these verses. Learn the parables.

Bring them into your heart! 2 Timothy 2:15!

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o There are 3 big things we learn all the time (Ephesians 5:1-2):

- Jesus preached to increase faith.

- He kept freeing people from evil spirits.

- He healed people of their diseases all the time.

Take note:

o Mark 4:11, 26 & 30 all talks about the kingdom of God! The place we are looking for, which Matthew 6:33 says is the answer to all our prayers.

o According to Mark 4:11-12 the wicked are not SUPPOSED to understand the word. ONLY those who come and ask will understand, according to v10 & v34. That's also why we speak in tongues...

Because it's ENCRYPTED communication with God, which no evil force around us can analyze.

o In the parable of the Sower in Mark 4:1-25 we learn that those who hear and accept the word will bear fruit. It is NOT talking about earthly possessions, but rather your spiritual gifts. Wealth has absolutely NOTHING to do with faith. Remember how Peter prayed for a man in Acts 3:6 who was healed and could walk again... Peter was so rich in spirit, and he himself expressly said that he had neither silver nor gold... Don't get me wrong don't understand, God's plan for us IS wealth and prosperity on earth (among others Jeremiah 29:11), but spiritual wealth is by far a fruit of a completely different color.

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

LISTENING LESSON & CONVERSATION ON MARK 4

REMEMBER: Class test 1 is coming up! Page 35.

JESUS SAYS

MATTHEW MARK

LUKE

JOHN

1-2

BIRTH AND

3-4 & 8

3-5

PREPARATION

9 & 12

5-6

6 & 8

5-8 & 11

8 & 13

8-9

10 & 13-14

MESSAGE AND

MINISTRY

15-16

18-19

10-17

7-11

19-20

21-23

20-21

12-13 & 18

14-17

DEATH AND

22-23

18-19

RESURRECTION

WHAT GOOD NEWS HAVE WE LEARNED?

OPEN: __________ | BIBLE FACT: __________ | CLOSE: __________

C Viljoen

WATCH MOVIES

WATCH FOR HOMEWORK

Wild Horse of Fear FULL.

WATCH TOGETHER

None.

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

CLASS TEST 1 – MULTIPLE CHOICE

TEST DATE: ______________________________

30 Points

STUDY MATERIAL:

Jesus Series Pages: 1, 7, 13, 17, 23, & 29.

Verses: Matthew 6:33, John 3:5, v16, Colossians 4:14, Daniel 9:24-27 & Matthew 28:6.

INSTRUCTIONS AND RULES

• It is a close-book test to send the information of Jesus deeper into the heart.

• No group work, electrical devices, books, or Bibles are allowed for the test.

• You have 1 hour to answer the test, so roughly 2 minutes per question.

• Enjoy & GOOD LUCK! ☺

C Viljoen

PRACTICAL LESSON TO MARK 4

GO TO CHURCH

If you haven't been to a church recently (or ever) … Now is your chance. Go get a fresh memory and see how awesome church is! Test the spirits 1 Thessalonians 5:21. For this practical lesson we must all go to church. Not to Bible study group... To church. One session. At the Christian church of your choice. Go test the church of your choice and come and share with the group whether they are of God or not. A tip: Find a Pentecostal church. That's the right one, who believes in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

WHY IS GOING TO CHURCH IMPORTANT?

1. Hebrews 10:25 → We MUST come together and exhort and teach and help one another.

2. Ephesians 6:11-18 → The armor of God does not cover your back. At church, we cover EACH

OTHER's skin in prayer and fellowship. God made us to need each other!

3. 1 Peter 3:15-16 → We must be a living example to others.

4. Romans 1:15-16 & Luke 9:26 & 12:8-9 → We should not be ashamed of the Religion.

5. Matthew 5:16 → We must be a useful Christian. Do you think God is going to bless you if He can't even count on you to share a testimony with someone? God is not blessing you for YOU. He blesses you so that you can make Him great and serve with it! So, you can share the news at church!

6. Genesis 12:2-3 → At the church are other Christians who are charged to bless you and teach you and help you and support you. God is looking for you among the right people!

7. Psalm 66:16-17 → We must build others with the good news that God blesses us with!

8. Looking for more reasons? Why? There are many reasons why church is important! Study it! Can you hang out with your friends for hours, and stay out late? Jesus rose from the dead for you. You can certainly get out of bed for Him.

Jesus was more outside the temple than in it, but it was to establish the modern Christian church. And it was also only AFTER Jesus finished swearing. Jesus never avoided the temple. He encouraged people to serve God in groups, to praise God, to get fresh fillings of the Holy Spirit regularly, so that it always overflows with you. It was to make God available to everyone and not just to the priests in the temple. We MUST come together and be under the sound of the Word of God. We must also remember that some Christians are new, and not perfect... We cannot look at someone who makes a mistake and decide that total Christianity is not for us. For that you must be completely perfect yourself.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. The church services usually have a 1-hour main session in the morning and evening on Sundays.

2. Go to church the Sunday before your next Bible study session.

3. If you can and want to, take a tithe with you.

4. Before you go, anoint yourself with olive oil and wash your face.

5. Pray!

Father God, please bless me to find the right Pentecostal church. Guide me, protect me, and help me learn what You want me to know. In Jesus' name, amen!

Dress comfortably and enjoy the church session!

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

MARK 5 – JESUS REFUSES LEGION, DOES HEALING, & RAISES A DEAD CHILD

What do evil spirits do inside you? Can more than one be in you at a time? How many demons is Legion in the possessed of Gádara? Can we drive them out? How do you do it? What do you do afterwards to prevent them from coming back? Is there a practical way to learn to have greater faith? What does Jesus have to do with all this?

Read Mark 5.

In chapter 5, just after Jesus sailed across the sea that He silenced in chapter 4, Jesus freed the possessed of Gádara from a legion (flock/troop/group/army) of almost 2000 evil spirits, who, together was named legion. When the man wanted to follow Jesus, He refused... Why? Right after this, Jesus sailed back and performed two more miracles. Let's learn this faith!

Jesus rebukes Legion, and sends them into the pigsty (v1-20): o What is a demon? Revelation 12:4, 9, Jude 1:6, Ephesians 6:12, 1 Peter 5:8, 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, Mark 1:27, 1 Timothy 4:1, & John 10:10.

o What can cause a demon?

- Matthew 9:32-33 ______________________________

- Matthew 12:22 ______________________________

- Luke 8:26-35 → Story of the possessed of Gádara. ______________________________

- Mark 9:22 ______________________________

- Luke 13:11-17 ______________________________

- Revelation 21:8 ______________________________

- 1 Corinthians 11:28-34, John 5:14, & Job 2:1-10 → ______________________________

o Should we drive them out? Matthew 10:1, Colossians 2:15, & Mark 16:16-18.

o Can demons refuse? Yes, without God. Philippians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 12:9, & Acts 19:15.

o Should we ask their names first? Matthew 8:16 & Luke 4:35.

o How do we rebuke them? Hebrews 4:12, James 4:7, Ephesians 6:10-18, 2 Timothy 1:7, Mark 9:28-29, & 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Do what Jesus does in v1-20, (not so Acts 19:13-16).

o What do we do after that? John 3:3-5 & 16.

o Further notes: James 2:19, Philippians 2:10-11, & Luke 4:35. Demons are __________ for Jesus, our bodyguard! They MUST __________ with Jesus' Name. There is an example of prayer to cast out a spirit in the homework, BUT: We don't need to say special prayers or beg or know the demon’s __________ (unlike what movies show). If we are right in our spirit, it is as easy as:

“Demon, shut up! Listen to Luke 4:35 & 10:17-20 and get out of the person NOW, in Jesus' Name!”

Jesus heals the woman suffering from a flow of blood and wakes up a dead child (v21-43): o Note! Everyone bumps into Jesus. The woman believes she will be healed with Jesus' clothes (v28).

Then she __________: “I will be healed.” When she touched Jesus' clothes, it happened! Wow!

OPEN: __________ | BIBLE FACT: __________ | CLOSE: __________

WHAT GOOD NEWS HAVE WE LEARNED?

REFERENCES:1 Kings 22:23, Daniel 10:13, Matthew 8:28-34, 17:18, 25:46, Luke 16:22-24, Romans 8:9-11, 2

Corinthians 4:4, 5:6- 8, 12:7, Galatians 5:19-21, Philippians 2:23, Hebrews 9:5, 2 Peter 3:3-8, 1 John 5:18, & Jude 1:18.

C Viljoen

HOMEWORK – TO READ

Important:

o ONLY JESUS casts out spirits. In ourselves we have NO power. We are supposed to cast out evil spirits, when God shows us the spirit, with the power of Jesus. We must not unnecessarily SEEK for trouble, but when God brings it to our attention, then it is our DUTY as Christians! When you do it, do it in the name of Jesus.

o After a rebuke, it is important that the person accept Jesus IMMEDIATELY, to prevent the evil spirit from coming back, because they WILL come back - Matthew 12:43-45.

o As you learned in the lesson, evil spirits can be compared to many things, including stars, angels, evil spirits, followers of satan, unclean, devil spirits, and thieves among others. The Bible also mentions that some of them possess the strength of lions.

o Want to be a leader? Make sure you follow the right person first, Jesus Christ. It's not games to be a leader. Satan is a professional leader. Read for sure 1 Timothy 4:1 & Matthew 18:5-6.

o Evil spirits can influence you to make you think for yourself and decide that suicide is your only way out. They also cause mental conditions such as depression and anxiety. NO, it's not ALWAYS and EXCLUSIVELY just an evil spirit when someone is depressed or sad. That's why distinction is necessary. Ask God to help you see. Ask for discernment.

o Evil spirits can also result in the 2nd death because if an evil spirit is in you, Jesus is definitely NOT in you. The light has NO fellowship with the darkness. Don't take it lightly. There is a reason why Jesus talked about it so often and set people free.

o Evil spirits can attack YOU, if you do it in pride of yourself, without Jesus, and if you are not spiritually ready for it. Do not play with this topic.

It's ok to be terrified of ghosts.

o Even Job was afraid: Job 4:15. God says: Isaiah 35:4, & Matthew 10:28.

On murder and suicide under evil power:

o If a demon causes suicide as they try in Mark 9:22 the chances of salvation are slim because the person did not have Jesus in them. We don't know where people go if they just commit suicide, but if it was under the power of an evil spirit, the chances are slim.

o We learn in Job 1:12 that Satan and his evil spirits cannot kill God's children. But can for those without God. And remember as we learned earlier with Saul, that God is not a God for games. God will unleash all hell on you if He doesn't like what you're doing. Watch out! Stop thinking God is petty. He is meek yes, and patient with His children, but He will attack you without remorse until death by Satan's own hand if you seek trouble. He is your Creator. He is God. He can do whatever He wants. He doesn't care about your opinion either! God is GOD! REALIZE THIS!

Do demons have wings?

o The Bible does not tell us. What we do know is that some angels in heaven have wings, specifically the Seraphim and Cherubim, who are great, powerful angels who protect and serve the throne. The devil was one of these throne attendants (Ezekiel 28:12-15), so we are sure that the devil can fly. In Job 1:6-7 God saw the devil standing among the other angels before God, and he said that he wandered over the earth. The other angels are not described as having wings, and so we do not know if the evil spirits (the angels who were tempted by the devil) have wings, but we know they CANNOT fly, because if we cast them out, they PASS through waterless places, according to Matthew 12:43. Note that they do not hover or fly, but “go”. And they “seek rest”. So, they want to 38

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

sit or lie down. They pass through waterless places. Why? Because quite possibly they cannot roam like Satan.

o The Seraphim have 6 wings and are also there to serve and worship God Isaiah 6:1-7.

o The Cherubim have 4 wings and are also the 4 living creatures Genesis 3:24, Ezekiel 1:5 & h10.

o Demons know their judgment day is coming - Matthew 8:29.

Why did Jesus not allow the man in Gádara to go with Him?

o In Mark 5:18-20, Jesus told the man that he should go spread the good news! If that man had gone with Jesus, the only light in that whole place would have been taken away. But here Jesus immediately gives another disciple a job to do. Proclaim the good news! Amen!

Important notes about a punishment:

o Evil spirits can talk back. They can curse, spit, make the person sick or torment, and evil spirits can definitely play on your mind (manipulate you) if you are not ready for it.

o If you do anything beyond your own control, it is an evil spirit! EVERYTHING, including hypnosis, anger regularly out of your control, sexual urges out of your control, addictions, EVERYTHING! The evil spirit is not going to leave you if it is not YOUR CHOICE, and he is not going to leave easily.

You're going to have to wrestle! The Bible tells us to STRUGGLE. Ephesians 6:12.

o It's 100% our job to cast out evil spirits. We ALL must be ready to be able to resist and cast out evil spirits if God brings it before you to do. God did not say to his disciples: Ok you look like a doctor, you are going to heal people, and to another: You always wear black clothes, so you are going to cast out evil spirits... God equipped ALL his disciples with the FULL Spirit. God gave ALL His disciples power over evil spirits. We all get the FULL spirit like them. We may have specialties, or things we are called by God to do, such as preaching, smiling, encouraging, healing people, casting out evil spirits, etc., but we ALL must use everything, otherwise the Spirit has not yet developed in you!

A summarized EXAMPLE of a punishment:

o Every case is different. Maybe you come across someone with a spirit and must rebuke him immediately... In other cases, it could be that you are just praying for someone with an addiction or evil bond. In this case we're going to assume someone has an evil spirit and we're going to cast him out properly.

o First of all: You must already be mentally strong and make a habit of fasting and prayer.

o Pray for protection and help, read the Word about the situation, plead the blood of Jesus over everything that lives and trembles, anoint yourself. Ask the person if they are seeking salvation. It's their choice!

o When you rebuke, preferably take a group of people with you, who can pray with you (for there is nothing wrong with calling an army troop), but if that is not possible, go alone. GOD is with you!

o Take anointing oil along with an extra Bible that you can give away to the person after the time.

o Find out if the person believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Make sure the person answers and not the demon. God will show you. If the signs of Satan are there, ask the demon's name if you want to be sure, although you do NOT need to know the demon's name AT ALL to cast him out!

o Keep a close eye on the person all the time right in the window of the soul - the eyes! Look for the signs.

o Open your Bible and read the verse of your choice! For example, the Armor of God, or the possessed of Gádara, or Mark 16:16-18 where God gives you permission to rebuke, or John 3:16, anything. The Word is the Word, regardless of what you read! The whole thing is the sharpest Double-Edged Sword of God!

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o In reality, it is as easy as: Evil spirit, in the name of Jesus, be quiet and leave the person! But learn a decent FULL prayer. Keep your arsenal of communication full!

o Reprimand like this: (Learn this prayer so well that you can say it even if you are interrupted.) Father God, the I Am, my Creator, I am calling You now to come and help me! Hear my distress! I pray in the Name of my Father God, the Almighty I Am who created me, and in the Name of the Son Jesus Christ the Nazarene who conquered death on the cross for my sins, and in the Name of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, the Sharpest Two-Edged Sword of God. I am nothing without You! But with You I can do everything. Protect us from all evil spirits in the air. Forgive our sins. Come to us now and be with us all. Bring Your archangel Michael, bring his princes with him. Put mighty angels around us for protection. Bring the Holy Spirit in here. Let the Holy Spirit anoint us all with Holy, Spiritual anointing oil. I plead the blood of Jesus Christ over each of us, and over all our animals and all our possessions, and over everyone in our family and friend groups, and over everyone we know. I ask God, deliver this person from these evil spirits. These evil spirits dare to challenge Your children. In the name of the living almighty God, I now call upon every evil power in the air. Listen to my command, every evil spirit in this person. All that is not of God, hear my voice now! God has given me permission and power and authority over you all, in John 14:13, Mark 16:16-18, Luke 9:1, 10:19, Matthew 18:18, and many other places. I am God's child. You have no right here. Shut up!

Shut up and shut up right now! Away Satan, away every evil spirit and evil power! Come out of this person right now in the Name of Jesus the Christ! I break every bond and burden of Satan from this place, and I break it loose from this person in the Name of Jesus. Be free! In Jesus' Name.

Hallelujah! Thank God! You get all the credit! Amen.

o Read to the person Matthew 12:43, Mark 16:16-18, 2 Timothy 2:15, John 3:3-5 & 16.

o Anoint the person with oil in the Name of Jesus.

o Let the person pray this prayer immediately: Father, please forgive my sins! I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ conquered death for my sins. I believe with all my heart, soul, and mind that Jesus is the Son of God. Dear Jesus, please come into my heart right now. I do not belong to myself, but I belong to You, my Creator. I give myself to Your God! Take my life in Your hands and use me for Your will, forever. Protect me, heal me, teach me, bless me. Please Father. Thank you for eternal life! I will rejoice and be glad because the second death has no more power over me. I am redeemed with the Blood of Jesus! I now plead the Blood of Jesus over me, and ask that the Holy Spirit fill my soul, and I ask for Anointing from God my Father. Thank God! Thank you that I am now Your child, and in Your Body and family. Thank you that my name is now written in the book of eternal life. Hallelujah! Amen and amen.

o Give the person a Bible and tell him to read it every day, and to tell everyone how he was delivered from the evil forces by God!

o Very important: We don't need to say special prayers or beg or even know the demon's name (unlike movies show). If we are right in our spirits, it is as easy as casting out the demon with one word as the lesson teaches you. But make sure you are right in your soul and have fasted and prayed before you attempt such a thing. But know that it IS our DUTY to be ready for such attacks from the evil forces in the air.

o In Acts 16:16-33, a woman possessed by a fortune teller troubled Paul for many days, and then he turned and rebuked her. This is an incredible story! Read him and see what nightmares happened to Paul. Now why did he wait before casting her out? Was it perhaps so he could fast and pray first?

One day we will be able to ask Paul!

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

Now it's time to clear up all the LIES that some believers and movies are spreading: o The Bible is FULL of people carving flowers and other statues, some that God commanded people to make. Exodus 20:4, 25:31-36, 31:1-7, 1 Kings 6:18, 29, 35, 7:13-51, Judges 18:18, Psalm 74:6, Isaiah 44:9-17, 45:20, 2 Chronicles 2:13-14, Proverbs 7:16, etc.

o God makes it CLEAR that there is no spirit in them. Habakkuk 2:18-19. King Solomon, King David, and God himself each have all kinds of decorations and standing statues in their temples. YOU CAN

HAVE STATUES IN YOUR HOME AND IN YOUR GARDEN TOO! God has a problem with people who worship it, because God teaches us in these verses that they have no spirit of life or salvation. THEY

ARE EMPTY! Evil spirits DO NOT ENTER DEAD THINGS. Only in animals, and people according to the Bible. As we learned in The Possessed of Gádara and the pigs. Don't believe the movies, and neither will a “well-meaning” friend if they get rid of such things. Just ask a little: “Evidence?” Stop blindly believing things and find evidence in the Word. If it is not written, it is a lie 1 John 4:1-3. Churches are full of statues, flowers, spittoons (gargoyles - like the ones in Hunchback of Notre Dame), God's own ark has statues of Eagles on it, Revelation describes that heaven will be full of statues. There is NO PROBLEM with dead animal heads in your house, or statues of angels, or dolls, or pictures of the living creatures in HEAVEN with many eyes, or frogs in your garden. What would God say to John the Baptist because he wore clothes of wild animals, over his body (the temple of God)? MY

GOODNESS! Just ask yourself, what is it there for, and what does it represent in your life...? God wants you to spoil yourself and enjoy the good things of life Ecclesiastes 5:18-20! Demons possess people, not goodies! Satan wants you to believe this nonsense because they work like wizards.

They want you to look at the LEFT hand and keep your attention on that hand, while they do something dark and dirty with the RIGHT hand and you never notice. The statues are not the problem. THE WORSHIP of them is the problem. Just because a cranky old aunt might see 666 in the energy drink Monster logo, doesn't mean IT'S TRUE! Why don't you go and ask the creator of the logo for his intention? Or the creator of the Hello Kitty cat? Just because the cat's paw picks up and down in the shops doesn't mean the thing worships Hitler. JINGLE BELLS! Have you ever noticed that cats ALSO do this when they are hungry and ask for food; or if it's bath time for them? What did Hitler have to do with the matter? The poor people just want to sell clothes! What if you had a business and someone connected it to Satan like that? STOP focusing on Satan in the church and turn back to GOD!

o Let's stop blindly believing that the Hello Kitty cat salutes Hitler. The poor people just want to sell clothes. The Monster drink does NOT have a 666 sign on it. The people are just looking to run a successful soft drink business. LEAVE THEM OUT! LOL does NOT mean Lucifer Our Lord. It means Laugh Out Loud! Junne man, come on, you are more awake than these petty evil lies! Come on, mercy! STOP THE LIES!

o People's spirits CANNOT haunt. Hebrews 9:27 says that we will die, and then come before judgment. Not staying behind on earth to do what we want to do. HELLO??? No wonder no one can defeat evil...

o Only angels and demons can appear to people! 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 & Luke 1:28.

o If you go to a medium and they may know the truth about a dead loved one of yours, this is most likely the reason: The chances are extremely good that the dead person had demons in their home for a long time, who learned everything from them. How do we know that? Because if the dead person's family goes to a medium, it often comes with a background of divination or sorcery in the family. How else are you going to know where your nearest medium is, or choose to seek one out?

Demons can learn what someone says, how they act, what their weak points are, what their cell 41

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phone PIN numbers are, anything. If you go to a medium to talk to the dead person, it is NOTHING

ELSE than a demon that followed you there and it is the DEMON that gives the information to the medium to tell you. People who have died CANNOT be summoned! Demons are spirits, just like angels. They see more than we can see. Even difference is one of the two wants to destroy, and the other wants to protect. The point? Demons are everywhere. They know everything about our family and friends, all their secrets, their dreams, memories, desires, and all their fears. EVEN IF

YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A GOOD CHRISTIAN. Look at Acts 19:15. The devil knows exactly who you are, even if you have never mixed with the occult! Satan can tell that medium a lot about your loved ones, and then you think you are talking to your deceased family. THINK AGAIN! Satan and his evil forces have a good laugh when they tempt the believers into such filthy lies. That's why it's important to ask God for the gift of speaking in tongues. Because IT cannot analyze any evil spirit.

o Demons CANNOT make dead things move AT ALL either. Find one Bible verse in which the EVER

happens? The only case in the entire Bible is in Revelation 13:15 where God predicts (FUTURE) that the devil will sail into a stone and make it speak. NOT MOVE, just talk, and it comes AFTER THE

RAPTURE. No spirit ever enters an image. NEVER!

Extra information to find out who the evil spirits are:

o It's NOT people who are dead! SMOOTHLY! For God says their bodies all sleep Daniel 12:2. EVEN

PEOPLE WHO DIE BEFORE THEIR TIME SLEEP Matthew 9:24. And according to the story of the rich man and Lazarus, your spirit immediately goes to rest in heaven, or immediately to hell Luke 16:19-31. Some people believe that it might be people who lived before Adam, on the earth before it was made so “wild and empty” for our creation. Please look at 1 Corinthians 15:45. Evil spirits are the fallen angels who were thrown out of heaven with Satan as the lesson teaches us.

Can we raise dead people from the dead?

o NO, we can't, because it's against God's heavenly and earthly laws! 1 Samuel 28:15, Leviticus 20:6,

& Job 38:33. If you call someone up from the dead it is nothing but a DEMON! Have you ever thought to ask yourself: “If I call my mother from heaven now... Will God allow her to just walk out the gates?” MAN! Think logically with the brain that God gave you! The Holy Spirit has already put the right answer in your heart. Then why do you believe such lies?!

o For interest: “Conjuring” means to call up something in the spirit world to talk to. The people in Conjuring 2 play with a Ouija board (a wied-gie board), which is used to summon spirits and talk to them. The evil spirit is NOT in the game! The board is just wood and paper and glass. The demon comes up to crash into you, not the game! Evil spirits have never had bodies because they are fallen angels as we learned in the lesson. They seek people's bodies to enter so they can carry out their will on earth, as endless verses here prove.

Evil movies, books, TV games, etc. have NO demons.

o We as Christians MUST believe that evil spirits exist. God says they do. The problem with these movies and stuff is that they spread falsehood in HOW the demons WORK, such as:

- Conjuring 2– You must have the demon's name before you have power over him. FALSE.

- Anabelle- Demons enter dolls, and as long as you leave the spirit in the doll, and do not rebuke it, it is now almost trapped in the doll, and can never come out again, and as soon as you touch the doll, it sails the spirit in you. FALSE - FALSE - FALSE!!! Where does the Bible say this nonsense?

- Conjuring 1– You need “holy water” and it will burn the person, and must beg the demon to come out, and must do the rebuke in Jewish/Latin language, and that a cross can burn the 42

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

person's skin, and also that the demon can enter into things, and that the demons come to trouble you INSTEAD of entering into you. FALSE!

- Without prayer, demons can even sit in an unanointed church trying to distract people and deceive them. The church is JUST A BUILDING! The only place demons can NOT go is inside you IF Jesus is inside you. There is nothing wrong with watching a movie about a real Christian exorcism. Especially not if you want to learn something. We can learn a very important part of the Bible in it. BUT! It's not games. Do not work with this stuff unnecessarily. JUST FOCUS ON JESUS! HE IS OUR SAVIOR! Do not allow these things into your home unnecessarily. You MUST know what the Bible has to say about demons before watching such movies, so that you are not deceived by lies like the one above. Pray for protection against deception and possession if you watch something like this, although you should have had it in you for a long time when you accepted Jesus. We must specifically pray not to be tempted!

Possible names for some of the evil spirits in the Bible (not all are specifically called demons): o Molech – Leviticus 18:21 & 1 Kings 11:7.

o Legion – Mark 5:2-10.

o Abaddon/Apollyon – Revelation 9:11.

The different forms of satanic worship that people are not sure about: o Divination (killing animals and looking at their livers to find out what will happen to the land) Evil predictions of the future → Deuteronomy 18:10, Ezekiel 21:21, & Psalm 119:9.

o Necromancy (Conjuring – Trying to converse with death) – The whole Old Testament is full of people who summoned death. BUT guess what? It is NOT the dead people's spirits that have risen.

It's evil spirits that know the persons as we learned earlier. Now you are probably saying: What about the story of Saul and Samuel? Well, did you notice the medium NEVER said the person coming up was Samuel. She only described his clothes and age. Could it be an evil spirit masquerading as an angel of light? Furthermore, why did the spirit of Samuel come up from the EARTH? His body then sleeps in the grave, but his soul was in the resting place of heaven? How do you explain that? If it was a snake, it would have pecked you on the nose! The answer is very easy.

God is also in control of death, as He rules over the living, and over all the angels of heaven. God allowed this case. How else? God made it clear that after death we are in eternal rest, or eternal punishment. Note FOREVER! CAN NEVER GO OUT! The only explanation that fits is God allowed it because the Word makes it clear that it is Samuel, there is no doubt about it - he is called by his name. It is also the ONLY case in the Bible that is described in detail. The Old Testament is full of mediums who call up spirits (they thought they were dead, but they were always evil spirits) and God warned us against them, probably because He knew we were talking to demons and NOT to our loved ones. There is not a single record of a medium calling up a spirit in the New Testament. Is it perhaps because Jesus conquered death? Was it perhaps because Jesus said that a great gulf was established in the story of the rich man and Lazarus so that people could not move over and over again? Evil spirits can pretend to be your family member! We must NOT try to raise the dead, because Satan is the father of lies, according to John 8:44! → Also read Luke 15:27-31, 16:19-31, Deuteronomy 18:11-12, Leviticus 20:1-6, 27, Isaiah 8:19, 19:3, 29:4, & Psalm 146:4. The devil and evil spirits can change form, according to 2 Corinthians 11:14. Watch out! NOTE THAT the Bible does not say Samuel slept (he rested - there is no such thing as “soul-sleep”) 1 Samuel 28:7-20.

There is no reason not to believe it is really Samuel because the Bible is 100% clear. GOD made him appear to Saul. God is also in control of the dead. And God released an evil spirit to persecute Saul 43

C Viljoen

for disobeying God 1 Samuel 14:16! Don't think God is playing. DO NOT chat with mediums. Watch out!

o There is nothing wrong with asking God to convey a message to a dead person, but we can also rest easy knowing that they now know & understand everything, so you don't have to explain yourself to a dead person. Do not seek to talk with the dead. They already know & understand your heart.

God says that He has wiped away their tears, so you are completely OKAY ☺ Revelation 21:4!

o MANIPULATION, magic that includes hypnosis (controlling your body just as evil spirits want to do), white or black magic makes no difference, God hates all magic and such powers are no match for God's power (like Dynamo for example) → Job 38:31, Exodus 7:11-12, Daniel 4:7, Deuteronomy 18:10, 1 Samuel 28:9, Galatians 5:19-21 & 2 Corinthians 3:17.

o Astrology (the worship and reading of star signs for people's personalities and futures) The stars are there for God's glory, not for us → Deuteronomy 4:19, Psalm 19, 148:3-6, Job 38:31, Amos 5:8, & Isaiah 40:26.

o Of course, it goes without saying that idolatry, worship of satan, prayer to satan, and so on are also satanic worship that the Bible directly warns against, in places like Exodus 20.

o Demons don't even know that they are DOING GOD'S WILL every day! Wow! 1 Samuel 16:14, 1

Kings 22:22-23, & Revelation 9:15-17.

o Hell was made for the angels who rebelled against God in heaven Matthew 25:41. It was never meant for people, but people will be sent along if we also follow Satan like these angels. According to 1 Corinthians 6:3 we are going to judge these angels.

About the miracles:

o Do you ever see the disciples calm a storm, or move mountains, or walk on water without Jesus?

NO! Only Jesus did that. Does this mean that the disciples' faith was too small to go to heaven? NO!

Jesus gave His disciples a NEW set of miracles to perform. To show love to each other in deed (and thus to roll a mountain out of others' way), to cast out evil spirits, to make the faith of a mustard seed grow in us through prayer, word, and deed, to pray for the sick for healing... Your faith is not small just because a mountain does not obey your command. Just realize who is inside you! The question is: Will what you do be useful for the glorification of God's name, and for the salvation of souls? Until the end, Peter said to a man: I have no money, but here is healing for you! WOW! Do you need money for God's work, and are you going to use it that way?

o On this subject I also want to remind you: Matthew 7:21 tells us that not everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved, but those who do the WILL of God. Many have excuses and say: “But I don't have money” ... You don't lack money. Report to your nearest church! They already have food, and clothes, and blankets, and they already have people coming in to get food at their soup kitchens. All you must do is help spread sandwiches, help scoop bowls, help share food! There is NO excuse for not actively serving God. Go somewhere, do something, get busy!

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

LISTENING LESSON & CONVERSATION ON MARK 5

JESUS SAYS

MATTHEW MARK

LUKE

JOHN

1-2

BIRTH AND

3-4 & 8

3-5

PREPARATION

9 & 12

5-6

6 & 8

5-8 & 11

8 & 13

8-9

10 & 13-14

MESSAGE AND

MINISTRY

15-16

18-19

10-17

7-11

19-20

21-23

20-21

12-13 & 18

14-17

DEATH AND

22-23

18-19

RESURRECTION

WHAT GOOD NEWS HAVE WE LEARNED?

OPEN: __________ | BIBLE FACT: __________ | CLOSE: __________

C Viljoen

WATCH MOVIES

WATCH FOR HOMEWORK

John Hagee's lesson on Angels and Demons.

WATCH TOGETHER

The punishment movie Visitation.

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

MARK 6 – JESUS DOES GREAT MIRACLES, AND GIVES US WORK

Can the power of Jesus work where there is no faith? What do you do to strengthen faith in people? What if someone conveys the Word to us and we don't listen? How did John the Baptist die and what do we learn from it? Will more of our prayers be heard if we give thanks to God? What happens when we harden our hearts against God?

Read Mark 6.

In chapter 6, many things happen that make you wonder what you get as a Christian. People often think it's only blessings, money & miracles... The truth is quite different. We are promised to go through many temptations, & hard times, & we are given work. We can't just sit still. Let's see Jesus' tougher side here.

Jesus despised in Nazareth (v1-6):

o NOTE: Jesus started teaching ON THE _______ Mark 2:27-28. The people resented Jesus, because He should be a humble __________, but come and taught them with __________ Mark 1:22. They obviously misunderstand Jesus. They know His flesh, NOT His _______. But He continued to preach.

The mission of the twelve (v7-13):

o Jesus did NOT tell his disciples one-by-one: You preach, you heal, you cast out demons. He gave __________ the work of God, to ____________________! We must get busy. Here we work plain and simple! Get YOUR hands dirty child of God Matthew 7:21!!! WORK! What will YOU do?

Death of John the Baptist (v14-29):

o Johannes had a hard life and died ugly, as you will learn in the homework later.

First multiplication of the loaves (v30-44): Reading challenge! (Second one in Mark 8) o It's important for when Jesus walks on the sea! Pay attention!

o Read as follows and see if you can notice what is wrong, BEFORE you read all 4 gospels' version:

- Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17… Seen something yet? Read John 6:1-15.

o What's wrong here??? There are two problems! (Joh! Isaiah 7) o _________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

o _________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Jesus walks on the sea (v45-56):

o Christianity is hard, and hard work! The disciples' hearts were hardened, even to the SECOND

increase in Mark 8: 17-18 & 21. They were saved, but of little faith... And these two things CANNOT

go together. Jesus strengthened His disciples' faith through chastisement!

o Read carefully: Jesus sends them into the sea, climbs a mountain and WATCHES them. He sees them struggling. He SITS and PRAYS… for +/-9 hours!!! Only then did He calm the wind. Class 101 in faith! Jesus doesn't play games. If you should have great faith by now but still don't believe right, God is going to start getting creative.

OPEN: __________ | BIBLE FACT: __________ | CLOSE: __________

WHAT GOOD NEWS HAVE WE LEARNED?

REFERENCES: Isaiah 53, Matthew 10:7, John 3:5, Ephesians 6:1, Colossians 3:25, James 1:12, & 5:14.

C Viljoen

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

HOMEWORK – TO READ & ANSWER

Make a list here, as long as you can, about all the different works and deeds that we can do for God towards our neighbors. Here are some examples: We can pray for them; encouraging them, feeding the hungry, driving out evil spirits... What else? There are so many! Make your best list!

We can for our loved ones:

o _________________________________________________________________________________

C Viljoen

Further on the death of John, and what it teaches us for our children: o The people thought Jesus was John the Baptist, from the dead. How terrible is that? They cut off his head, bury his body, and throw his head away... Then they think later that John could rise from the dead? And also, that he comes with great powers? These people knew well that if you could rise from the dead you had to be one who came with victorious power from God himself.

o Notice also that a young girl, who could not even be called a woman among the Jews, asked for the head! I them brought the head full of blood in a dish and put it in her own hands v28. PEOPLE!

These people are not petty. And the Bible is definitely not for sissies. What a rough thing! We also learn here that our children will be led hard by a gentle hand Proverbs 13:24, & 29:15. Children in Bible times were stoned to death if they so much as talked back or disrespected their parents.

MAKE SURE YOU READ THEM ALL: Deuteronomy 21:18-21, Leviticus 20:9, Luke 11:11-13, Proverbs 22:6 & 15, Exodus 20:12, Proverbs 23:13-14 & Ephesians 6:2-4! Stop raising your children softly or hiding from them the realities of the world from a young age. Put it before their eyes, so they can FEAR God and HELL Deuteronomy 6:4-13, Matthew 10:28, & Proverbs 14:16!

o In Joshua 24:15 Joshua said: Me and my house WILL serve God. It's a VERY important verse. We should not allow our children the law that our government allows us, with the name of “freedom of religion”, because this earthly law goes against the law of God's Word. In your home, you as a parent must MAKE SURE your children serve God, according to this verse. POINT! If you don't, you're not doing your job right. Then if they don't like it, they can go find another house.

Further on the unfairness:

o Just being born is unfair! Who do you say WANT to be born? Here we are born, and find out we must work, and struggle, and suffer... And we must do it so that we can just keep living and live longer... Why? WHY? Well, look at Deuteronomy 8:2. 40 YEARS, the Israelites had to walk in the desert! The faster we learn the lesson, the faster we are out of the pit and into the palace! You were born for an important reason, otherwise God would never do it. We must be of good cheer!

Realize life is unfair and be of good cheer John 16:33! The short time on earth is a test, the whole thing, to see if we can overcome sin with Jesus 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Then comes your prize! A VERY GREAT PRIZE 1 Corinthians 2:9!

More about John's death:

o John did NOT remain silent. Philip is King Herod's brother. Philip's wife was Herodias. King Herod married his brother's wife. John told him it was a sin. Then he was thrown in prison, AND his head cut off!!! God did not give him a palace! He preached in the desert, went to prison, and died ugly.

come on Christianity is NOT what you think. It's NOT for sisters. God says life is unfair, and you better get used to it because it is good for you, in: Matthew 5:45, Matthew 20:1-16, & James 1:2-4.

He will one day balance the scales again Romans 12:19-21! Christianity is not about US, but rather about JESUS!

Extra notes:

o Mark 6:5 - Even Jesus can do nothing for you if YOU are without faith.

o If we could multiply bread just for fun, then there would be chaos on earth, and then Genesis 3:19

would be a lie. Ask yourself if what you trust God for will make Him great and save souls.

o Why did Jesus continue to preach even though they reproached him in Mark 6:6? Because Romans 10:17.

o Do yourself a favor and look up the works of the Spirit and do them.

o The people in Jesus' time were so afraid that just in case John the Baptist could stand up, they chopped off his head... And STILL they feared that John had come back from the dead!

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

Further on the story where Jesus walks on the sea:

o Jesus made the disciples struggle for roughly 9 HOURS at night on the sea, because of their unbelief during the first multiplication of the loaves. That's a lot of hours of punching.

o Mark 6:45-56 - Jesus walking on the sea... We know the Jews' daytimes were 6AM-6PM, or sunrise to sunset. We have established this for a long time. Now: Originally in the Old Testament there were only 3-night watches:

o Lamentations 2:19, Judges 7:19, Exodus 14:24, & 1 Samuel 11:11.

o The night vigils were specific times in which the Jewish Military services kept watch over important buildings at night. So, you can see it as if you have a bunch of soldiers guarding the temple for example, and each one stayed at his night post for 4 hours in the Old Testament. These night watches were from 06PM-10PM, then 10PM-02AM in the morning, and then 02AM-06AM. During each of these 3-night vigils, new soldiers came to relieve the previous ones, to keep watch over places like the temple at night.

o In the New Testament, the Romans started a 4th night watch at the time of Jesus: o Matthew 14:25, & Mark 13:35.

o So, in the New Testament the soldiers' relief times were: 06PM-09PM, 09PM-12PM, 12PM-03AM, and 03AM-06AM.

o So, when Jesus spoke of the 4th night watch in Mark 6:48, He meant that the disciples wrestled on the stormy sea from 6PM (v45-47) until early in the morning 3AM (v48), “about the 4th night watch”. Basically, Jesus made the disciples wrestle for 9 hours right through the night on the sea to chastise them for their little faith during the first multiplication of the loaves.

o How do we know that? Because it was almost 6PM at night (v35), then the crowd first ate bread (v42), then Jesus sent the disciples into the sea, and sent the crowd home (v45-47).

After this, Jesus goes up to the mountain alone, keeps watch over the disciples, and He sits and prays, from 6 o'clock at night, until about the 4th night watch, thus until about 3

o'clock in the morning. It means that the disciples wrestled on the sea for roughly 9 hours, and only then did Jesus walk on the sea towards them, and the water calmed down. Jesus gets creative with chastisement when our faith should be great, but is still small, and 9

hours straight through the night beatings, is wild. We must be vigilant regarding our faith before Jesus decides to get creative with us too! ☺

o Did you notice with the description above, that Jesus never leaves us alone, even if it sometimes feels that way...? He is ALWAYS watching! He kept watch over his disciples on the stormy sea and prayed for them. WOW!

C Viljoen

LISTENING LESSON & CONVERSATION ON MARK 6

JESUS SAYS

MATTHEW MARK

LUKE

JOHN

1-2

BIRTH AND

3-4 & 8

3-5

PREPARATION

9 & 12

5-6

6 & 8

5-8 & 11

8 & 13

8-9

10 & 13-14

MESSAGE AND

MINISTRY

15-16

18-19

10-17

7-11

19-20

21-23

20-21

12-13 & 18

14-17

DEATH AND

22-23

18-19

RESURRECTION

WHAT GOOD NEWS HAVE WE LEARNED?

OPEN: __________ | BIBLE FACT: __________ | CLOSE: __________

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

WATCH MOVIES

WATCH FOR HOMEWORK

Jesus – A Kingdom without Frontiers.

WATCH TOGETHER

None.

C Viljoen

PRACTICAL LESSON TO MARK 6

COOK FOOD FOR THE POOR

Jesus makes it very clear that faith without love/actions is - dead. Said another way: If you don't WORK for God, you go to hell, because Matthew 7:21. We often hear that our actions cannot save us, and then we simply leave the actions alone, but be sure the actions are more important than you think.

When you accept Jesus as your personal Savior and get yourself baptized, you get eternal life by believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is the Son of God who conquered sin and death on the cross of Calvary on your behalf. Ok, so we GAIN eternal life through Jesus (easy) Ephesians 2:8-9, but we KEEP eternal life through good works (difficult) James 2:17 & Hebrews 11:6.

UNDERSTAND ABOVE ALL: Without works, our faith cannot STAY ALIVE, and then we are most likely in big trouble. Use your gifts! Do what you can, use what you have, right where you are. For this practical lesson we are all going to get some form of food (besides money) ourselves and give it to the poor around us, so that we can prove our love IN - DEED to our neighbors.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. If you can’t contribute, you are welcome to sacrifice your time to help your team members. Just what you want, it’s entirely your choice. Participate here! It's better than fasting: Isaiah 58:1-14.

2. You can choose whether you want to do it yourself, on any day before the next Bible study session, or to do it together as a group (which will be much easier and faster, working with a team).

3. The date of the group's food-making day: __________________________________________

4. Decide what food you (or the group) want to make. You can make anything! Curry and rice in bowls, sandwiches in bags, salad with soft drink, snackwidges, mixed fruit in bags, soup in deep bowls, a potty food competition, a box of pies, whatever you want.

5. Discuss with the group so that everyone knows what needs to be bought, and where the food will be prepared and where it will be distributed and so on. A suggestion: a. Few people at Skribante retirement apartments like it when we take food for them.

b. Maybe drive around and give food to beggars or arrange to bring food to the nearest church's soup kitchen and distribute it there YOURSELVES or arrange to take food to the children at an orphanage. BUT: The purpose of the practical lesson is to give food to some people with your own hands, so that you can take the actions deep into your soul repeatedly, and also their results. So, decide wisely and plan smartly for this lesson.

c. Try to make enough food so that each person can feed at least 5 poor hands.

d. Put a message on all the food that says: “To Jesus all the thanks and glory!” (turn the page).

e. If you take food for the poor children, it can be in the form of tins of food or fruit or such bulk-bought foods but try to distribute it yourself by arranging.

6. ANOINT YOURSELF with olive oil or salve oil and wash your face when you start.

7. Remember the following BEFORE YOU START:

a. James 4:17, Matthew 6:1, 5:16, 10:14, Galatians 6:9, & Colossians 3:17.

Enjoy and good luck to the people who might not want your food.

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

THE MESSAGE ON THE FOOD FOR THE PRACTICAL LESSON AFTER MARK 6

Feel free to cut it out or make copies.

We only give Jesus all

the thanks and glory!

We only give Jesus all

We only gi ve Jesus all

the thanks and glory!

We only give Jesus all

We only gi ve Jesus all

the thanks and glory!

We only give Jesus all

We only gi ve Jesus all

the thanks and glory!

We only give Jesus all

We only gi ve Jesus all

the thanks and glory!

We only give Jesus all

We only gi ve Jesus all

the thanks and glory!

We only give Jesus all

We only gi ve Jesus all

the thanks and glory!

We only give Jesus all

We only gi ve Jesus all

the thanks and glory!

We only give Jesus all

The Jesus Series - Student Guide by Chris Viljoen - HTML preview

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