Introduction

Arriving in the Gospel of Mark

Status Quo

Mark Chapter 11:1-33

The Arrival of the King (v1-11)

Psalm 118:25, 26

Fig Tree Sandwich (v12-25)

The Purpose of the People

Judgment of the Temple

The Where of Worship?

Fig Tree Revisited

Who do you think you are ?(v26-33)

By What Authority?

Questioning the Questioners

Following Jesus

The Status Quo? His Purposes?

Growing in knowledge

• Why was Jesus such a threat to the “status quo” in his day? What about our day? How can religion without Jesus and his mission quickly become stale and status quo?
• Read the following passages about temples and discuss the where of worship. Ephesians 2:11-22, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (the “you” in this passage is plural).

Feeling life deeply

• Jesus just drops some teaching about faith and forgiveness on the disciples in the discussion of the fig tree. Why did they need this? Why do we need this?

Living with courage

• How do we get sucked into the status quo of life here in America? How does following Jesus in his purposes challenge this? How might this make it difficult for us at times? Are we stuck in fear of following?