Author: Norm

SCRIPTURE: Mark 12 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything–all she had to live on.” [Mark 12:43-44] What does God desire from…

SCRIPTURE: Mark 11 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’ ? But you have made it `a den of robbers.’” [Mark 11:17] Why does Jesus curse the fig tree? The tree wasn’t at fault, it wasn’t the season for fruit….

SCRIPTURE: Mark 10 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields–and with them,…

SCRIPTURE: Mark 9 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “’If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” [Mark 9:23-24] I have often used these words myself, they describe how I often feel about my own weak faith. This passage presents Jesus as a glorious messiah…

SCRIPTURE: Mark 8 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put…

SCRIPTURE: Mark 7 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’” [Mark 7:15] By ‘unclean’, Jesus is not talking about visibly dirty, but spiritually dirty, and therefore unacceptable to God. His point in this passage is that God is…

SCRIPTURE: Mark 6 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith. [Mark 6:5-6] Why do some people experience miracles, and others do not? I believe miracles are happening all around us, but not everyone sees them…

SCRIPTURE: Mark 5 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” [Mark 5:36] This passage reveals the power and authority of Jesus – over demons, over sickness, even over death. This is why Jesus is the hope of the world, He is the only one that can overcome the power…

SCRIPTURE: Mark 4 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables” [Mark 4:11]. When Jesus spoke in public, He kept His message simple, in stories that made people think. He did not explain His stories, He was intentionally…

SCRIPTURE: Mark 3 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. [Mark 3:5] Jesus must have often felt anger and deep distress about the stubborn hearts of the people He came to…