Bible Questions: Mark 12:18-25

I have written the following questions based on the sermon Knowing Scripture and the Power of God by Matt Kennedy.

Text: Mark 12:18-25

1. [App] The Sadducees only believed in the first five books of the Bible, called the Torah; the rest they excluded.  What happens to our faith when we discount or ignore sections of the Bible?

2. [v.18] How would you live your life differently if you knew there was nothing after death?

3. [v.18-23] Why do the Sadducees care about the question they are posing if they don’t believe in the resurrection themselves?  Why wouldn’t they ask Jesus something they were more knowledgeable about?

4. [v.24] If the word of God is spiritual food, what happens when we neglect our own personal reading of Scripture?  Even if we have sections of Scripture memorized, or have already read through the Bible once, why should we continue to do so?

5. [v.24] Jesus petitions to the Power of God as evidence of the Sadducees ignorance of Scripture.  Using only the Old Testament, discuss what you believe are God’s most powerful works up to this point.  (Bonus points if your example is the in first five books.)

6. [v.25] What’s the difference between people and angels?  When resurrected, what parts of our humanity do we get to keep, and what will be replaced?

Bible Questions: Mark 12:13-17

I have written the following questions based on the sermon Giving to Caesar, Rendering to God by Matt Kennedy.

Text: Mark 12:13-17

1. [v.13] What is the difference between Biblical customs and Biblical commandments?  What is the consequence of breaking either one?

2. [v.14-15] Why do people change their appearance or offer flattery when trying to obtain a particular outcome?

3. [v.14-15] Is the flattery that the Pharisees and Herodians offer Jesus true or genuine?  Is flattery ever necessary?  How about deception?

4. [v.15-16] Why does Jesus turn the crowd’s attention to the details of the coin, particularly its image and description?

5. [v.17] Does Jesus actually answer the initial question about taxes?  What is Jesus trying to communicate?

6. [App] To some degree, Jesus upholds the ruling government, despite its faults.  Read Romans 13:1-6.  Why does God institute governments to rule over people?  When does a bad government become so corrupt that Christians would be right (before God) to disobey?

7. [v.17] Today, how do we know “What is Caesar’s” and what is God’s?  How do we give our money and honor properly?