Introduction: 
Hey everybody, welcome to the podcast, I’m Nick and it is a pleasure to be here with you today. We are on week 2 of our new season called An Apprenticeship to Jesus: Gospel of Mark Study.
Last week, we looked at Mark 1 and I learned from Jesus, that you have to slow down and make time for prayer even if it is early in the morning.
There is a PDF of this course that you can download on our website. 
Make sure to subscribe to the podcast, so that you can automatically keep up. Each week we will read a chapter of the Gospel of Mark and I will read the discussion questions off and give you time to pause and answer the questions. I would recommend finding someone to listen to the podcast with. 
Let’s jump in to the study. Would you pray with me.

Opening Prayer:
Holy Spirit, lead us into all truth we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Read Mark 2
And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

23 One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”  
Mark 2:1–28, ESV
Discussion:

What did Jesus say in this chapter?

What did Jesus do in this chapter?

What did you learn from Jesus?

What surprised you about Jesus?

What confused you about Jesus?

What questions do you have?

How can I be like Jesus this week?

Leave a comment to tell me what Spiritual exercise that you tried this week. I did the scripture memory and memorized Psalm 119:11 in order to get God’s word in my heart so I won’t sin.

Closing Prayer:
 God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, give us spiritual wisdom and insight so that we might grow in our knowledge of you, God. I pray that our hearts will be flooded with light so that we can understand the confident hope you have given to those you have called—your holy people who are your rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that we will understand the incredible greatness of your power for us who believe Jesus is King. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at your right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. You, God have put all things under the authority of Christ and have made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. 
Adapted from Ephesians 1:16–23, NLT

Exercises for the week (pick 1 new practice this week)
Gratitude Journal - At the end of the each day, write down at least 5 things that you are grateful to God for that you noticed that day. Share a few things next session. Feel free to jot down things as you go through the day. Make these exercises work for you and your personality.

Scripture Memory - This week, take time to commit the following verse to memory. “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”  
Psalm 119:11, NLT

Compassion - This week, be on the lookout for someone that needs help in some way. If you are able to help them, take time out of your day and give them a hand. This is not so that they can help you, this is strictly out of compassion for them in their time of need. Don’t overthink this, if you see a need and you can help, jump in.
Assignment for next week : Read Mark 3