Day 8: Mark 12-16

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What was the parable that Jesus told against the chief priests, scribes and the elders?
2. Who put the greatest offering into the temple treasury? How much was it?
3. What did Jesus say would not pass away?
4. Describe Jesus' betrayal.
5. Who was set free when Jesus was crucified? What crime did he commit?

Feel free to share your questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 7: Mark 7-11

Here are some questions to think about as you listen to today's Scripture.

1. How did the Syrophoenician woman challenge Jesus?
2. Why were the disciples worried about bread?
3. Peter had his mind on the wrong things. What were they?
4. Who was on the mountain with Jesus when he was transfigured?
5. Jesus has predicted the same things at least three times from chapters 8 to 10. What are they?

Feel free to share your insights and questions on today's text by leaving a comment.

Day 6: Mark 1-6

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. How is the beginning of Mark different from the beginning of Matthew?
2. Who are Jesus' brothers and sisters?
3. Why does Jesus use parables?
4. Who can never have forgiveness? Why?
5. What did Jesus tell the man who was set free from the demons to do?

Please feel free to share your thoughts, insights, and questions by leaving a comment.

Chapter 20: Jesus - The Lines on His Face

Mark here. Well, here we are at the final chapter of Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz. I know I have found this an interesting and stretching read, and the comments and discussions that have taken place on this blog and in other places have truly been a blessing. I am really looking forward to starting into Leonard Sweet's 11 next week. The discussion is truly wide open to anybody who wants to participate. In fact, folks new to the discussion are welcome to go back and read over previous posts on Blue Like Jazz and comment on those posts as well to keep those conversations going.

After reading this chapter, I found myself thinking about the story of Jesus and his disciples in Mark 8:27-29:
Jesus went on with his disciples to the village of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say that I am?' And they answered him, 'John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.' He asked them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, 'You are the Christ.'"

After reading this chapter, the whole book for that matter, I wonder, if Jesus asked you that question today, what would your answer be? Peter answered based on what he had experienced. Miller's answer was based on his experiences. What experiences would shape your answer?

Miller observes after reading through the Gospels: "... Jesus didn't just love me out of principle; He didn't just love me because it was the right thing to do. Rather, there was something inside me that caused Him to love me." What is that something? Is it something within us all or is it unique to each one of us?

Miller: "I think Christian spirituality is like jazz music. I think loving Jesus is something you feel. I think it is something very difficult to get on paper. But it is no less real, no less meaningful, no less beautiful." How do you find yourself most truly expressing love to Jesus?

I hope that you will know that you are a beloved child of God, created in His image, recreated in Christ. I hope that this week will not only provide an opportunity for you to experience Christ's love for you, but for you to express your love for Him in a clear and meaningful way. God bless you!

Chapter 19: Love - How to Really Love Yourself

Mark here. With David teaching the Great Light Seminar right now, I will facilitate the rest of the discussions on "Blue Like Jazz". With only 1 chapter left to go, some may wonder, "What next?" Well, let me tell you! We will next move into a discussion centered around Leonard Sweet's new book 11. In this book, Sweet uses Biblical figures to identify 11 relationships we need to have in our life in order to be who God intends us to be. This book should provide a wonderful opportunity for Biblical principles to intersect daily life. It will hopefully also generate a lot of discussion.

In starting with 11, David and I have decided to cast a wider net. We have always said that the discussion on this blog was open to anyone. We are going to be much more intentional about promoting that over the course of the next few weeks.

If you are in the Young Adult Sunday School class at First Baptist Elon, David and I will be getting books to you shortly. Otherwise, anyone can pick up a copy of the book at any Family Christian bookstore. As always, we will try to facilitate the discussion in a way that anyone can participate, even if they do not have the book.

Now, on to a discussion based around chapter 19 of Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz.

Miller tells a story about Nathan, a genius who talks like Elmer Fudd. Miller fears that if Nathan was to come to his church, people would label Nathan and make fun of him because of the way he talks and never learn that he was a genius. Have you ever labeled someone and then learned something about them that totally blew up your label? Why do you think we sometimes make judgments about someone without really knowing them?

Miller writes, "I pray often that God would give me the strength and dignity to receive [my friends'] love. My friend Julie from Seattle says the key to everything rests in the ability to receive love ...". Why does it take strength to receive love? Why does it take dignity to receive love? Why is the ability to receive love so important?

There are 2 passages of Scripture that Miller either directly quotes or, I believe, lie underneath his writings in this chapter.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." - John 3:16

"One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, 'Which commandment is the first of all?' Jesus answered, 'The first is, Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.'" - Mark 12:28-31

It occurs to me that one of the first songs the church teaches children is "Jesus Loves Me". Most children learns that God loves them before they learn that they are to love God. Is it possible to love God without first coming to the realization that God loves us?
If we are struggling with the fact that God loves us, how does this affect our faith and our relationship to God?

Are our relationships to others affected by our understanding that God loves us? How?

Chapter 5: Faith - Penguin Sex

Mark here. As I read the chapter for this week (How could you not read a chapter with a title like that?), there are several questions that emerge regarding the meaning of faith.

Miller tells the story of his conversation with his friend Laura, who talked about feeling like God was "after her". We often talk about conversion as "coming to Jesus". Does conversion also involve God chasing after us? What do you think this pursuit feels like?

Laura said that she is resisting God because "... it is all so stupid, so completely stupid." Miller explains her comments about faith by saying, "Laura was looking for something rational, because she believed that all things that were true were rational." Is reason a part of faith, or do you have to suspend reason to have faith?

Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Mark 12:28-30 - "One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, 'Which commandment is the first of all?' Jesus answered, 'The first is, Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'"

Are there things about faith that confuse you? Do these things make faith difficult?

Miller talks about having a "radar" inside him that says to believe in Jesus. Though he can't explain it, this radar always leads him right. How does your "radar" work? What aspects of Christian spirituality help fine tune your radar?