Week of December 12

1. Read Mark 1:1-8.
2. What kind of books do you enjoy reading?
3. Do you like to read a book that starts off slow and easy or jumps right in?
4. How would you describe the way Mark starts off his gospel story: Shocking? Grabbing? Intriguing? Boring?
5. What literary form does he use: Historical sketch? A tiny episode? A human interest story? Flash back?
6. Why is John (the Baptist) so important to the Jesus story? How would you describe John by his dress, diet and message in modern terms? Why was he so popular with the masses?
7. What do you learn about Jesus' background from this first paragraph?
8. If you wrote"the gospel according to you", how would you begin it and who would be the John the Baptist in your life?