✅ Mark 10:15 | Share the Gift

Happy Friday, everyone!

We’ve made it to Friday, praise the Lord! I’m excited to see what God will do if this entire community takes just one simple action this weekend!

In today’s email…

• 🗒️ A summary of what we’ve learned this week

• ✍️ One simple step to share the Kingdom with a friend

• 📱 Bible school in your pocket (without the homework)

• 📚️ In case you missed it…

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MEMORIZE 🧠 

Truly, _ ___ __ ___, _______ ____ ___ _______ ___ _______ __ ___ ____ _ _____ _____ not _____ __.

Mark 10:15

CONTEXT 📕 

On Monday, we dove into the Gospel according to Mark — a fast-paced Gospel written for Gentile Christians facing suffering and trials.

We met John Mark, Peter’s interpreter, and saw how he used the word “immediately” over 40 times throughout Jesus’ ministry.

Then, he stops using that word when he comes to the central event of the Gospel (Jesus’ death), almost as if to slow us down to meditate on the most significant event in human history.

On Tuesday, we focused in on the surrounding context of Mark 10:15.

We saw the contrast of back to back stories comparing children with the rich man, turning upside down conventional wisdom at the time.

It was another example of how Jesus’ Kingdom upends the world’s expectations of who is great.

On Wednesday, we studied how children were viewed in the ancient world.

Far from sweet and innocent, they stood at the bottom of the social ladder — voiceless and dependent.

And Jesus uses that to make his point. To receive God’s Kingdom, we must recognize our utter dependence on the Father.

And on Thursday, we looked at how Jesus shows us what perfect dependence on the Father looked like.

And because of his perfect obedience, we are given the opportunity to, like children, receive a gift we do not deserve!

As we head into the weekend, Jesus’ words present us with a choice:

Will we be like children? Willingly dependent and ready to receive the Kingdom?

Or will we be like the rich man? Missing out on the Kingdom because of our pride and desire to be ‘independent’?

APPLY AND RESPOND 🏃‍♂️ 

As we close our study, let’s be childlike in one more way…

Children can't help but share exciting news. When they receive something wonderful, they overflow with joy and tell everyone.

Last month, we were at the beach in NC for a family member’s wedding. The day before the wedding, I surprised the two older kids with ice cream.

After crushing the ice cream, we rode our bikes back to the house and Christopher was telling EVERYONE that he got mint-chocolate chip ice cream (our favorite flavor)!

If we've truly received God's Kingdom like children, shouldn't that same joy compel us to share?

Share the Gift

Think of one friend who doesn't know Jesus but is open to spiritual conversations.

Tell them you've been learning about how God's love isn't something we earn — it's a gift He gives freely. Ask if they'd like to grab coffee and hear more about what you've been learning.

You could even say something like:

You know how when you hear a great song or watch a great movie, you immediately want to share it with people you care about?

This might sound weird, but that’s exactly how I feel about Jesus. If Jesus really was who He said He was (and I think He is), it’s the best news there could ever be.

Don't overthink it. Like a child sharing good news, simply overflow with what you've received.

The Kingdom of God is too good to keep to ourselves!

TOGETHER WITH THEOSU

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RESOURCES 📚️ 

Here are a few resources to help you dig deeper into the verse and its themes:

• 📚 N.T. Wright, Mark for Everyone (link)

• 📚️ William L. Lane, The Gospel of Mark (NICNT) (link)

• 📚 W.A. Strange, Children in the Early Church: Children in the Ancient World, the New Testament and the Early Church (link)

• 📘 For Kids: The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name. Highly recommend this one - our kids LOVE it! (link)

• 📹️ The Gospel of Mark by The Bible Project (link)

• 📰 “Children in the New Testament” by Bible Odyssey (link)

• 🎵 Like a Child (Spotify | Apple Music | Full Malachi Daily Playlist)

Lastly, if you want to…

1. Support our work to help us reach more people with God’s Word AND

2. Want lifetime access to Renew Your Mind: How to Take Your Thoughts Captive and Make Them Obedient to Christ

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ANSWER KEY ✅ 

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.

Mark 10:15