related scripture readings

[Talking about his second coming, Jesus continued,] "However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows." —Mark 13:32 NLT Key Thought The greatest secret of all time is the exact day and hour of the...

[Talking about his second coming, Jesus continued,] "Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear." —Mark 13:31 NLT Key Thought While heaven and earth will pass away, Jesus' words — his promise to return along with all of his other promises — will be fulfilled. We can...

One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate [between Jesus and the Jewish leaders]. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" —Mark 12:28 NLT Key Thought An honest seeker overhears the...

[The Sadducees said,] "Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother's name. Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children. So...

[At the end of the parable of the vineyard and the tenant farmers, Jesus asked:] "Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures? 'The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful to see.'" —Mark 12:10-11 NLT Key Thought Jesus...

As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. "Go into that village over there," he told them. "As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden...

"Be quiet!" many of the people yelled at [the blind man begging for mercy]. But he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" —Mark 10:48 NLT Key Thought While we are not told to be quiet as Jesus physically passes by us, peer pressure and social agendas antagonistic to faith...

[Jesus said,] "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." —Mark 10:45 NLT Key Thought Here is the heart of our hero, Jesus, given in one simple statement. His words must be our legacy. His example must be the pattern for our...

As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" —Mark 10:17 NLT Key Thought This man's question is a great one, but did it come from a genuine heart? You will have to read the...

Jesus answered [the Pharisees] with a question: "What did Moses say in the law about divorce?" "Well, he permitted it," they replied. "He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away." —Mark 10:3-4 NLT Key Thought In this Scripture, the Pharisees were able to...

[After saying that his disciples must remove any source of temptation, Jesus continued,] "For everyone will be tested with fire." —Mark 9:49 NLT Key Thought The real character of our lives will not be left in doubt when we are tested. As one saying goes, "Trial doesn't produce character but...

[Jesus] sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, "Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else." —Mark 9:35 NLT Key Thought Jesus' life was an ongoing demonstration of what he taught. The truth he lived and proclaimed is nowhere more...

Leaving that region, [Jesus and the disciples] traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn't want anyone to know he was there, for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed...

The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" —Mark 9:24 NLT Key Thought All through this story, each of the people involved is so genuine about his emotions and faith. Rather than pretending he had full faith, the father acknowledged he believed, but...

[A man in the crowd said to Jesus,] "... I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn't do it." Jesus said to them, "You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." —Mark 9:18-19 NLT Key Thought Don't you know...

"What is all this arguing about?" Jesus asked. One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, "Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won't let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at...

[Jesus continued teaching the crowd,] "If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." —Mark 8:38 NLT Key Thought We live in times when believers are...

Then [Jesus] asked [the disciples], "But who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Messiah." But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. —Mark 8:29-30 NLT Key Thought Jesus' warning seems bizarre to many folks today. However, if we follow the story of Jesus in the Gospel...

Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets." —Mark 8:27-28 NLT...

Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" —Mark 8:27 NLT Key Thought If you ask people today who they think Jesus is, you will get a myriad of answers. Many folks don't know...