Blue Collar Bible Commentary

                                                                        JAMES 4:1-12                                               Lesson # 7                                                               SUBMITTING TO GOD   I.    Greetings:   II.   Introduction:             Note:  Have you ever noticed we are harder to get along with than at other times.  Sometimes we seem to want to get into an argument.  What causes that?             Q Have you ever noticed that some people in an extended... Read Full Story

The Gospel of Mark is quite an interesting writing. It is the shortest of all of the Gospels, but is one that jumps right into the action, and reads almost like a Hollywood movie script. So as I study this action-packed writing with the Young Adults Ministry that my wife and I lead, I want to take the opportunity to write about some of what we are discovering in our studies. But before we jump into the text, it is important to lay down some historical context. There are some important things... Read Full Story

The text (Mark 1:9-11): 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”    The commentary: Mark presents this event much earlier in the text than do Matthew and Luke (occurs in the third chapter of each of those texts), and in the... Read Full Story

The text (Mark 1:12-13): 12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.    The commentary: This is by far the shortest account of Jesus’ time in the wilderness after His baptism. However, it actually says a great deal about this event in His life. The first thing that I notice about this passage is how the Spirit “drove” Him out into the... Read Full Story

The text (Mark 1:1-8): 1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,    ”Behold, I send my messenger before your face,    who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:    ’Prepare the way of the Lord,    make his paths straight,’”  4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going... Read Full Story