Magnolia Baptist Church

Getting the Most Out of God’s Word

A Guide for Reading

and Listening to God’s Word

a journey of discovery

For personal devotion or

group discussion

MAGNOLIA BAPTIST CHURCH

WELCOME ALONG

MAPPING JESUS’ LIFE

TIMELINE OF JESUS part 4

HELPFUL ONLINE TOOLS

DAY TWENTY-ONE:

Friend of Sinners

DAY TWENTY-TWO:

Needing a Sign

DAY TWENTY-THREE:

Teaching through Parables

DAY TWENTY-FOUR:

Lord of All

DAY TWENTY-FIVE:

God Revealed

CONTENTS

WELCOME ALONG I believe there is no greater journey one can engage in life than

to know Jesus of Nazareth...the Christ...the Son of God.

Paul, a leader in the early foundations of Christianity, wrote

“For me to live is Christ…” (Philippians 1:27). Nothing else was more

important to Paul. “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the

surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have

suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I

may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)

I agree with Paul. There is nothing in my life more incredible

than knowing Jesus. The words and ways of Jesus guide and enhance

every facet of my life...at home with my wife and kids, at work, and in

my community.

Does that make me perfect? No. I blow it...big time. But it put

me in a right relationship with Jesus...being a follower.

This guide is a journey of discovery...of knowing Jesus. My hope

in putting this together is to help guide you along this journey; to guide

you into a personal discovery of Jesus in ways, that perhaps, you

haven't thought of before; to introduce you to a very real Jesus who

had a family and friends, knew incredible affirmation and suffered

painful rejection; who knew hunger and thirst; who lived and died and

lives again!

Take courage and take the journey to discover Jesus: the Lamb

of God who takes away sin, the son of Joseph and Mary, the Christ, the

Messiah, the Lion of Judah, the Son of Man, the Son of God.

In knowing Jesus more deeply, I hope also that you come to

know yourself more clearly. That as you know Him more, you more and

more become like Jesus and truly discover not just a person or a

moment in history, but that you truly discover life in His name.

Blessings,

Jeremy K. Bratcher

Senior Pastor

MAPPING JESUS’ LIFE

TIMELINE of JESUS’ LIFE part four

Jesus returns from the second Passover 27 A.D.

Nazareth

He Came Again to His Own City (Matthew 9:1; Mark 5:21 Luke 8:40).

The Parable of the Wineskins (Matthew 9:10-17; Mark 2:15-22; Luke 5:29-39).

Jairus' Daughter and the Woman With the Flow of Blood (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:22-43; Luke 8:41-56).

The Blind and the Mute (Matthew 9:27-34).

A Prophet is Not Without Honor Except . . (Matthew 13:53-58; Mark 6:1-6).

He Was Moved With Compassion For Them (Matthew 9:35-38)

Sent His Disciples Out With Power and Authority (Matthew 10; Mark 6:6-13, Luke 9:1-6)6).

Machaerus

John the Baptist is Beheaded (Matthew 14:1, 2, 6-12; Mark 6:14-16, 21-29; Luke 9:7-9)

Near Bethsaids

The Disciples Return, Feeding Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14)

Sea of Galilee

Jesus Walks on Water (Matthew 14:22-36; Mark 6:45-56; John 6:15-21)

Jesus visits Jerusalem for a third Passover April, 28 A.D.

Am the Bread of Life (John 6:22-65)

Do you also want to go away? (John 6:66-71)

Unwashed Hands (Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23)

A Woman of Canaan (Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30)

Then Great Multitudes Came to Him (Matthew 15:29-31, Mark 7:31-37)

Feeding Four Thousand (Matthew 15:32-39; Mark 8:1-9)

Seeking From Him a Sign From Heaven (Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:10-12)

MAGNOLIA BAPTIST CHURCH

Helpful Online Tools for Personal Bible Study

www.bible.org Home of the NET Bible and incredible background study resources. The NET Bible is full of

notes from some of the best Hebrew and Greek scholars of our day. Bible.org offers self-paced theological

studies, outlines and study guides for each book of the Bible. Bible.org is key word searchable. Some of the

language and presentation of the material is a bit more scholarly than other sites, but it is fairly accessible in

understanding.

www.biblestudytools.com Great website for searching through the Bible. It offers several tools for study (as

the name suggests): concordances, language tools, maps, commentaries...it even has an interlinear Bible (that

is searchable and provides pronunciations and root word guides for those who desire to know more about

Biblical Greek and Hebrew). This is a must link for anyone looking to study the word more. Thousands of

dollars in print resources, all free for use here!

www.biblemap.org Created using Google maps, this site offers a satellite view of Bible lands. The map is

linked to Bible references and is searchable by book and verse.

www.biblegateway.com This site offers a dozens of translations that are searchable by book, chapter and

verse. You can even compare various translations here to see how the texts might be handled a bit differently.

This site also offers several language translations.

www.youversion.com A great mobile Bible accessible through Blackberry, iPhone, and Android apps. There

is now a windows/mac version of YouVersion available for desktop use. A great tool for anyone looking to

keep the Word with them on the go!

www.preceptaustin.org PreceptAustin.org is an incredible website full of Bible studies, outlines, maps, Greek

and Hebrew helps. I have recently added it to this list. It is absolutely worth your time to invest here during

your personal Bible study.

www.soniclight.com SonicLight is the personal website of Dr. Tom Constable. Dr. Constable is an incredible

Bible scholar with deep insight into God’s word. Working expositionally through the Scripture, Dr. Constable

presents a thorough and understandable breakdown of God’s word.

MAGNOLIA BAPTIST CHURCH

“Then I read that Jesus was a

friend of sinners. This still

bothers me. Not because Jesus

was a friend of sinners (because

that came in really handy in my

case). It bothered me because if

I'm trying to live like Jesus, that

means I'm supposed to be a

friend of sinners too.”

― Dillon Burroughs,

Undefending Christianity:

Embracing Truth Without

Having All the Answers

DAY TWENTY-ONE:

Friend of Sinners

ARE YOU TALKING TO ME? Having returned from the second Passover journey, Jesus will invest much of

his time training and equipping those who follow him. Significant portions of

his teaching ministry are attributed to this time frame. On one quiet night,

Jesus takes up an invitation to dine with Simon, one of the religious leaders

in his hometown. As the evening meal progresses, a “unique” visitor

interrupts.

Pray: Lord, show me truth in this reading today. Help me see you and your

grace in my life.

Read: Luke 7:36-50

Which character do you most relate to in the passage: Simon the Pharisee

or the sinful woman of the city? Why do you say this?

Do you think in v. 40 Simon was more inviting Jesus’ teaching or preparing

to defend himself? Again, why do you think this?

How would you respond to Jesus’ statement in vv. 44-47 if you were

Simon?

What questions do you still have?

Reflect: This woman of the city has been said to be a prostitute. Whatever she was, her reputation in the city

definitely preceded here in the room. Put yourself in her shoes for a moment...regardless of your sin, we are

all sinners. None of us...not one of us...is worthy of Christ’s honor. You enter the room, unannounced and

definitely unwelcomed. The gasps and whispers already fill the air. Across the room is Jesus. You run to him.

Bow to him. And honor him.

But what do you honor him with? Your reputation? That’s what Simon did.

All that you have is what’s in the box...that alabaster box, polished and white and full of the tools of your

trade: oils and perfumes. Think about it for a moment: “proper” bathing wasn’t as accessible in the ancient

world. To keep the “clients” happy, a prostitute would have used perfume and oils between each of her

“appointments” to prepare for the next.

When this woman came in and poured the perfume from her alabaster box on Jesus, she was truly repenting.

She was pouring everything that increased her sinful profit out on Jesus and turning away from the sin she was

in...no longer needing this perfume. As much as this perfume would have cost her, Jesus meant more.

And then...then he spoke the words, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus was far more than a friend of sinners. He was the one who forgave, restored and renewed sinners.

Jesus said to Simon, “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But

he who is forgiven little, loves little.” When you think about how you respond to Jesus, do you respond as

one who is forgiven much or one who is forgiven little?

Which is more important to you: being recognized by the friend of sinners or being forgiven by the savior of

sinners? Why?

Where do you struggle to be forgiven today? Why?

Turn this struggle into a prayer of forgiveness and a praise for being forgiven.

MAGNOLIA BAPTIST CHURCH

“We cannot find Him unless we

know we need Him. We forget

this need when we take a

self-sufficient pleasure in our

own good works. The poor and

helpless are the first to find Him,

Who came to seek and to save

that which was lost.”

― Thomas Merton,

No Man Is an Island

DAY TWENTY-TWO:

Needing a Sign

As Jesus’ continues throughout the region, his reputation is questioned.

Friend of sinners...master teacher...miracle worker…who is this Jesus?

Although everything about Jesus points to him being the Messiah, those

most educated in the Hebrew Scriptures cannot see Jesus clearly. His

interaction with the unclean and the unholy draw ire and resentment. These

leaders come to Jesus demanding proof that he is from God...because his

actions seem certainly like nothing a holy, loving, gracious God would

do...right?

Pray: Lord, what more proof do I need. Give me courage to believe and be-

lieve all the more.

Read: Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:10-13; Luke 12:54-56

What differences or similarities do you notice between the three passages?

What do you think the religious leaders were after: proof to believe or

evidence to accuse? Why do think this?

Why do you think Jesus does not fulfill the religious leaders’ request?

What questions do you still have?

Reflect: The rumors of Jesus’ miracles were all over the place. Every town, village and hamlet...every seaside

port, every large city, every outskirt...all had heard or witnessed this Jesus. In the center of all of the buzz, the

religious leaders came to Jesus demanding a sign. Why? Had they not seen? Had they not heard?

Jesus sighs. The demand for a sign was emotionally exhausting. His own disciples saw firsthand miracle after

miracle and heard teaching after teaching. They even had private explanations of events and teachings so that

they could understand more clearly. And they still struggled with faith.

Have you ever fallen into the “just give me sign God” trap? Maybe God did give you a sign. Maybe you’re still

waiting. We often think, “If you give me a sign (proof) then I’ll never doubt you again.” And just like that we

cover our own disbelief. What starts out as a declaration of wanting to increase our faith is really just a cover

up of our doubts.

I look at the world today and see no greater historically influential person than Jesus of Nazareth. His name

has been used for peace and war...attributed to unity and division...to righteous indignation and selfish

judgments. I cannot think of one nation that hasn’t been effected by Jesus one way or another. Yet, the world

today still demands a sign from God. I wonder if any new sign would really make much difference. I wonder if

demands for heavenly signs are still exhausting for Jesus. Maybe the point of faith is found greater in a lack of

signs. After all Jesus did tell Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet, believe.” (John 20:29)

Have you ever asked God for a sign? Do you feel that God gave you the sign?

Why do you think people are still searching for proof to believe God is real or evidences that God isn’t real?

Just a thought: Focus on what God has already done (provided for your salvation through Jesus and a way to

know Him and His way through the Bible). Turn your focus on what has already been done into a prayer of

strengthening faith.

MAGNOLIA BAPTIST CHURCH

“I recommend to you Jesus

Christ, the unchanging One. I

recommend to you God's answer

to your questions, God's solution

to your problems, God's life for

your dying soul, God's cleansing

for your sin-cursed spirit, God's

rest for your restless mind, and

God's resurrection for your dying

body. For advocate above, I

recommend Him to you. You will

find Him to be all He ever was--

the very same Jesus.”

― A.W. Tozer,

The Attributes of God: Deeper

into the Father's Heart

DAY TWENTY-THREE:

Teaching through

Parables

Jesus’ reputation for being a teacher or rabbi in his day was remarkable. He

taught with authority. People marveled at his command of the Scriptures.

He taught with compassion revealing the grace of God’s Kingdom for those

who would believe. He taught with truth. Sometimes though, Jesus hid the

full meaning of that truth from those who would oppose God’s Kingdom.

Thus, Jesus taught in parables...stories that used everyday objects to teach a

deeper truth which most people couldn’t grasp otherwise. Parables don’t

hide the lesson, but rather teaches it in a way that could be better grasped

by the one who was open to receiving it.

Pray: Lord, guide me in your way as I read your word.

Read: Matthew 13:1-53

Look back at vv. 1-23. What lesson do you learn about Jesus from the

parable of the sower?

Why does Jesus teach in parables? Hint: v10-13

How does Jesus response about teaching in parables make you feel?

What questions do you still have?

Reflect: Compared to His earlier teaching during the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus's turn to parables might

seem odd. He'd used clear instruction to teach His followers how to live and about the Kingdom of God, and

He'd exhibited the Kingdom in a tangible way through His miracles. But suddenly, when the crowds come to

hear Him, He hops into a boat and speaks in parables, stories about sowing seeds and gathering wheat

(Matthew 13).

When the disciples ask Him why, since they obviously noticed the change, His answer may seem even more

astonishing: "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has

not been granted" (Matthew 13:11). In other words, the parables are meant to divide the crowd. While this

may seem as if Jesus denied some people access, the difference He means is not in the message—but in the

response.

The parables themselves present clear stories from everyday events that many in the crowd would recognize.

Jesus did not code His teaching to prevent some people from understanding, since all equally would under-

stand the imagery. All those gathered there certainly comprehended the aspects of the stories related to their

everyday lives. Instead, His teaching divided the listeners into two groups based on their own responses.

His miracles had attracted many, and others had perhaps been astonished by His earlier teaching. But the par-

ables themselves, just as in the story of the seed falling on various places (Matthew 13:3-9), revealed the true

nature of their responses and their real decisions. Those committed to the Kingdom of God would seek and

find further understanding. But those uncommitted—perhaps listening only because of the initial excite-

ment—would reject the teaching as unintelligible.

Adapted from The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah by Alfred Edersheim (Book III, Chapter XXIII).

What “type” of soil are you? Why do you think this?

What do you think needs to happen for you to have the kind of life in Christ that v. 23 describes?

Pray: Make your answer to the last question a focus of prayer today.

MAGNOLIA BAPTIST CHURCH

“Jesus doesn't adjust to us, and

He doesn't submit to our whims.

We adjust to Jesus and submit to

Him. Jesus is King, not an

accessory.”

― Justin Buzzard, The Big Story:

How the Bible Makes

Sense out of Life

DAY TWENTY-FOUR:

Lord of All

Today’s reading is a build up passage. The Gospel of Mark records an

incredible sequence of events that reveals the limitless nature of Jesus’ pow-

er and command. His closest followers react in fear and uncertainty, others

marvel in wonder. Who is this Jesus?

Pray: Lord, what a word to call you. Help me see your power and command.

Give me courage to see you move in power and command in my life.

Read: Mark 4:35-5:43

What does each account tell you about Jesus?

Jesus calms the storm:

Jesus casts out demons:

Jesus heals the sick:

Jesus raises the dead:

Do you think the disciples have a right response to Jesus in v 4:41? How

does their response change in 8:27-30?

What questions do you still have?

Reflect: In the New Testament, “kurios” means “lord”. Sometimes, the New Testament may have the less

exalted meanings of kurios in mind when it addresses Jesus as “Lord,” but the title is undoubtedly used of Him

in the highest possible sense as well. The old Greek version of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint

translates the Hebrew names for God, Yahweh and Adonai, as kurios. Yahweh is the revealed name of God in

Hebrew and Adonai is one of His titles; thus, kurios, or “Lord,” is the most important title for God in the

Greek, which is quoted throughout the New Testament.

When kurios is used in this sense, it conveys the idea of “one who is absolutely sovereign.” It is a majestic title,

conveying God’s sovereignty and divine power, and it is a remarkable proof of Jesus’ divinity when it is applied

to Him in this manner.

Philippians 2:5-11, in which Paul discusses the humiliation and exaltation of God the Son, calls Jesus “Lord” in

the highest sense. “Lord” is the name above all names that is given to our Savior when the Father exalts Him

(vv. 9–11).

When we read this passage in Mark, we see Jesus as lord over the natural word, the supernatural world,

disease and death...truly what we see all the more clearly is that Jesus indeed is worthy to be Lord of all.

Jesus is the name above every name. He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Because “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross,” God the Father highly

exalted him and gave him the greatest of all names. Before him every knee shall bow, in heaven, on earth, and

under the earth.

Jesus holds the reins of history in his hands. He rules the nations. He raises kings and dethrones them. He

raises kingdoms and destroys them. Angels, human beings, and demons bow at his feet.

What does “Jesus is Lord” mean to you?

In your life do you see Jesus more as “Lord of All” or “Lord over Some”? Why do you think this?

Take time today to think of ways to praise Jesus, Lord of All.

MAGNOLIA BAPTIST CHURCH

“It is not easy to convey a sense

of wonder, let alone resurrection

wonder, to another. It’s the very

nature of wonder to catch us off

guard, to circumvent

expectations and assumptions.

Wonder can’t be packaged, and

it can’t be worked up. It requires

some sense of being there and

some sense of engagement.”

― Eugene H. Peterson

DAY TWENTY-FIVE:

God Revealed

ARE YOU TALKING TO ME? Jesus has revealed much of God’s Kingdom to his disciples. They have heard

Jesus teach and explain truth to them. They have been eye-witnesses to

miraculous events. When asked, these first disciples professed that this

Jesus was indeed the Christ. With this confession, Peter, James and John are

ready for one more display of Jesus’ uniqueness.

Pray: Lord, continue to prepare me to see you in truth.

Read: Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36

What is the most amazing detail of this encounter to you?

Use your own words to describe Jesus’ appearance?

Read Revelation 1:12-17. Do you think this is what John saw on the

mountaintop we read about today? Why do you think this?

What questions do you still have?

Reflect: Have you ever had an encounter with God that has left you speechless? Or maybe you’ve had that

kind of God-encounter where you wish you could simply stay in that moment. Or maybe you feel like a few of

the other disciples who weren’t on the mountaintop, but could only hear stories from the others about how

awesome it was.

The encounter for Peter, James and John was incredible. I believe Peter is writing about this encounter when

he shares, “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus

Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father

when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well

pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred moun-

tain.” (2 Peter 1:16-18 NIV)

And John may have been alluding to this same event when he wrote, “The Word became flesh and made his

dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full

of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 NIV)

Those two, along with James, saw something that day that would carry them through the dark days to come.

They saw the glory of the Lord.

Sometimes we live an unseeing faith. We believe in the Bible or in some doctrine; we affirm faith by good

works…yet, something about our faith doesn’t seem quite together. In hard times we turn away. In uncertain

matters we doubt. Maybe, just maybe, what’s missing in your faith-walk is beholding glory. We won’t all see

the transfigured Jesus or have a fiery bush speak out to us or see waters part or seas calm. Yet, we are invited

to see his glory in our lives. Maybe our words should be that of Moses as recorded in Exodus 33:18, “Moses

said, ‘Please show me your glory.’”

So how does see God’s glory? In The Pursuit of God , A.W. Tozer models how pondering God's attributes can

lead us there. Getting out in God's creation may assist this work if nature speaks to you. Contemplating the

Word can direct our gaze toward Jesus; as can worship, prayer and art.

It's fitting that this path can't be prescribed in five easy steps, but the Lord's majesty and glory await the one

who refuses to be satisfied with anything less.

ACTIVITY:

Look over your schedule. Make regular time for thinking about God. Maybe you start with a book like The

Pursuit of God or Knowing God by J.I. Packer. Maybe you need to take a walk on the beach or along a

wooded trail. Maybe your pursuit begins in worship. Think through the words of the songs and sing them to

God. What ever you select to do or think otherwise to do...simply pray, “Lord, Please show me your glory.”

And let God do the rest.

MAGNOLIA BAPTIST CHURCH SEEKS TO EMBODY A:

Gospel-centered (I Cor. 15:1-4)

Family-redeeming (Acts 16:25-34)

City-focused (Jeremiah 29:7)

Church Community (I Thess. 2:5-8)

We value Gospel Proclamation believing that the 66 books of the

Old & New Testament are our highest authority of God’s self-

disclosure and as it is faithfully explained, explored and expressed,

the Holy Spirit will elicit a response.

We value Gospel Community believing that people were created to

explore the Gospel together with honest, vulnerable dialogue about

difficult things pursuing depth in friendships to facilitate growth.

We value Gospel Mission believing that the Gospel compels us to

learn from, interact with, and generously give back to our culture in

the way we live our lives.

CONNECTING PEOPLE to JESUS MAGNOLIA BAPTIST CHURCH

720 S. Magnolia Ave Anaheim, CA 92804

714.827.0553 ph www.magnoliabaptist.org