Finding Hope in Community through 
Small Group Bible Study -- Mark 12:13-34

The disciples have questioned Jesus "on the way" (Mark 9-10). The scene changes and now gives way to questions by others. Jesus is in Jerusalem and is being challenged by the "church", the Sadducees and the Pharisees. Look at the questions. Questions about taxes, questions about the raising of the dead and about which is the greatest commandment. Jesus deals with each one using the larger story of the scripture to expand and challenge their narrow views. 

Arguing the scripture has gone on through the ages. This controversy seems almost contemporary as we see our institutions and churches spend endless time and energy debating the "true interpretations." Is this the way we find hope? Build community? bridge the gaps of diversity and learn to love one another? These efforts seem to divide rather than unite. Is there a better way?

Ched Meyers in a recent article in Sojourners Magazine says, "Conservatives have become confused about the Biblical narratives, reducing them to morality tales for private spirituality... Many liberals, meanwhile, have forgotten the stories altogether." He says we need to recover the Bible as the people's book, improve our willingness and ability to discuss different readings of the scripture and more faithfully embody our interpretations in order to make the Word the flesh in our world. Post modern America hardly needs more shrill opinions -- we have popular talk radio for that... How does one argue that Jesus meant what he said about love of enemies or the last being first... except by trying the experiment in our own lives?"

Read

Read the passages again and notice how Jesus points to the broader story. He sums up the commandments with quotations from Deuteronomy 6 and Leviticus 19. (Love of God summarizes the first four and love of neighbor the last six). No arguing about each one of the ten. There is no hierarchy of the commandments, according to Jesus, just ways to live in the kingdom of God.

Explore

Explore these stories. What do you see in the responses of Jesus? In pointing to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is Jesus showing that God works through imperfect people who are part of God's ongoing love story? Is your God a God of conditionality and contract? A God who judges us by performance? Or a God who includes us in a covenant of unconditional love? (The questions we ask may indicate our view of God.) What can help clarify our responses?

Interact

Verna Dozier says, in her book on small group bible study, "We need constantly to bring our individual questions and answers to interaction with the questions and answers of others. That is why Bible study should be done in groups, in which all of us are teachers and learners." Real Bible study can only be done in community since each of us has an important piece of "the truth" gleaned from our life experiences. A diverse group can challenge us to ask and answer the questions: How can we better love God? Each other? And ourselves? What has been your experience? Where do you find hope?

In a small group we learn what it means to listen to and love those that are different from ourselves. We can learn from others and experience with others the God of inclusion. Get Together! Get Going!

For Your Group

1. When have you experimented with a "Jesus principle" in your life?
2. Where do you see God working through imperfect people?

1. Say to This Mountain, Mark's story of Discipleship by Ched Myers, Orbis, 1999.
2. Sojourners Magazine, March\April 2000. Vol 29, No 2.
3. Equipping the Saints, a method of self directed Bible Study, Verna Dozier, The Alban Institute, 1981.
4. The Bible Makes Sense, Walter Brueggeman, St Marys Press, 1977
5. Faith at Work resources for Small Groups

• Bible Basics for the next generation, by Nancy Boyle, 1999 - a collection of Nancy Boyle's relational bible studies (1995-1999).

Nancy Boyle is a workshop leader, teacher and Christian Education Consultant living in Columbia SC.