Family Worship Guide 01:

Book of Mark, Day One, Lesson One

Author

Justin Hoke
September 09, 2024

Dear Family Worship Magazine Community,

Starting today, I'll be sending out a Family Worship Guide every weekday (Monday through Friday) until we complete the Gospel of Mark. These guides are designed to help you lead your family in daily worship. Each lesson is brief, lasting only 15-25 minutes. If you'd like to extend the worship time, consider adding additional hymns or reviewing the Shorter Catechism. You'll find the first lesson included below.

Family Worship Guide: Book of Mark, Day One, Lesson One

Opening Prayer:

"Almighty God, we gather as a family to seek Your face and to grow in the knowledge of Your Word. Open our hearts and minds as we begin our study of the Gospel of Mark. May Your Holy Spirit guide us into all truth and help us to live lives that glorify You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:1-8 (ESV)

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Reflection and Teaching:

In this first passage of the Gospel of Mark, we are introduced to John the Baptist, the forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel begins not with the birth of Christ but with the preparation for His coming. The prophet Isaiah had foretold that a messenger would come to prepare the way for the Lord, and here we see that John the Baptist is that messenger.

John’s message was one of repentance—turning away from sin and turning toward God. He called the people to be baptized as a sign of their repentance and readiness for the coming Messiah. John lived a life of humility, recognizing that he was merely a servant preparing the way for someone far greater—Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As we begin our study of Mark, let us consider the importance of preparation. Just as John the Baptist called the people to prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ, we too must prepare our hearts to receive His Word and to live according to His will.

Discussion Questions:

For Younger Children (Ages 10-13):

  1. Who is John the Baptist, and what was his mission according to this passage?

  2. Why do you think people needed to be baptized as a sign of repentance?

  3. What does it mean to repent? Can you think of a time when you had to repent for something you did wrong?

For Older Children (Ages 14-18):

  1. Why is it significant that Mark begins his Gospel with John the Baptist’s ministry instead of the birth of Jesus?

  2. How does John the Baptist’s message of repentance challenge us in our daily lives? Are there areas in your life where you need to repent?

  3. John says he is not worthy to untie the sandals of the one coming after him. What does this teach us about humility and how we should view our relationship with Christ?

Application:

  • For All Ages: Reflect on areas in your life where you need to repent and turn back to God. As a family, commit to supporting one another in living lives that reflect true repentance and faith in Christ.

  • For Older Children: Consider the role of humility in your relationship with God and others. How can you practice humility in your daily interactions this week?

Closing Prayer:

"Gracious Father, we thank You for the example of John the Baptist, who faithfully prepared the way for our Lord Jesus Christ. Help us to heed his call to repentance and to live lives that are pleasing in Your sight. As we continue our study of the Gospel of Mark, may Your Word take root in our hearts and transform our lives. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen."

Hymn or Song:

If your family is familiar with a hymn or worship song, conclude with a verse or two that reflects the themes of repentance and preparation, such as "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" or "Create in Me a Clean Heart."

In His Grace,

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom..." - Colossians 3:16

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