02 Family Worship Guide:

Book of Mark, Day Two, Lesson Two

Author

Justin Hoke
September 10, 2024

Dear Family Worship Magazine Community,

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

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.

Opening Prayer:

"Heavenly Father, we come before You today with grateful hearts, eager to learn from Your Holy Word. Open our eyes to see the truth, our ears to hear Your voice, and our hearts to respond in faith and obedience. Guide us through this time of worship and study, and may Your name be glorified in all that we do. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:9-13 (ESV)

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 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. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 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.

Reflection and Teaching:

In this passage, we see two significant events in the early ministry of Jesus: His baptism and His temptation in the wilderness.

  1. The Baptism of Jesus: Jesus, though sinless, chose to be baptized by John as an act of obedience and identification with sinful humanity. When Jesus came up from the water, the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and the voice of God the Father declared, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” This moment affirmed Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and marked the beginning of His public ministry.

  2. The Temptation in the Wilderness: Immediately after His baptism, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for forty days, where He was tempted by Satan. This time of testing served to show Christ’s perfect obedience and His victory over the devil. Unlike Adam, who fell into temptation in the Garden, Jesus resisted and overcame Satan’s schemes.

These events teach us about Jesus’ obedience, His identification with us in our struggles, and His triumph over temptation. As we face our own trials and temptations, we can find encouragement in knowing that our Savior has gone before us and conquered where we often fall.

Discussion Questions:

For Younger Children (Ages 10-13):

  1. Why do you think Jesus chose to be baptized even though He had no sin?

  2. What happened when Jesus was baptized? What do you think this showed about who Jesus is?

  3. How did Jesus respond when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness? How can this help us when we face temptations?

For Older Children (Ages 14-18):

  1. What is the significance of the heavens opening, the Spirit descending like a dove, and the voice from heaven during Jesus’ baptism?

  2. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted. Why do you think it was important for Jesus to go through this testing?

  3. Reflect on how Jesus’ victory over temptation can encourage you in your own struggles with sin. How can you apply His example to resist temptation in your life?

Application:

  • For All Ages: Identify areas in your life where you feel tempted. As a family, pray for strength to resist those temptations, trusting that Jesus understands our struggles and has the power to help us overcome.

  • For Older Children: Take time this week to memorize a Bible verse that speaks about resisting temptation, such as James 4:7 (“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”). Use this verse as a reminder to stand firm when you face trials.

Closing Prayer:

"Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your example of perfect obedience and victory over temptation. Help us to remember that You are with us in our own times of testing. Give us strength to resist sin, and may we always seek to please You in all that we do. Guard our hearts and lead us in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Hymn or Song:

End with a hymn or song that reflects the themes of victory over temptation and reliance on God, such as “Victory in Jesus” or “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”


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