-- / --

Introduction

  • Romans 1:16-17
  • II Corinthians 11:3; 4:3-4
  • Ephesians 5:17; 3:3-4
  • Luke 10:21

The simple, yet thrilling, account of the cross

  • Matthew 27:46
  • Romans 5:6-8
  • Philippians 2:5-8
  • I John 4:14; 2:2
  • John 3:16-17
  • Hebrews 2:9
  • I Peter 1:18-19
  • I Corinthians 15:57
  • II Corinthians 8:9
  • Acts 10:34
  • Hebrews 2:9
  • Revelation 22:17
  • Titus 3:5
  • Ephesians 2:8-9
  • I Corinthians 1:18, 22-24

The simple requirements to be numbered among the redeemed

  • Mark 16:15-16
  • Acts 2:38
  • II Corinthians 5:7
  • Romans 10:17
  • John 3:3, 5
  • I Peter 1:22-23
  • Romans 10:1, 16
  • I Corinthians 15:1-4
  • Romans 6:17-18, 1-5
  • II Corinthians 5:17
  • Galatians 3:26-27
  • Acts 8:5, 12, 35-39

The simple worship of the Lord’s church

  • II Peter 1:1
  • Acts 20:7
  • The elements of worship:
    • Teaching
      • Acts 2:42; 20:32
      • II Timothy 2:15
      • Psalms 119:97, 103
    • Giving
      • I Corinthians 16:1-2
      • II Corinthians 9:7
    • Lord’s Supper
      • Matthew 26:26-28
      • I Corinthians 11:26
      • Acts 20:7
    • Praying
      • Hebrews 4:16
      • Acts 2:42
      • I Thessalonians 5:17, 25
    • Singing
      • Colossians 3:16
      • Ephesians 5:19
  • John 4:24
  • II John 1:9
  • I Peter 4:11
  • Colossians 3:17

The simple and great organization of the Lord’s kingdom

  • Philippians 1:1
  • II Peter 1:1
  • Romans 16:16
  • I Corinthians 1:2
  • Colossians 1:18
  • Ephesians 1:22-23
  • II Timothy 3:16-17
  • Acts 20:28
  • I Peter 5:2
  • Ephesians 3:21, 10
  • Acts 11:27-30 – care for needy saints
  • I Corinthians 16:1
  • Ephesians 4:16
  • I Thessalonians 1:8 – proclaim the word of the Lord

Conclusion

  • Jeremiah 6:16
  • II Corinthians 11:3, 14-15
  • Matthew 7:13-15
  • II Thessalonians 2:10-12
  • II John 1:9
  • Colossians 3:17
  • Philippians 4:9
  • Psalms 119:161
  • II Corinthians 11:3
  • Mark 16:15-16
  • Acts 22:16

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


-- / --

The cup Jesus drank

  • Matthew 26:36-42
  • Mark 14:35-36
  • Luke 22:42-44
  • John 18:10-11
  • Matthew 20:17-19 – Jesus foretells His death.
  • Matthew 20:20-23; Mark 10:38-40

What is the “cup” referred to in these verses?

  • Genesis 40:13 – literal cup
  • Genesis 44:1 – literal cup
  • Matthew 23:26-27 – literal cup as a figure
  • Psalms 16:5 – figure
  • Psalms 23:1-6 – blessings
  • Psalms 116:13 – blessings
  • Jeremiah 16:7 – advice, blessings
  • Psalms 11:6 – suffering
  • Psalms 75:8 – symbol of the wrath of God
  • Isaiah 51:17, 22 – wrath of God
  • Jeremiah 25:15, 17, 28 – wrath of God
  • Jeremiah 51:7 – wrath of God
  • Lamentations 4:21 – curses
  • Ezekiel 23:31-33 – curses
  • Habakkuk 2:16 – curses
  • Zechariah 12:2 – curses
  • Revelation 14:10 – curses

Joshua renews the covenant

  • Joshua 8:34
  • Matthew 10:42 – cup is a figure for any need a person may have
  • Mark 10:38-40
  • I Corinthians 10:16:22
  • I Corinthians 11:25-29

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


-- / --

Mark 1, continued:

Jesus calls disciples and appoints the twelve

  • Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-21
  • When Jesus appointed the twelve, there appear to have been others there with Him, which was important when a replacement was needed for Judas. The requirement for a man to be appointed an apostle was that he had been with them the entire time (Acts 1:21-26).
Apostle Cause of death (most from history - ?)
Simon Peter Crucified upside down
Andrew, Peter’s brother Crucified
James, son of Zebedee Beheaded by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:2)
John, son of Zebedee Exiled, died of old age
Matthew Beaten, then crucified
Bartholomew Crucified
Philip Speared to death
Thomas Crucified
Simon, the zealot Stoned to death
James, son of Alphaeus Stoned to death
Judas Iscariot Suicide by hanging (Matthew 27:5)
Matthias (replaced Judas) Stoned or died of old age (???)
Paul (selected by Jesus) Killed by Nero (II Timothy 4:6)
  • Mark 6:7-13 – The apostles were sent out in pairs, given power over unclean spirits, and told not to take money or supplies with them. Note that miracles were secondary to teaching! Miracles could not and cannot save! Romans 1:16; Acts 11:14; James 1:21
  • Mark 1:21-28 – Jesus taught as one having authority. Even the unclean spirits obeyed Him. He told the unclean spirits not to tell people who He was, possibly to avoid endorsements from disreputable sources.
  • Mark 1:35-39 – Jesus came to teach.

Mark 2

  • Mark 2:1-12 – Jesus forgives a man’s sins who was brought to Him for healing.
  • Mark 2:18-22 – There was a right time and place for fasting.
  • Mark 2:23-28 – The Sabbath was made for man!

Mark 3

  • Mark 3:1-6 – Jesus is grieved at their hard hearts when they try to trap Him with regard to the Sabbath.

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


-- / --

Introduction

  • Psalms 32:8-9 – God wants us to think!
  • Matthew 22:44

Equivocation

  • Deceptively switch the meaning of a word.
  • Example: “A feather is light. What is light cannot be dark. Therefore, a feather cannot be dark.”
  • This is also called “bait and switch.”
  • Ephesians 4:25
  • Sometimes this is used as a joke or a rhetorical device and is not a logical fallacy.
  • II Corinthians 5:21 – “Sin” is used in two different ways, but it is not a fallacy.
  • The word “evolution” can mean minor changes or major changes.
  • Clear, precise language can prevent misunderstandings.
    • I Peter 3:21
    • The Bible uses “baptism” in several different contexts.
      • Matthew 3:11
      • Mark 10:38-39
      • Acts 1:5; 19:3
      • Romans 6:3
      • I Corinthians 10:2
    • And people today use it in different ways.
      • Infant baptism
      • Baptism into a denomination
      • Baptism as an outward sign of inward grace.

Circular reasoning

  • Assuming what you are trying to prove.
  • Mark 2:1-12 – How did Jesus prove He could forgive sins? By miraculously healing a paralytic.
  • II Timothy 3:15-17 – The Bible claims to be inspired, but that claim alone is not sufficient to prove it.
  • Dating fossils and rock layers is often done using circular reasoning.
  • Matthew 26:63-66 – “Jesus is not the Christ” because “He blasphemes (by claiming to be the Christ)” because “Jesus is not the Christ” …
  • Example: Evolution occurred because we are here!
  • It’s easy to slip into this if you are speaking to an audience that already agrees with you.

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


-- / --

Second preaching journey (Acts 15:36-18:22)

Philippi (Acts 16:9-40), continued

  • Acts 16:35-40 – Paul is attempting to exonerate himself and the cause of Christ by having the officials publicly declare his innocence.

Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9)

  • A bad attitude can counteract the truth.
  • Despite a bit of a rough start, this would later become a strong church!

Berea (Acts 17:10-15)

  • This group had a different reaction to those in Thessalonica, despite the message and the messenger being the same.

Athens (Acts 17:16-54)

  • Compare Acts 14:15.

Corinth (Acts 18:1-17)

  • Acts 18:8 – Compare I Corinthians 1:14-15.
  • If the gospel worked in immoral Corinth, it will work anywhere!
  • Acts 18:12 – This was AD 51. Archaeology shows that Gallio served in that role in that year only.
  • Acts 18:17 – See I Corinthians 1:1. Is this the same Sosthenes that replaced Crispus?!

Antioch (Acts 18:18-23)

  • The first and second journeys of Paul began and ended in Antioch.

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListon on Stitcher

© 2026, Mark Watson

Powered by Gatsby