• Genesis 22:1-19
• Consider every challenge as a step toward more complete faith.
  • Abraham had three days of riding with Isaac to think about what God had asked him to do.
  • James 2:20-24
  • James 1:2-4
  • Luke 16:18 – What if you read this and realized you were in an adulterous marriage? Wouldn’t that be a tough challenge like Abraham faced?
• Trust that God has a good ending in mind
  • Leviticus 20:1-3
  • Genesis 17:17-21
  • Hebrews 11:17-19 – Abraham apparently thought God would raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham trusted that God would make it work out for the best in the end.
  • Matthew 5:39-42
  • Romans 12:19-21
  • Genesis 22:3 – Abraham rose early in the morning to fulfill God’s command. When we understand what God’s command is, we need to get up and do it!

• Mark 16:14-20
• Mark 16:17-18 – See also Hebrews 2:1-4. The context here indicates that the sense is that they would be protected from certain things, including poisonous animals. It was not instructing them to go out and handle snakes or drink poison to demonstrate their faith. It covered situations like Acts 28:3-5.
• Review of the miracles of Jesus as recorded in Mark. At least 26 different occasions are recorded in which Jesus performed miracles.

• I Timothy 3:12-4:5
• Qualifications for deacons, continued:
  • I Timothy 3:12 – good managers of their children and household
    • See also I Timothy 3:4. Elders are required to have this same qualification.
  • I Timothy 3:15
    • Is “church” used here in the local or universal sense?
      • It seems to be used in the universal sense here. Either way, the point is that Christians would have to follow God’s inspired instructions in order to know how to conduct themselves. Paul was not writing just for friendship, or to pass on ordinary news.
    • “the pillar and support of the truth”
      • Saved people obey and teach God’s truth, thus they are the pillar and support of truth. See Acts 8:3; I Corinthians 1:2; 12:13,27-28; Ephesians 5:23.
• I Timothy 4:1 – See Mark 5:7; Acts 16:17.
• I Timothy 4:3 – There is nothing wrong with abstaining from marriage, certain foods, etc. It is wrong to bind these rules on other people as a matter of faith.

[Editor’s note: This is an unusual lesson in that it is a study of Mark 15:34 from two different perspectives. As explained in the audio file, two of the elders at Benchley (Jesse Jenkins and Kevin Scott) take different views on this passage, so each man gave a short talk explaining his perspective. Like these two men say, we encourage you to study the passage, listen to their reasoning, and decide for yourself what you believe the passage is saying. - MRW]

• Jesse Jenkins:
  • Mark 15:34
  • Is this statement to be taken literally or as hyperbole?
  • This is hyperbole because of other statements Jesus made.
    • John 8:28-29
    • Luke 23:47-48 – This cry caused faith in those that heard it.
  • God has never forsaken one who does His will.
    • Isaiah 59:1-2 – Only sin separates us from God.
    • Ezekiel 18:2-4
    • Psalms 9:10 – Jesus was certainly seeking God!
  • Jesus was made to be a sin offering to bear away our sins. II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:23
  • Jesus plainly said that God would be with Him and not leave Him alone. John 8:29; 16:32
  • Jesus’ last words – “Father, unto thy hand I commend my Spirit.”
  • Psalm 22:1
• Kevin Scott
  • This is literal because the context is not figurative. Psalm 22 is also literal. David felt that he had literally been forsaken by God and then presented reasons why.
  • Just like the scapegoat had to leave the congregation to take away sin, Jesus had to separate from God to take away our sin.
  • II Corinthians 5:14-15 – Jesus experienced death for all of us. Jesus did not taste physical death for us (because we must all physically die). He tasted spiritual death for us so that we would not have to.
  • Matthew 18:34-35
  • Romans 6:3-4
  • John 8:28-29 – See John 8:16. What does it mean to be separated? What does it mean to be alone?
  • Mark 16:14 – The closest disciples did not believe the reports of the resurrection. Jesus quoting Psalm 22 on the cross was not enough to produce faith in them.

• 1 Corinthians 4:1
• We are servants and stewards (so life is not about us)
  • I Peter 4:10
  • I Corinthians 4:9-13
• We only answer to God (so don’t chase other standards)
  • I Corinthians 4:3-5
  • II Corinthians 10:10,12,18 – Don’t compare yourself to others. Look to God for the standard.
  • I Corinthians 1:20; 2:4; 3:19 – The wisdom of the world is foolishness to God.
  • I Corinthians 4:6 – God’s standard is universal.
  • Mark 7:1-8
• Everything we have is something we have received.
  • I Corinthians 4:7-8 – All things we have are gifts from God.
  • I Corinthians 12:6-11 – The Corinthians were competing over having the “best” spiritual gifts.
  • I Corinthians 14:12
  • Deuteronomy 8:17-18 – We should not boast in our wealth except as a gift from God.
  • Ephesians 2:8-9 – Obedience allows us to reach out and take the gift of salvation that God has given us.
• I Corinthians 4:14