Instructions for Putting it All Together

There will be no textbook reading or even review. This module will be a glorious walk through the Gospel of Mark chapters 14-16. I am often asked by local church pastors what is some of the best discipleship material in the Bible. Wonderfully, there is no wrong answer. Pick a book of the Bible and disciple someone! But there may be better answers. For example, Matthew is a wonderful book to take someone deep into the Word. So, after doing a Book level reading of Matthew, a deep dive should be made into the Sermon on the Mount to discover the character of Jesus and His instruction of the nature of the Kingdom.

The very same thing can be said about Mark 14-16. From a Book level survey of Mark, you remember that 14-16 is a wonderful stand alone unit of material. Now, it might be possible to see 11-16 one whole segment of scripture based upon the temporal indicators in the text. Put it this way, chapters 1-10 are the first 38 months of Jesus’ ministry while chapters 11-16 are the last week. But it seems more manageable to deal with 14-16 as the material which describes the Passion of Jesus (His suffering and death). It's a perfect spot to linger in the text and practice our skills of listening to the voice of Jesus and re-calibrate our spiritual compass according to His kingdom trajectory.

So, allow me to lay out the “map” for this journey and I will let you experience the joy.

1. Pray. Can you choose one of Paul’s prayers? Maybe one of Jesus’? What about Samuel or Mary? Or one of your own to chart your course in the right direction? Keep this prayer ever before you. When time gets short or when texts are difficult to understand, “pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the to which He has called you” (Eph 1:18).
   
   
2. Observation (What does the text say?)
   1. Book Level survey of Mark. Oh joy, this is already done. But simply refresh yourself with what you did precisely. 
   2. Discourse (sometimes called segment) level observation on Mark 14-16. This is exactly the same type of survey as you did for the entire book. But simply do it over 14-16. Remember, what 3-4 structures hold it together into a tightly woven literary whole? With each structure, what corresponding text-driven question accompanies it? And finally, with each structure, it will point you to a strategy for your paragraph level work. 
   3. Paragraph level observation. Choose one of the structures from the discourse level work to focus your paragraph level observation. Make clear to me the connection between the paragraph you will work on arose from your discourse structure pointing you here. Connect the path of True^North process.
   4. Sentence level observation. Yes, Book level structures point you to paragraphs. Then, paragraph level structures point you to sentences. Now, examine the rocks, bushes, trees you find along the trail. Use your detailed observation sheets to unearth all the biblical truth you find. 
   5. Summarize and ask questions. In a 3 page well-written summary, detail to me your journey of discovery in Observation. Show me how this all fits together into an Observation whole. Plus, can you equally show me how you have carefully reshaped your observations into text-driven questions? And the questions should take on at least two levels, definition and significance. For example, first the definition: “What is the meaning of the contrasts between the woman who lavishly anoints Jesus in 14:3-9 and the disciples who see her act as a waste?” Second the significance question, “What are the implications of these contrasts for the rest of 14-16?” REMEMBER, this summary material and the questions will serve as the input to Interpretation.
      
      Please upload your Observation work to the Observation Work assignment.
      
      
3. Interpretation. (What did the text mean?)
   1. Examine the Context to answer your questions. Remember, Context is Everything (CIE)
      1. Literary Context. Go back to Module 5 and refresh yourself with the work of examining the literary context to help answer your text driven question. Plus, here is a link to the material in my Mark commentary on the opening of Mark 14.
      2. Cultural Context. Again, return to Module 5 and the materials there that will assist you on this vital task of Interpretation. 
      3. Linguistic Context. Word studies possibilities (at least 2) which arose as observational questions should be performed according to the parameters set in Module 5.
   2. Community of Faith. Now, once you have done much of the biblical trail-blazing on your own, it is time to consult with the community of faith to develop a collaborative answer. Please re-read the “Method of Commentary Reading” for finalizing the work on your passage. The normal practice is to utilize 3 commentaries which will assist you in answering your text driven question. 
   3. Final Answer. In approximately 1,000 words, summarize your “Interpretive journey.” What did the context reveal? What did word studies contribute to your answer? What did the community of faith add (or correct) to answering your text driven question(s). This is to be well-written and will serve as the input into Application. 
   4. Please review the Observation and Interpretation grading Rubric. Now, I am weighing the scores just a bit differently but the criteria is the same.
      
      Please upload your Interpretation work to the Interpretation Work assignment.
      
      
4. Application. (What does the text mean?) Please consult Module 7 for the process of Application. 
   1. Always begin with “Let Jesus Be the Judge.” It will help you determine if your answers are relevant to today…and if so, how? 
   2. Choose 4 of the most appropriate application questions to your passage. Work your way through them as you develop key application points. Make certain to write out your answers in detail. No generalities please. Make each application text specific. Make sure to examine and describe the application related to at least 4 of the 7 questions. I would assume approx 150 words per question or application point. 
   3. Finally, application reaches its mountain top experience as you fashion a new prayer (True^North chapter 10 calls this “Praying in Jesus’ Name”). From your application truths, what personal or corporate course corrections are you asking the Lord Jesus to bring about in your journey of faith? Thus, we come to the end of the True^North process which flows directly back into the practice of prayer. Full circle Prayer-Observation-Interpretation-Application-Prayer... 
   4. Once again, here is the link to the grading rubric for Application.
      
      Please upload your application work to the Application Work assignment.