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The Call of the Disciples and the Kingdom of God

In Mark's Gospel, Jesus calls ordinary people to drop everything and follow him. Meet the first disciples, unpack two parables of the Kingdom, and weigh what following Jesus cost the rich man.

⏱️ 16 min 🎯 14 activities
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Use it, the way the marks are given

Free interactive practice at using the material, which is what the marks are for.

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What you'll cover

Drop everything and follow

In Mark's Gospel, Jesus walks up to ordinary people at work and simply says, "Follow me." Again and again, they leave everything behind and go. This module follows the call of the disciples, unpacks two parables of the Kingdom, and weighs what following Jesus cost a wealthy man.

The language of discipleship

Four ideas run through this module:

The call of the first disciples

In Mark 1:14-20, put the events of the call of the first disciples into order.

  • Jesus walks beside the Sea of Galilee
  • He sees Simon and Andrew casting their nets
  • He calls them to follow and become fishers of men
  • At once they leave their nets and follow
  • He calls James and John, who leave their boat and father

Match each passage to what happens

  • Mark 1:14-20
  • Mark 2:13-17
  • Mark 6:7-13
  • Mark 10:17-31
  • Jesus calls the first fishermen to follow him
  • Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector
  • Jesus sends the Twelve out to preach and heal
  • Jesus tells a rich man to sell all he has

What were they doing?

In Mark 1:14-20, what were Simon, Andrew, James and John doing when Jesus called them?

  • Fishing by the Sea of Galilee
  • Farming in the fields
  • Collecting taxes at a booth
  • Praying in the temple

The Parable of the Sower

In the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20), a farmer scatters seed. Some falls on the path and is eaten by birds, some on rocky ground and withers, some among thorns and is choked, and some on good soil and gives a great crop. Jesus explains that the seed is the word of God, and the soils are the different ways people receive it.

Match each soil to its meaning

  • The path
  • Rocky ground
  • Among thorns
  • Good soil
  • The word is snatched away at once
  • Welcomed with joy but withers under trouble
  • Choked by worries and the lure of riches
  • Heard, accepted, and producing a great crop

Parables of the Kingdom

Select the TWO parables from Mark's Gospel that teach about the Kingdom of God.

  • The Parable of the Sower
  • The Parable of the Tenants
  • The Parable of the Good Samaritan
  • The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Discipleship in words

A _____ is a follower of Jesus. Jesus called ordinary fishermen and even a tax collector named _____. He often taught in _____, short stories with a deeper meaning. He warned that it is as hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom as for a camel to pass through the eye of a _____. The Kingdom of God is both present now and still to _____.

disciple Levi parables needle come teacher Simon miracles gate stay

The rich man

In Mark 10:17-31, what did Jesus tell the rich man he should do to gain treasure in heaven?

  • Sell what he had, give to the poor, and follow him
  • Build a bigger house for his wealth
  • Offer more sacrifices at the temple
  • Pay more taxes to Rome

The Kingdom, now and to come

Christians understand the Kingdom of God in two ways, and Mark's Gospel holds both together.

Disciples and parables

Tap the TWO statements that are TRUE.

  • Jesus called ordinary fishermen to be his first disciples.
  • In the Parable of the Sower, the seed stands for the word of God.
  • Jesus taught that it is easy for a rich person to enter the Kingdom.
  • The Twelve were sent out carrying plenty of money and supplies.
  • A parable is a factual history with no deeper meaning.

Answering the call

Judge how people respond to Jesus in three moments from Mark's Gospel.

  • Jesus calls Simon and Andrew while they are fishing. How do they respond?
  • The rich man is told to sell all he has and follow Jesus. What does he do?
  • Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God is both here now and still to come. Which best describes this?

The cost of following

Using examples from Mark's Gospel, explain what following Jesus demanded of people. Refer to the call of the first disciples and the rich man, and explain what the Kingdom of God means.

  • Describe how Jesus called the first disciples and how they responded
  • Describe what Jesus asked of the rich man and how he responded
  • Explain what these show about the cost of discipleship
  • Explain the Kingdom of God as both present now and still to come