To read the Bible is important. It is God’s food to us which nourishes our spirit, teaching us about his work in our lives through his Spirit and in union with Christ. To understand the Bible is vital, and one way we do this by understanding the plot, themes, and flow of thought throughout the book or letter. What do each verse and section mean, and how do they relate with what has gone before them and with what comes after them?
In Teaching Mark, Robin Sydserff follows the flow of Mark’s Gospel and opens up the text to us so that we can understand who Jesus is through what he says and does, how he loves people, and the kinds of thoughts and actions he condemns, those which harm people.
Sydserff accomplishes this in four parts in his book:
- Part One helps to get our bearings, understanding Mark’s themes, purpose, and structure, and why one should preach or teach through Mark, some difficulties and pitfalls, and suggested preaching series.
- Parts Two and Three spot Mark on half where Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah.
- Part Four looks through Mark as a training manual for ministry.
Who is the Author?
Robin Sydserff is the minister of Chalmers Church, Edinburgh. He previously served as Director of Ministry at The Proclamation Trust.
To help us get our bearings, Sydserff looks at the different titles of Jesus and his miracles and why he performed them (revealing his identity and how the Kingdom of God had broke. Into the world. He surveys how Jesus judges Israel, particularly their religious leaders for disregarding God’s commands by not caring for Israel and for rejecting Jesus as Messiah. He surveys Jesus’ mission, the continuity and discontinuity between the old and new orders (or “covenants”), and more.
Sydserff presents us with a detailed outline of Mark, as well as some close-up outlines to understand how Mark organized sections of his Gospel. He provides more with his suggestions for preaching series.
Parts Two and Three
In Parts Two and Three, Sydserff divides Mark in half and then further into seven sections with each of those being its own chapter. He situations the section (for example, 1:14–4:34) in its context and provides a clear outline. Sydserff then works through the small sections, showing linking words and themes, contrasts (such as how Jesus came to preach [1:38] but his fame spreads due to his healing [1:28] which leads to more and more people flocking to him), and he even offers a further look at the unforgivable sin. In an effort to move from text to message, he provides the theme and aim of each section and then suggests questions for a small group Bible study. Thinking for good questions is always difficult for me, so I was thankful to have these as springboards for further questions.
Christian Ministry
As a manual for Christian ministry (Part Four), Sydserff points to key themes such as modeling Jesus’ ministry (1:14–2:5) of serving, caring, preaching, and praying; the message of forgiveness (2:1–12); the warning to beware of religion without God (7:1–30); recognizing that it takes a miracle to understand who Jesus truly is (7:31-8:30); depending on Jesus through prayer (9:14-29); ministry in the Last Days and being ready for Jesus’ return (13:1-37); and understanding, experiencing, and proclaiming the cross (14:1-15:41), just to name a few.
Recommended?
This book is well-done. It does what it aims to do, helping you to see Mark’s theology of Jesus and his mission throughout the flow of Mark’s Gospel. Some might find the outlines to be too numerous, but I found them helpful. If the entire series is this consistently good, then you should consider getting each volume when you preach or teach through that particular book.
Lagniappe
- Series: Proclamation Trust
- Author: Robin Sydserff
- Paperback: 425 pages
- Publisher: Christian Focus (July 3, 2020)
Buy it on Amazon or from Christian Focus!
Disclosure: I received this book free from Christian Focus. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.
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