Mark Discipleship Training Materials
December 2025
November 2025
Discipleship Training Materials
October Week 4 - Mark 10:1-31
Session 1 — Servant Leadership
Reading & Questions
Read Ephesians 5:22-30
For married couples: Talk with your spouse, and both of you take an opportunity to (1) encourage your spouse with one way you see them serving like Jesus in your marriage, and (2) share one area you feel God moving you to serve them more like Jesus has served you.
For families: What are some specific ways we can show honor to one another, children to parents, etc. in our family life?
For single people: Based on how husbands and wives are to love one another, how does this help you to prepare for the possibility of marriage? Learning to submit to Christ? Learning to serve by laying your life down?
Session 2 — Coming with Nothing
Reading & Questions
Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
How can you practice dependance on God this week?
What other things are you tempted to be prideful of, instead of boasting in God’s goodness?
Session 3 — Treasuring Jesus
Reading & Questions
Read Matthew 13:44-46
What treasure are you tempted to hold on to instead of following Jesus wholeheartedly?
What does it look like to lay that at the feed of Jesus?
Discipleship Training Materials
October Week 3 - Mark 9:30-50
Session 1 — The Way of Humility
Reading & Questions
Read Philippians 2:1-4
What is one specific way you can look to the interests of others this week? People in your family, your office, your school, etc.
Read John 13:12-17
After initially feeling very self-important in our passage in Mark, how do you think John felt after having his feet washed by Jesus?
Read 1 John 4:19
How does thinking about the way Jesus served you, change how you feel about serving others?
Session 2 — Abandoning Selfishness
Reading & Questions
Read Colossians 3:5-10
What sinful habits or attitudes do you need to “put to death”?
Read Romans 8:12-14
Where is God giving you LIFE where there once was death?
Read Hebrews 10:24-25
Who in your life can you go to for help and encouragement in your spiritual walk?
Application
Invite someone to pray for you in specific areas you’re feeling convicted to trust Jesus with.
Discipleship Training Materials
October Week 2 - Mark 9:14-29
Session 1 — Faith in Action
Reading & Questions
Read the following verses in Hebrews 11, and note what each person did as a result of their faith in God: Noah v7, Abraham v8-10, Sarah v11, Abraham v17-19, Moses’ parents (v23), Moses (v24-28), Rahab (v31)
Which example stood out to you the most, and why?
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:24
What is the next step of faith God is calling you to take? What is hard or scary about that?
Session 2 — Turning to Jesus
Reading & Questions
Read Matthew 6:19-21
How has what you treasure led your heart? How can you treasure Jesus over those things?
Read Philippians 3:8
What things or comforts are it hard for you to “count as loss”? How is Jesus better than those things?
Read Psalm 146:3-7
What leaders, influencers, or sources are you tempted to put too much faith in?
Read Proverbs 3:5-7
What have you put your trust in, instead of putting it in Christ alone?
Application
Read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - Thank God for being strong in our weakness, and invite Him to continue working in you.
October Week 1 - Mark 9:2-13
Session 1 — Beholding the Glory of Jesus
Reading & Questions
Read John 1:14
Reflect on the first 8 chapters of Mark. What are a few ways you have seen Jesus show us what God is like, showing His glory through revealing grace and truth?
Read Hebrews 1:1-3
What in these verses is surprising to you, or expands your view of the glory of Jesus?
Read Revelation 1:12-16
Take a moment to just consider the glory of God we will one day encounter in person.
Now read verses 17-18.
Application
For a few days, as early in the day as you can, read those verses from Revelation, and thank God for His Grace available to us through Jesus.
Session 2 — Considering the Suffering of Jesus
Reading & Questions
Read Philippians 2:5-11
How does “having this mind among us” or thinking about these verses change how we might live, act, and treat one another? Hint: Look at v3-4.
Read Hebrews 12:1-3
What was the “joy set before Jesus?"
What are some ways we can “look to Jesus” practically from day to day?
Read 2 Corinthians 3:18
What transformation do you see in your own life? What do you still desire to see change?
Application
Have a conversation with someone else about how they can pray for you to continue being transformed. (Could be inside or outside the church.)
September Week 4 - Mark 8:22-9:1
Session 1 — Denying Yourself
Reading & Questions
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13
What temptations feel hardest to you right now?
What “ways of escape” has God provided for you to endure them?
Read Galatians 5:16–17
What are some ways the Holy Spirit empowers us to resist sin?
Read Colossians 3:5–10
Paul lists specific sins to “put to death.” Which of these stand out as especially difficult to deny?
Application
Where do you need to practice Spirit-empowered self-denial this week, and what practical step can you take to walk in it? Ask for prayer as you do this!
Session 2 — Taking Up Your Cross (Persecution)
Reading & Questions
Read John 15:18–20
What kinds of persecution do believers face where we live today?
Read 2 Corinthians 4:16–18
How is this heavenly perspective help us to endure persecution?
Read Matthew 13:44–46
What have you been tempted to value more than the kingdom of heaven?
Application
What might it look like for you to “take up your cross” in your workplace, neighborhood, or school? How can you encourage one another?
September Week 3 - Mark 8:10-21
Faith and Sight
Reading & Questions
Read Hebrews 11:1
How is this different from the way you have heard faith described by the world?
Read John 20:24-29
How are people blessed who choose belief without sight?
Read Romans 8:24-27
How does this help you understand “blessing” in the John 20 passage?
Applications
What is one thing that you hope for, that only Jesus can do? Be ready to share that.
Faith and Hearing
Reading & Questions
Read 1 Corinthians 1:22-24
How does Paul respond to the demands of the people for signs and special revelation of wisdom?
Read Romans 10:17
Where does a faith in Christ begin, and how does that help us to know where to start?
Applications
Are you regularly spending time in the Word of God? How can you make that a priority in your life and in your home?
September Week 2 - Mark 7:24-8:10
Session 1 – Humility Leads Us To Jesus
Read
Luke 14:15-24 - Parable of the Banquet
Ask
What qualified the people invited to come to the banquet?
What happened to those who were invited but did not respond?
Applications
What is the bigger challenge for you:
(1) dealing with the shame of sin (”I don’t deserve to come”)
(2) dealing with the sin of pride (”I can get in on my own merit/goodness”)
Session 2 – Jesus Calls us to Witness
Read
Genesis 12:2-3, Exodus 19:6, and Isaiah 49:6
Ask
Based on those three passages, what was Israel’s God-given role to the rest of humanity?
What are some of the reasons they failed to do that well?
Read
Acts 21:3-6 - Paul’s visit to Tyre
Ask
What does Paul find has happened in Tyre, a former pagan stronghold?
Applications
What are some of the things that stop us from witnessing well to the world around us?
What makes it hard to share your personal testimony (story) of what God has done in your life? What is the next step to moving forward in that difficulty?
September Week 1 - Mark 7:1–23
Session 1 – Keeping Up Appearances
Read Together:
Mark 7:1–8
Initial Question:
What is one thing that you found surprising, or something you learned from this part of the passage?
Read More from Scripture (and Discuss):
1 Samuel 16:7 – What does God look at in a person?
John 4:19–24 – According to Jesus, what kind of worshipers does the Father seek?
Romans 12:1 – What does Paul say is our “spiritual worship”?
Hebrews 13:15–16 – What kinds of sacrifices please God?
Questions for Reflection:
- What are some ways people today are tempted to put up a spiritual façade or fake picture of their
spirituality?
- Where have I personally been a hypocrite in following Jesus, not doing it wholeheartedly?
Session 2 – Tradition Without Obedience
Read Together:
Mark 7:9–23
Initial Question:
What is one thing that you found surprising, or something you learned from this part of the passage?
Read More from Scripture (and Discuss):
Micah 6:6–8 – What does the Lord require of His people instead of empty ritual?
Colossians 2:20–23 – What can man-made rules never accomplish?
James 1:22–25 – What happens when we hear God’s Word but do not do it?
Questions for Reflection:
- Why is it tempting sometimes to choose traditions over actually obeying God’s Word?
- What are some religious motions or traditions that I am tempted to prioritize over obeying the
instructions of Jesus?
Application for the Week
Worship is wholeheartedly giving God the recognition and honor He is due from our lives. What is one
specific way I can worship God this week, not just with a song, but with my life?