17-23 August 2026 (Genesis, Mark, Psalms)

Bible Reading Plan

Monday: Genesis 32:1-33:20
Tuesday: Genesis 34:1-31
Wednesday: Mark 1:1-3:12
Thursday: Mark 3:13-6:6
Friday: Reflection Day

Fluid (fit in any time): Psalm 8:1-9

Reflection and Discussion Questions

Monday (Day 1): Genesis 32:1-33:20

• How did Jacob feel about meeting his brother Esau? Does Jacob refer to himself as Esau’s brother or servant? How did he let Esau know he was coming? What strategies does he use?

• How did Esau feel about seeing Jacob again? Was he still looking to kill him?

• Do you see any character development in Jacob or Esau since they last saw each other? In his fear of Esau and prayer to God, does Jacob show humility, deception or cowardice?

• Where was it that Jacob wrestled with a divine man? Was he injured?  

• What is Jacob’s new name? What is the importance of the change of name?

• In his note on Genesis 32:32, Kissling (2009) notes,

  • “The injury which God caused Jacob came to be viewed as a holy thing which should be remembered. God’s crippled nation should always remember that, although such divine crippling is painful and humbling, it is sometimes the necessary precursor to God’s blessing. Sometimes we must be crippled in order to be healed. This was as true for the person Israel as it was for the nation named after him.” (p. 362)

    • Do you think this insight is relevant to all nations and individuals or more exclusively to Israel?

• Does Esau view Jacob as subordinate, his enemy or his brother?

• What Jewish festival would the original audience have associated with the “Succoth”? Do you see any connections with that festival and the story?

• After Jacob left Succoth, where in did he go? Was it in Canaan? Did he purchase the land?

• In Gen 12:7 Abram built an altar in Shechem, now Jacob does the same thing in Gen 33:20. What is the significance of Jacob’s actions here? What did he call the altar?

Tuesday (Day 2): Genesis 34:1-31

• Who was Shechem, who was Dinah, who were Dinah’s brothers (Leah’s sons) and what happened to Dinah?

• Do verses 3-4 make up for verse 2?

• How did Jacob appear to respond (cf. Gen 34:5-6)?

• How did Dinah’s brother’s respond? Were they deceitful? Do you think it was the just or right thing to do? Why?

• Jacob breaks his silence in Gen 34:22. Was Jacob proud of the actions of Simeon and Levi? Did he have a problem with the sons plundering? Did he condemn the immoral use of the holy sign of circumcision as a means of gaining advantage in a lust for revenge? From an ethical standpoint, does the killing of every Shechemite male, regardless of age or status, seem to concern Jacob? What does his primary concern seem to be? 

Wednesday (Day 3): Mark 1:1-3:12

• How does the beginning of Mark’s Gospel differ to the beginning of Mathew’s?

  • Why do you think they take a different approach?

• Was John the Baptist an important figure? Why or why not?

• Where is Judea? Where is the Jordan River? Where is Galilee? Where is Nazareth?

  • Have a look at a biblical map and familiarise yourself with some of these places. 

• Is the act of repentance (μετανοίας, cf. Mark 1:4, 15)[1]a momentary apologetic expression, or is it something greater? What do you think repentance should look like in the heart and life of a Christian today? Why?

  • Is there a need for repentance after accepting the faith? What need is there if Christ has already paid the price?

• Did John the Baptist baptise Jesus or did Jesus baptise John the Baptist?

• What did a voice from heaven say when Jesus was baptised?

• Does Mark 1:12-13 make you think of the Old Testament? If so, why or what ideas or thoughts cross your mind?

• In his comments on Mark 1:14, France (2002) states “The role of the forerunner is over; the time of fulfillment has come” (p. 90) What do you think he means by this?

• Who are the first four of Jesus’ Disciples mentioned in Mark’s Gospel (cf. Mark 1:16-21)? Did they follow Jesus immediately after they were called?

• When Jesus taught at the synagogue, did the audience feel that Jesus taught as a man with or without real authority?

• What does it mean when the text states that “Jesus was teaching them like one who had authority”? (cf. Mark 1:22)

• Do you believe in demons? Why or why not?  

• Do you think Jesus seemed to be a fearful or fearless teacher? Why?

• Are there any miracles that Jesus performed that you find particularly interesting? Which ones and why?

• Seeing Levi (i.e. Matthew) was a tax collector, should Jesus have chosen him to be a Disciple? Why or why not?

• What is your interpretation of the two brief ‘parables’ of Mark 2:21-22? What message is inferred by the author?

• What does Jesus mean when he says “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27)?

  • What does Mark 2:28 imply when Jesus comments, “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath”?

Thursday (Day 4): Mark 3:13-6:6

• Who were the 12 Apostles quoted in Mark 3:16-19?

  • Were the 12 Apostles the same as the 12 Disciples? What is the difference between the terms “disciple” and “apostle”?

• What message do you take from Mark 3:20-30?

• What do you find special about Mark 3:35?

• What do you need to do to ensure the soil that is you remains good for growing the seed?

• How do all the passages from 3:13-4:34 build on each other, strengthening and supporting the former points of previous passages?

• What is the appropriate response when we have fear in life?

  • Do you think fear is inherently wrong for a Christian to experience? Why or why not?

• Is it not amazing what Christ did for those in past times, and what our Lord can do in and for us today? When we are uncertain, how should we react? What should we do when we remain lost or uncertain? Please, share your experiences with others on the FB groups.

• Mk 6:3 states that. Why do you think those in Nazareth were “offended” by Jesus’ teaching?

Friday (Day 5): Reflection Day

Psalms 8

What and how did Psalm 8 speak to you? What wisdom and insights did it inspire?

References

France, R. T. (2002). The Gospel of Mark: a commentary on the Greek text. W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

Kissling, P. (2009). Genesis (Vol. 2). College Press Publishing Company.

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1). United Bible Societies.

1 In both instances the Hebrew verb נָחָם (nāḥām) is used.

2 The story of Joseph and Potiphar is designed as a foil to the story of Tamar’s success in seducing Judah in chapter 38. Cf. A. Shinan and Y. Zakovitch, The Story of Judah and Tamar (Jerusalem: Magnes, 1992), pp. 220–222.

3 My thanks to Gary Hall for reminding me of this.

[1]The Louw-Nida Greek lexicon provides the following definition:
μετανοέω; μετάνοια, ας f:[1]to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness—‘to repent, to change one’s way, repentance.’5

μετανοέω: ἐξελθόντες ἐκήρυξαν ἵνα μετανοῶσιν ‘they went out and preached that the people should repent’ Mk 6:12.

μετάνοια: ἀγνοῶν ὅτι τὸ χρηστὸν τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς μετάνοιάν σε ἄγει; ‘do you fail to understand that God is kind because he wants to lead you to repent?’ Ro 2:4.

Though in English a focal component of repent is the sorrow or contrition that a person experiences because of sin, the emphasis in μετανοέω and μετάνοια seems to be more specifically the total change, both in thought and behavior, with respect to how one should both think and act. Whether the focus is upon attitude or behavior varies somewhat in different contexts. Compare, for example, Lk 3:8, He 6:1, and Ac 26:20.

See Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 509). United Bible Societies.