MorePraxis bible study works as a resource to prime a conversation and reflection on a passage. So reflect and think about the text, listen for God and your spirit. I hope the format is less like the normal comprehension styled Bible study, but rather that it feels like ideas are raised and space is left for you and your groups to have a conversation.

Mark 11:1-25 – Jesus? Palm Sunday
(Full TExt in PDF)praxisbiblemk11.pdf

Reflect:
Read the text and notice what grabs your attention. Key words? Ideas?
Read it again, now what stands out? What do you relate to? What do you disagree with?
Is there a story from your life it reminds you of?

Think:
?The first part of this passage is what many Bible headings call ?the triumphant entry into Jerusalem? But what?s so triumphant about it? Jesus doesn?t even spend the night there, because it was too late. At Palm Sunday Church services everywhere will have donkeys and kids chanting HOSANNA! Etc. Laying palm leaves and blankets at the feet of the conquering king like a defeated army laying down their weapons. We all know that Jesus did not come as the conquering king he is the servant king. Jesus is involved in street theatre a staged political stunt – Jesus statement is that he is not this king and not bringing this type of kingdom. I think Jesus knew the passage in Zech 9:9 that he was recreating and that it was too late in the day for the next step in his action. Hence the next day he trashes the temple, disrupts trade for the day and teaches in such a way that astonished and provokes the powers to plot to kill him. So let me prompt our conversation in short hand. Symbolism anyone?….Fig tree = temple? Moneychangers = economic injustice, Mountain = temple or controlling systems?

So each year do we re-enact in our churches the crowd missing the point of the radical kingdom? A kingdom that will overturn the tables of economic and political injustice through forgiveness? (Age)

Welcome to the conversation
What parts stood out for you, annoyed you or drew you to them?
What is echoed in your life and experience in this text?
Has Age lost it? Is this a fair look a the text?
What are the mountains in our world that we come against?
What is so powerful about integrity and forgiveness? Where is God in the mix when we are being the change in our world?
What else would be good to talk about???

Act:
What will you do this Palm Sunday? Will you join the Palm Sunday Peace March?
What local or personal mountain/fig tree could you tackle through forgiveness and integrity?

Palm Sunday 2011 Peace Vigil & Forum details here