“And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.”‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

It’s the last day, day sixteen of “Mark, one chapter a day for Easter.” here at Refocused Bible Study. If you missed the details of the study, you can find them here. If you missed out, you can scroll through all my previous posts while le you study on your own.

Today we are reading in chapter sixteen.  and I was mostly drawn to verses 1-8, focusing on verse six. I’m sharing today following the quiet time pattern below. Try it or something similar in your own personal study and see if it helps you find focus and structure to help His Word come alive in your life! See the image here:

My verse: “And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.”‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬
Application: Live like He’s ALIVE and like you’re ALIVE in Him. Don’t live so temporarily. I needed this reminder. I get caught up in today, this week, month, and year. I forget that God has conquered death. But if I keep my  eyes fixed on Jesus, and the truth that he is alive, my heart and priorities are going to be set on things that are lasting. 

Review: Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, and Salome went with burial spices to Jesus’ tomb. It was open! The stone was rolled away! An angel was on the right side inside the tomb. He told them not to be alarmed, that Jesus had risen!

Kneel in prayer: Almighty Jesus, we praise you for your power that raised you from the dead. Thank you for giving us the same resurrection power (Romans 8:11). Resurrect dead, locked up parts of our souls and lives that need new life and hope in you. Help us continue to spread your message in love and power. Make us women of your Word, filled with truth and strength from you. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

That’s the end of Mark! What did God show you through this book? I’ll be announcing soon what’s next!

Tomorrow is April 1st, a new month and a new opportunity to have a fresh start, especially with spring greening up under our feet, reminding us God is still in the business of making all things new. In just over two weeks, the pinnacle day of our Christian faith, the day our Savior conquered death, will come and go. Between now and then, a group of women connected through this blog will be reading Mark, a book of the bible, a chapter a day, ending on Easter. It beautifully coincides with the timing of this special day, and we want you to join us!

Mark Reading Schedule

Plan Options

I want to journal through it

Hello, fellow journaling friend! I love to journal too. I find power in recording what I hear the Holy Spirit speak to me. I also focus better if I am writing my prayers down on paper. Finally, if I write down one verse a day from my time with the Lord, it sticks better. I meditate (think on it, pray God will help me apply it) the rest of the day, and my time with God continues on after I close my bible.

Having a structure to your quiet time or bible reading time can be very helpful. I like to use acronyms to help me pattern my time with Jesus. Below is an option for this reading plan. As I am reading through the chapter, I pick a verse that really speaks to me. (Don’t get too caught up in this, just pick a verse!) I write that verse down.  Then, I study that verse, and write how I can apply that verse to my life right now. For this study, next we will “review” – write out the context ( the setting, what was happening, who said the verse, and maybe a little about the entire chapter). Last, I write out a prayer to close my time with God. If you so choose, you could  also pray out loud or stop writing at this point and pray quietly to the Lord. You could also write down a few prayer requests and then go to the Lord in prayer. The important thing is to PRAY TO END YOUR QUIET TIME! ❤

I just want to read

Go for it, girlfriend! I have some ideas to help you succeed in this very important endeavor over the next sixteen days. First of all, decide what time of day you will read the chapter. Next, decide how this will be a priority. What will you refuse to do until you have read the chapter for the day? This REALLY helps me make time one on one with God a priority. For example, you may decide you will not get on social media, watch Netflix, (basically any mindless time-sucker) until you have read your chapter. This really helps me! Let me know if it helps you, too! Sometimes quiet time isn’t so quiet, and you have to “just do it, ” (think Nike). DECIDE to  drop perfectionism and read the chapter on the bible app on your phone while you rock your baby. Decide to listen to the chapter on the app through your earbuds in the car rider line or while you are working out. Just do it! 🙂 Even though you are not writing it down, pick one verse to take with you throughout the rest of the day until your next reading session so you can think on it and let God continue to speak to you through it. (Yes, He still speaks to his people)!

Accountability

Let’s link arms, ladies, and encourage one another on this short journey the next sixteen days. I want you to share your “My verse” with me. How can you do this? 

Here on the blog, in the comments. Yes, I will try to send an email everyday between now and then, so make sure you follow this blog.

The Facebook Group. Click here to be added.

Instagram. Comment on the daily post. Click here to follow me. 

I just know we are going to see Jesus more beautiful than ever through this journey. I will be reading it with my children. This is a lot of scripture for them to digest at once (ages 6,7, and 9) so I’ll be pressing into Jesus asking him to help me not stress over it and them falling in love with his Word the priority for them. ❤

That is my prayer for all of us, that we would fall more in love with Jesus and his Word as we journey with him this Easter season. 

Let me know you are joining us! I want to hear from you!

Invite your friends!!!

Here are some helpful links to a series I wrote on Back to the Basics of Bible Study if you want more inspiration and direction: 

Bible Study & Prayer 101: How To Read The Bible 

Bible Study & Prayer 101: Back to the Basics

Bible Study & Prayer 101: Meet the Teacher

Share this post and invite others to join us! ❤

Amy

Comment below and tell me which plan option you chose!

I gave up coordinating family outfits for Easter a few years back. I realized that for many years I thought about what we would wear more than  I thought about the fact that Jesus was alive.

Do you really think he cares about what we wear that morning to church?

“People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

He sees straight through our best dressed faces and outfits, straight to the core of our souls. Jesus cares far more about the condition of your heart than the clothes hanging on your body. 

So who’s up for our second  annual Easter bible reading challenge?!?!

Last year we read the book of John. This year, we will be reading the book of Mark. It was so powerful to read the events of Jesus’ life, miracles, obedience and resurrection leading up to Easter.

This year, we will start reading Mark on April 1st, reading one chapter a day until we read the last chapter, all about the resurrection, on Easter! Even if you read the last chapter after church, a big lunch, Easter egg hunt, and the kids go to bed that night, you’ll exhale a sigh of praise with a full heart after reflecting on Jesus’ life and words the weeks leading up to this sacred day.

Let’s get back to the basics and read the gospel of Mark together! Are you in? Comment below & let me know you’re joining us!