During the four Wednesdays of October 2026 (the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th), we will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at a local library for a 4-session class on the gospel. In this class, we will introduce several fundamental notions about the message of the gospel. Our aim is to understand the gospel from the perspective of the Jewish world during Jesus’ time. This is what historians call Second Temple Judaism (approx. 516 BC to 70 AD), the matrix from which the Jesus movement emerged and spread into the wider Greco-Roman world. The basic question we will ask is: What did Jesus mean when He declared: “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the gospel!” (Mar. 1:15).

To answer this question, we will learn about the biblical storyline of redemption based on God’s promises to Abraham and his descendants, the people of Israel. We will also briefly survey how the hope rooted in those promises developed in the Scriptures of the Prophets and in later Jewish writings, and how it came to be articulated as the message of salvation proclaimed by Jesus himself and His first disciples. Ultimately, our goal is to grow in understanding of Jesus and His message, strengthening our faith and obedience as His disciples. We will also discuss the practical implications of responding to the gospel and how to help others become disciples of Jesus the Messiah. 

Main biblical text: The Gospel of Mark  – approx. 39 pages in printed form; read 4 chapters per week. Our study will draw from the whole Bible, but we want to highlight the Gospel of Mark to draw out some main ideas and connect and expound them with the rest of Scripture.   

Reading plan:

Week 1: chapters 1-4

Week 2: chapters 5-8

Week 3: chapters 9-12

Week 4: chapters 13-16

To request more information about it please email us at: studyhousekc@gmail.com.