Slow Read: Mark’s Gospel

Slow Read is currently on break for the summer, and will resume September 13, 2026. We meet on Sundays, 9:00-9:45am. In the library and on zoom (hybrid set up).

What’s a slow read? In the library we have comfy chairs.  We’ll also provide coffee and simple treats.  It’s simple: we just take turns reading the text out loud, chapter by chapter, from beginning to end; pausing at times to reflect, ask questions, share insights and consider the implications for us today.  A facilitator will prepare a little background information, keep us moving forward and remind us where we’ve been.

It’s a “slow” read like “slow food”: not a fast-food burger to wolf down in the car, but a sit-down feast to savor, bite by bite.  The texts of scripture are both ancient and rich in meaning.  It helps to have time, focus, and company as we seek to understand them.  

If you’re new to reading the Bible, this is a great way to start!

What’s Mark’s Gospel?

“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” That’s the first sentence of the Gospel of Mark, which is usually thought to be the earliest of the four Gospels (the others being Matthew, Luke and John).

It’s also the shortest, and maybe the rawest. Without much background, we get right into the story of Jesus – what he said and did – and move along quickly to see what happened to him and what it could mean for us. It’s not about explaining Jesus so much as experiencing the mystery of God’s power in Jesus.

Reading Mark’s Gospel may be the ideal “Jesus 101” experience. Get to know the whole story, learn the background, and consider what it means for your path in life.

Reapers Resting in a Wheat Field by John Singer Sargent 1885 maybe conveys a sense of mystery? Jesus speaks about wheat, seeds and harvest in describing the Kingdom of God. With the slow read of John’s Gospel last year, we used more of a wine image.

We have plenty of Bibles available, but if you like, you can bring your own.  Study bibles are recommended, such as the Harper Collins and Lutheran Study Bible.  We tend to use the NRSV, but a variety of translations are welcome.

Sept 13 – Introducting Jesus, 1:1-15
Sept 20 – Jesus’ first mighty deeds, 1:16-45
Sept 27 – Jesus in conflict – law and kingdom, 2:1-3:6
October 4 – Jesus the Son of God and relations, 3:7-3:35
Oct 11 – Jesus speaks in parables, 4:1-34
Oct 18 – Divine power, storm and demoniac, 4:35-5:20
Oct 25 – Divine power, two healings, response, 5:21-6:6a
November 1 – Sending of the twelve, death of John, 6:6b-30
Nov 8 – Renewed teaching, more mighty deeds, 6:31-56
Nov 15 – Dispute with pharisees, 7:1-23
Nov 22 – Syro-Phoenician woman, deaf man, 7:24-37
Nov 29 – Feeding the multitude, 8:1-26
Dec 6 – Mystery revealed, 8:27-9:1
Dec 13 – Transfiguration, healing, 9:2-29
Dec 20 – Suffering, rank, outsiders, 9:30-9:50

That will take us to the end of 2026. We’ll resume and finish Mark by May of 2027.

St. Mark is associated with a lion, since Mark’s Gospel was thought to roar in the coming of God’s power.