Mark 1:21-28

Thoughts:       Mr. Pierce was old and grim, but he could explain geometry theorems with precision and clarity.  Miss Merrilees was faded and squeaky, but she knew ingenious ways to help her students memorize the symbols for elements.
 
They taught with authority.  Apparently, the scribes in the synagogue did not.  We don’t know whether they didn’t know their material, or whether their teaching was dull and uninspired.  But when Jesus taught in the Capernaum synagogue, the people were “astonished at his doctrine.”  They went home for lunch saying, “Now I understand -“ and “I never realized that-“ and “I hope Jesus teaches again soon.”
 
Discussion:      What topics do we need to teach with authority?
 
Activity:          Pick a character in the Bible who is unfamiliar to you.  Learn his/her history.  You will be pleasantly surprised by the light this sheds on other Biblical characters and events.