The Kingdom of God has arrived.
That's what Jesus announces in the opening chapter of Mark's Gospel. But as the story unfolds, this Kingdom looks nothing like what anyone expected. No armies. No political power. No comfortable religion. Just a controversial teacher, a band of confused disciples, and a message that challenges every assumption about God, power, and what it means to be faithful.
In Into the Kingdom: A Journey Through Mark, Benjamin Conrad invites readers into an eight-week exploration of the Gospel of Mark-the shortest, fastest-paced, and perhaps most provocative of the four Gospel accounts. Written to be read aloud in one sitting (try it-it takes about 90 minutes), Mark was designed for everyday people: the poor, the marginalized, the ones who couldn't read. It's urgent, dramatic, and relentlessly focused on one question: Who is this Jesus?
This study devotional was born from Conrad's conviction that formation requires both knowledge and transformation-head and heart working together. That's why each week combines:
- Daily Study Sessions that build biblical literacy, connect Mark to the larger story of Scripture, and trace key themes through the Gospel
- Personal Reflection Prompts that bring the text into conversation with your actual life, naming where you need Jesus to break in
- Group Discussion Guides designed for anyone to lead (no seminary degree required), creating space for honest wrestling with hard questions
- Practical Tools including a map of first-century Palestine, an "Identity of Jesus" tracking worksheet, guides to symbolism and Old Testament connections, and appendices that deepen understanding
