Let's Study Mark

by Sinclair B. Ferguson

When John Mark wrote out his good news about Jesus two thousand years ago, his Gospel was a completely new kind of book. No one had ever written one before. In fact no one would have known what a Gospel was...

What made the Gospel of Mark unique was it was not written merely as the memoir of Jesus as a great man, not even as the greatest man who had ever lived. Rather it was meant to persuade its readers that Jesus was the Son of God...

Who is Jesus of Nazareth? What is the good news (gospel) about him?...This book presents us with Mark's answer.

Genres: Reference, Theology

328 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1999

About the author

Sinclair B. Ferguson is Associate Preacher at St Peter's Free Church in Dundee and also Distinguished Visiting Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina and prior to that, he was minister of St. George's-Tron Church in Glasgow.

Reviews

[Deiniol Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

More good stuff from Sinclair Ferguson. Written in a way that’s easy to understand and as a concise commentary, this is 73 short (2-3 pages) chapters working through Mark’s Gospel. Would recommend for personal reading, and there’s a suggested 13 week group study programme included with discussion questions.

[Jo Burl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinclair has a great gift for teaching. Every time I read one of his books I come away with greater understanding.
I chose to do a slow study of the Gospel of Mark because, I confess to my shame, it has always seemed like an unnecessary book to me and was my least favorite Gospel. So I purchased this book along with St Andrew’s Expositional Commentary on Mark by RC Sproul and took a year and half to go through Mark, studying and pondering this Gospel.
I discovered I couldn’t have been more wrong in my thinking. These two authors helped me to see the beauty of this Gospel, the touching aspects that never resonated with me (but does now), and even the humor which is easy to miss in a quick read. I now have a great fondness and love for this Gospel, and am grateful for this men who helped me to understand better.
SDG!

[Nichole Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book.

Ferguson takes you straight through the entirety of Mark’s Gospel. Which, by the way, only takes about an hour to read from start to finish.

I think every page in this book is directly about Jesus.

There are 73 chapters. And each chapter is only about 4 pages long, which I loved. I could complete a chapter in a few minutes and sit with it a while or I could easily read through many chapters and not feel overwhelmed.

It also includes a group study guide in the back (which I have not done).

“The Let’s Study series seeks to combine explanation and application. The aim is exposition of Scripture written in the language of a friend, seated alongside you with an open Bible.”

Ferguson is delightful. He draws out details that I’d overlooked. He adds historical context that I hadn’t heard before. And he commonly ends each chapter with a question to consider.

[Nathan Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a helpful and concise devotional commentary. Could easily be put into the hands of small group leaders and teachers. As always Ferguson is great.

[Bob O'Bannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ferguson treats each section of Mark's gospel in very brief fashion, just 3–4 pages at a time, but as you might expect, he brings rich and thoughtful insight to every passage. This is perfect for personal devotions, but also helpful to the preacher who is just wanting to get right to the point. Accompany this with a more detailed exegetical commentary, but let Ferguson make sure you're not missing the forest for the trees.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ferguson is well positioned to write these sort of commentaries. He has a PhD in systematics and has taught at Westminster Theological Seminary, but he's also been the beloved pastor of a large, vibrant Presbyterian church in Scotland. He's written something like 30 books, and he has a gift for clear but deep writing.

The cover of my edition of this book, printed in 2005, is not overly cheesy (as the last reviewer charged). But an older volume in this series (Ferguson's Let's Study Philippians -- also great) does have an awful cover, so my guess is they updated it recently.

The chapters (73 in all) are short and accessible. They are packed with reliable and lively exegesis, with a theologically strong redemptive-historical approach. He pauses to make solid and penetrating practical applications as he goes. There are additional study questions in the back that tie themes from various chapters together.

If I were to pick just one commentary to use for a small group Bible study of lay people, or a teacher's guide for an adult Christian ed. class, this would be it.

Other good commentaries for teaching and preaching:
R. Kent Hughes (1989, Reformed sermons, solid if a little less than contemporary); Tom Wright, Mark for Everyone (2001 --excellent concise exegesis and insights. Yes, the NPP theology is troublesome at a feww junctures, but it does not come into play here that I see); Mark Horne (2004 -- Reformed, PCA, lengthy -- references Austin Farrar alot); William Lane (NICNT -- extensive exegesis).

[Scarlett Cornell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this commentary. Especially loved doing it with my children.

[richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's Study Mark ~ Sinclair B. Ferguson

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

I did not use this book as a study so I can't comment on how the book is as a study for groups or individuals. However, I read this book as a devotional and let me tell you that this book is excellent in a few different ways.

First, you get to read the gospel of Mark and so that in itself is worth the effort to read.

Secondly, Sinclair B. Ferguson is an amazing expositor of the bible and his deep understanding brings out the hidden gold in the gospel of Mark. There is so much to learn here, but best is that the extensive commentary will actually speak to your heart as the truths are opened up for you.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants a simple understanding of the gospel of Mark, the author is wonderful and leaves you wanting more of Jesus, so what more could you ask for from a book.

[CJ Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book in a great series. Similar in structure to Wright's "NT for Everyone", giving 3-4 sermonic pages on each pericope in plain language. This would be a great volume for the congregation to read during a sermon series on Mark. Ferguson writes from a traditionally Reformed perspective, and this work contains much nourishing spiritual food.

[Kristi Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved studying through the book of Mark with my husband and two of my daughters. We used this study guide, the Proverbs 31 First Five App and watched the first two seasons of The Chosen. The overlap and repetition of the gospel narrative helped us to truly meditate on the works and words of Jesus.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used as an aid to lead a group Bible study. Not bad, but also not very illuminating. My review represents engagement with about 60% of the book...

[Peter Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Ferguson at his best. A really helpful basic commentary yet with many choice nuggets and insights.

[Joy Conkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good study on Mark which had some really challenging and thought provoking statements in it.

[Alison Coles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful commentary. Detailed and insightful enough to be beneficial but still accessible to a non-theologian.

[Emily K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books. These are expository preaching in a book form. Ferguson takes us verse by verse and explains the scriptures. I gained so much as I studied through the gospel of Mark.

[Jonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic introduction to Mark

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, clear walk through the Gospel of Mark. Good for study groups and for pastors considering application of the text.

[Dayo Adewoye · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and insightful walk through the book of Mark. Rev. Ferguson throws up a lot of background knowledge which makes the text more understandable. His skill in teaching and application helps one to encounter the life of Jesus afresh and respond to it in faith and obedience.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super commentary for the every-man. By no means exhaustive but very insightful.

[Bethanie Brayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it to be a helpful and insightful resource. Ferguson does a good job helping the reader stop, think, and notice connections that he might otherwise miss.

[Murungi Igweta]

Succinct and enjoyable, with a good appreciation of biblical theology

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent help to me as I prepared to lead our women's Bible study at church. Sinclair Ferguson offers insights which make the Gospel come much more clearly into focus. His intention is to shine the spotlight on our Lord Jesus and he does just that.