The Tell-It-Together Gospel: Mark

Bible Translation by Paula Gooder; Interactive Storytelling Tips by Bob Hartman

Bob Hartman, Paula Gooder, Paula Gooder

• Publisher: SPCK Publishing
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9780281079223
• eBook ISBN: 9780281079230
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christianity

The Tell-It-Together Gospel brings together a new translation of Mark's Gospel by renowned biblical scholar Paula Gooder and interactive storytelling tips from bestselling author Bob Hartman.

Remaining faithful to the Bible text itself, Paula and Bob combine Mark's Gospel with fun and engaging actions to bring the text to life and make it memorable for all ages - even the very young.

Clearly presented with easy-to-read text and accompanying directives for audience participation, this book is ideal for use in churches, children's groups, at home and in many other settings.

Mark 1

How it all began

1 The good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, began like this. 2 Just like the prophet Isaiah had written a long time before:

‘Look out! (Have everyone shield their eyes with one hand, as if looking far in the distance.) I am sending my messenger in front of you. He’ll make a way for you.’

3 A voice is shouting in the desert (have everyone shout the next two lines after you): ‘Make a way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.’

(Now ask, ‘So who do you think is the messenger? Who is making the path straight? Here he comes . . .’)

4 John, the one who baptized people, was in the desert. He was telling people about a baptism that turned their lives around so that all the wrong things they had done could be forgiven. (Tell everyone to turn and face a different direction, shake their heads, as if they are shaking off water, and shout, ‘I’ve changed direction! I’m forgiven. Hooray!’) 5 Everyone came out from that area – from Judea and Jerusalem – and, as they admitted what they had done, John baptized them in the River Jordan. (Tell everyone to turn and face a different direction, shake their heads, as if they are shaking off water, and shout, ‘I’ve changed direction! I’m forgiven. Hooray!’)

6 John’s clothes were made from camel hair, which he tied with a leather belt, and he ate locusts (everyone say, ‘Icch!’) and the honey (everyone say, ‘Mmmm’) you can find in the wild. 7 He told the people: ‘There’s someone coming after me who is stronger than I am. I am not good enough even to bend down and take his sandals off. 8 I baptize you with water (have everyone turn and face a different direction, shake their heads as if they are shaking off water, and shout, ‘I’ve changed direction! I’m forgiven. Hooray!’), but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

Jesus’ arrival on the scene

9 At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth (which is in Galilee) and he was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As soon as he came up out of the water again (have everyone shake their heads as if they are shaking off water and look up), he saw the sky split apart and God’s Spirit coming down on him, looking like a dove. (Have everyone make a cooing sound.) 11 And a voice came out of heaven (have everyone put their hand to their ear, as if they are listening): ‘You are my Son. I love you and am delighted with you.’ (Have everyone smile a broad smile.)

12 Right away, God’s Spirit sent Jesus into the desert. (Everyone looks worried and says, ‘Oh, my!’) 13 He was in the desert for 40 days being tested by Satan. (Everyone looks more worried and says, ‘Oh, dear!’) There were wild animals with Jesus and the angels looked after him. (Everyone gives a relieved sigh and says, ‘Oh, good!’)

Jesus began to tell people the good news!

14 After John was arrested (everyone whispers, ‘Oh, no!’), Jesus came into Galilee, telling people the good news of God (everyone shouts, ‘Oh, yes!’) 15 and saying: ‘God’s kingdom is close. (Everyone looks around.) Turn your life around and believe in the good news.’ (Now everyone spins around.)

16 And he was walking by the sea of Galilee when he saw Simon and his brother Andrew; they were casting a net into the sea (because they were fishermen). (Everyone casts a pretend net into the sea.) 17 And Jesus said to them: ‘Follow me (everyone waves their hand in a ‘follow me’ fashion) and I will show you how to fish for people.’ 18 They wasted no time, left their nets (everyone throws their nets to the ground) and followed him. (Everyone walks in place after Jesus.)

19 Jesus went on a bit further and he saw James and his brother John, Zebedee’s sons, in the boat mending nets. (Everyone does a bit of pretend sewing.) 20 Right away, he called them (‘follow me’ hand motion again) and they left their father with his employees (everyone waves goodbye) and followed Jesus. (Everyone walks in place after Jesus.)

Jesus healed a man . . .

21 Jesus and the others went into Capernaum and right away, on the Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and started teaching 22 and they were stunned by his teaching (everyone shouts, ‘Wow!’) because he taught them as if he really knew what he was talking about – not like the experts in the law.

23 At that moment, in the synagogue, there was a man with a troubled spirit and he shouted out loud (tell everyone to shout the following lines after you):24 ‘What have we got to do with you, Jesus from Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are! You are the Holy One of God!’ 25 Jesus told him off and said (everyone shouts the following line), ‘Shut up and come out of him.’ 26 The troubling spirit shook the man from head to toe, shouted with a loud voice and came out of him.

27 And everyone there was startled (everyone shouts ‘Wow!’ again), and started chatting among themselves: ‘What is this? It’s new teaching and it’s powerful! Even troubled spirits do what he tells them.’ 28 The news about Jesus went out, right away, all round the whole area of Galilee. (Everyone turns to a neighbour and says, ‘Have you heard about Jesus? He’s amazing!’)

. . . and then lots more people

29 And as soon as they came out of the synagogue, they went into Simon and Andrew’s house, with James and John. 30 And Simon’s mother-in-law was lying down, ill with a really high temperature (everyone slumps in their seat or leans back, hand on head, and says in a weak voice, ‘I’m not feeling very well.’ Stay in that position till your next line), and right away they told Jesus about her. 31 And he came to her and helped her to get up, holding her hand, and the fever left her and she looked after them. (Everyone sits up straight, smiles and says, ‘I’m feeling much better now! Would anyone like a bite to eat?’)

32 When evening came, after the sun had set, the people who lived near there brought to him all those who were ill or who were tormented by demons. (Everyone wraps their arms around themselves and whispers, ‘I’m trapped.’ Stay that way till your next line.) 33 And the whole city gathered around his door. 34 And he healed many who were ill with all sorts of different illnesses and he got rid of many demons (everyone unwraps their arms, lifts their hands in the air and cries out, ‘I’m free!’), but he wouldn’t allow the demons to speak because they knew who he was. (Everyone puts a finger to their lips and says, ‘Shhhhh!’)

He was so popular it began to be a nuisance

35 He got up really early in the morning (everyone stretches their arms and yawns), while it was still night-time, and he went away to a place where no one else was and he prayed there. (Everyone bows heads and folds hands in a praying motion.) 36 And Simon and the others with him hunted him down (everyone looks round, as if searching for someone) 37 and they found him and said to him, ‘Everyone’s looking for you.’ (Everyone turns to a neighbour and repeats this line.)

38 And he said to them: ‘Why don’t we go somewhere else, to the towns near here? Then I can tell them the message of good news. That’s why I came.’ 39 And he went through the whole of Galilee, telling the message of good news in their synagogues and getting rid of demons. (Everyone lifts hands in the air and cries out, ‘I’m free!’)

40 And a leper came to Jesus, begging him and grovellin...

Table of contents

• Mark 1
• Mark 2
• Mark 3
• Mark 4
• Mark 5
• Mark 6
• Mark 7
• Mark 8
• Mark 9
• Mark 10
• Mark 11
• Mark 12
• Mark 13
• Mark 14
• Mark 15
• Mark 16