Gospel of Mark Part 14: Of Wine and Wineskins [Small Group Discussion]

Title: New Wine, New Wineskins

Scripture Focus: Mark 2:22 – “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”

OPENING QUESTION

Have you ever seen someone try to “update” or “repackage” the Christian faith? How did it change the message or the way it was lived out?

BACKGROUNDJesus’ teaching about new wine and new wineskins came in response to questions about fasting. The Pharisees and John the Baptist’s disciples clung to Old Covenant practices, but Jesus used these illustrations to show that His gospel—the New Covenant—could not be contained within the old structures and traditions.

KEY POINTS

1. New Wine – The New Covenant & New Blessings

• Represents the gospel and blessings found only in Christ:

  • True forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 10:10–12)

  • The indwelling Holy Spirit in a new way (John 7:37–39)

• This “new wine” could not be poured into the legalistic container of the Old Covenant.

  
  

2. New Wineskins – The New Covenant Structure

• Represents the way God has designed for the blessings of the gospel to be preserved and shared:

  • Baptism replaces circumcision as the sign of covenant membership (Colossians 2:11–13)

  • A spiritual temple replaces the physical one (Hebrews 9:9–11)

  • The apostolic doctrine preserves the gospel (Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 14:33–37)

    
    

3. Misusing the Illustration Today

• New Wine in Old Wineskins: Trying to force the gospel into Old Testament religious forms (e.g., separate priesthood, ritual systems).

• New Wine in Our Own Wineskins: Repackaging the gospel to fit modern ideas or trends—changing worship, leadership, or the mission of the church to match culture.

• Our Own Wine in Jesus’ Wineskins: Bringing false teaching or lifestyles into the church while keeping Christian labels (e.g., prosperity gospel, social gospel).

• Our Own Wine in Our Own Wineskins: Creating entirely new religions or organizations outside biblical authority that replace the gospel with human ideas.

  
  

  

4. The Warning of Scripture

• God has always called His people to follow His way, not invent their own (Jeremiah 6:16).

• Offerings and sacrifices mean nothing without obedience (1 Samuel 15:22; Hosea 6:6).

  
  

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What does the “new wine” and “new wineskin” mean in the context of Jesus’ ministry?

2. Why can’t the gospel be contained in the old structures of the Law of Moses?

3. What are some examples today of people trying to “repackage” the gospel in a way Jesus never intended?

4. How can we tell the difference between adapting ministry methods for clarity and changing the gospel itself?

5. Why is obedience more important to God than rituals or outward sacrifices?

   
   

APPLICATION

• Guard the Gospel: Do not change its content to make it more appealing.

• Stay in the New Covenant Structure: Hold to the apostolic teachings as given in Scripture.

• Test All Practices: Ask, “Does this preserve or distort the wine Jesus gave us?”

• Walk the Ancient Paths: Follow God’s ways as revealed in His Word, not man-made innovations.

  
  

MEMORY VERSE

Jeremiah 6:16 – “Thus says Yahweh, ‘Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

PRAYER FOCUS

Thank God for the gospel and the blessings of the New Covenant. Ask Him to help you remain faithful to His original message and structure, resisting the temptation to conform His truth to cultural trends or personal preferences.

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