Into the Kingdom (Paperback)

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

Through it all, three themes anchor the journey:

The Kingdom Theme: What kind of Kingdom is God's?
Not one built on violence, wealth, or worldly power—but on humble authority, surprising reversals, and the paradox of the cross. Jesus doesn't just talk about the Kingdom; he is the Kingdom breaking into the world, pushing back darkness, healing the broken, and welcoming the outsider.

The Messiah Theme: What kind of King is Jesus?
The Son of God who calls himself the Son of Man. The teacher with authority who tells people not to talk about his miracles. The healer who touches lepers. The Lord who washes feet. Mark reveals Jesus slowly, mysteriously, inviting readers to ask—along with the disciples—"Who is this man that even the wind and sea obey him?"

The Citizen Theme: What kind of people are we called to be?
Not religious insiders protecting our status, but risk-taking followers who leave everything behind. Not people with all the answers, but those who walk through fear with faith. Not the powerful, but servants. Mark constantly flips the script on who's "in" and who's "out"—and challenges us to examine where we stand.

Written with Wesleyan theological depth and pastoral warmth, Into the Kingdom meets readers where they are:

• For the curious skeptic: This isn't Sunday School Jesus. This is Mark's urgent, unpolished, provocative account that refuses to be tamed.
• For the burned-out Christian: Discover a Kingdom not built on your performance, but on Jesus' presence and power.
• For the new believer: Build a solid foundation in Scripture with tools that make complex themes accessible and memorable.
• For the mature disciple: See familiar stories with new eyes as you trace Mark's sophisticated theological themes and Old Testament connections.
• For small group leaders: Clear session guides, discussion questions, and structure that works whether your group has 3 people or 15.
• For churches in transition: This study offers a return to the essentials—Jesus, Scripture, transformation—in a season when many congregations are reimagining what faithful witness looks like.

The journey through Mark is not comfortable. Jesus disturbs as much as he comforts. He calls people away from religion-as-usual and toward a Kingdom where the greatest become servants, where a cross becomes a throne, where death leads to resurrection, and where following Jesus means risking everything.

But here's the good news Mark proclaims: the Kingdom has arrived. Jesus is alive. And the invitation to follow him into this upside-down, right-side-up way of life is still open.

Will you enter the Kingdom?