Preached by Chris Broom, 2/8/2009

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download audio

Afrecia Johnson (2nd from left) Is Restored!

Mark 6:1-6
In the last lesson, we looked at some examples of faith. Here we will look at an example of a lack of faith, and Jesus’ direction for us when we encounter faithlessnes in our ministry!

• Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith.
• Romans 10:17 teaches us that faith comes from hearing the message, and as Jesus taught the people in Mark 6, many who heard Him were amazed, until they reasoned that he was no different from them and therefore couldn’t believe that he was sent by God, much less God in the flesh.
• They went from being amazed to being offended.
• John 8:30-32 teaches us that many who heard him put their faith in HIm, but when Jesus challenged them to obey his teaching, they were rebellious and by the end of the chapter they were trying to kill Him.
• Why would people want to kill Jesus or His disciples? Because He called for people to repent.


Eileen Mengis (center) places membership

• If you are discouraged and feel like giving up, remember that Jesus didn’t quit on you.
• Jesus was amazed at the centurion’s faith in Matthew 8:5.
• No faith means no miracles. / Little faith means little miracles. / Amazing faith means amazing miracles.

Mark 6:6-13

• Jesus did not stay in that faithless place for the rest of his life and beg them to change.
• We get caught up in the “Matrix” and even though we are doing good things, we have lost sight of the big picture and what God is trying to do with us.
• God has a plan for all our lives, if we will just get in line with God.
• Jesus left there in order to find the faithful.
• We must chose to be faithful. God didn’t make us robots because He doesn’t want us to love him because we have no choice any more that we want a “valentine” to love us like a robot.
• Campus / Teen devotional was incredible as we shared about who it’s easy for us to love and who it’s hard for us to love. We also shared about times we have failed to love and when we have been successful and chosen to love.
• He also sent out the men that He had trained to do what He had been doing… fishing for the faithful.
• This was the beginning of their ministry in Jesus’ name.
• Jesus told them not to take anything for the journey so that they would not be so self sufficient that they wouldn’t talk to anyone.
• We are so self sufficient and that’s why we don’t talk to more strangers, which is why we don’t share the gospel with more people.
• Matthew 22 / Matthew 28 are one in the same. If we love God, we will love our neighbor. If we love Jesus, we will go make disciples of Jesus so the world will be saved. If we love Jesus, we will teach others to obey Him, which includes going out and finding the faithful as Jesus did. If you believe in Jesus, you will have a ministry in Jesus’ name, and the rest of your life will be about calling people to you so they can know Jesus and then sending them out to teach others!
• Some will be amazed and others will take offense at us and think “who are they to teach me?”
• When people don’t welcome or listen to Jesus’ disciples, Jesus wants them to know that they have made a mistake. Maybe they will change and welcome / listen to you later, maybe not. We pray they will! If not, however, we must go and find the faithful wherever they are.
• Some will not get the message because they take offense at the messenger.
• John 13:34 teaches us that we must love as Jesus has loved us and then the world will know that we are his disciples.
• Some of you are afraid to get committed like Jesus commands. Love is about committment and not feelings… “for better or worse.” If we are committed to each other, we won’t be that critical of each other. Satan is trying to make us miss the big picture because of little petty issues. Satan is also trying to get us to hessitate even though Jesus is the one telling us to go…!
• There’s a U.S. Cellular ad that says, “We believe that loyalty matters.” Do we as disciples of Jesus believe that loyalty matters? We have got to get as committed to each other as Jesus is to us.
• The power of Jesus is in His word and in HIs true disciples!
• Remember to watch what you take in this week as you are what you eat… spiritually as well as physically! And exercise your faith! You will be in awe as your spiritual strength grows!

-Chris Broom

Categories: Mark Series, Sermons
No Comments »