Mark's Gospel 4

Great day in church yesterday. Paul Benger spoke another excellent message from our current series on Mark’s Gospel.

Mark 3:1-21

Looking at the Pharisees, the crowds, the disciples.
Jesus is still in Capernaum ministering to people right where they are. God is with us in the good times and the bad! Healing was considered work by the Pharisees. Religion always looks for accusation, what is wrong.
Relationship with Christ is looking to lift people, where grace abounds!
Jesus infuriates the Pharisees. God loves people. And that's the message of this story He wants to restore us, redeem us and save us.

Jesus and the crowd
When he leaves, there is a separation from the temple and the teachers of the law....and he goes with the crowd, they're done with the dead religion...they're not going to change their hearts. Hardened hearts. Keep your heart soft towards God and his purposes.

Crowds want Jesus...because they know he's got something they want, they need. Hungry people are present...they're there, no matter what!
The hungry and the thirsty shall be filled.
Hungry people are expectant, that Jesus might touch them. Let us be expectant, as individuals and as a church Not obsessed but expectant.
Hungry people are persistent.

Love the crowd, love people....Jesus found a way to reach them. Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever. He gave to the crowd then he gives to the crowd today.

Jesus calls the apostles
He needs people to reach people, you and I…Leaders to lead, healers to heal, preachers to preach. We're going nowhere if only one person is a leader.

Mark's Gospel 3

Another brilliant message from Mark's Gospel yesterday in church. Paul Benger picked up on the relationship that Jesus had with the Pharisees...and the fact the 'religion kills'.

Mark 2:13-28
Jesus would often come into conflict with religious people
3 stories at the end of chapter 2 in Mark...tackling the religious attitudes of the day
What kind of community do we want to be?

Matthew...

Never underestimate the power of God to change someone’s life.
People in your world....don't give up on them. Who is there in my world who I need to pray for?
Jesus loved even the tax collectors!
Jesus wanted to invade the underworld
Even today Jesus wants to invade the underworld. To see lives changed and people following him.
Matthew 11:19
A friend of sinners....that's what the Pharisees thought of him But Jesus came to seek and save the lost. A friend to every person. To transform their lives.

Fasting...

The disciples of John are fasting the disciples of Jesus is feasting In the kingdom of God feasting is as important as fasting Church should be a celebration Even in a world of chaos...there is praise and celebration! Party time!
Know how to fast but also how to feast. To know how to feed on his grace...on the good news of his Gospel.
Need to have a new wineskin to be able to drink in this celebration new wine!
To contain it!
Does my wineskin contain this festival new wine?

Sabbath controversy...

Big issue for the Pharisees. They didn't think Jesus was a proper Rabbi.
He healed on the sabbath
Religion misses the plot...it kills.
The sabbath was made for them.
They'd missed the point
Galatians 4:10-11

Matthew 23:27
Coconut community or peach community?
Coconut...hard on the outside not much on the inside
Peach...soft, not much resistance, but it has a solid core! Here you can belong! Even before you believe!
Luke 19:5-7

Mark's Gospel 2

Great message in church this morning. Paul Benger continued our series on Mark's Gospel with a message on 'faith'.

Mark 2:1-12

Whose Faith?

Their faith, our faith, his faith?
This Gospel is good news that Jesus is the Son of God

Matthew 4:13
Capernaum, Jesus did loads of miracles there but no one repented. Matthew 11:23-24
Such a key place and yet judgement came to this place and it is no more. Historians doubt it's location.

So many people experience God's presence and yet don't live for him....it has no effect on us. Get it inside of you!

God does not force them to believe...free choice
We want God's kingdom to come in our lives and to see his glory...but we need soft hearts.

4 things about faith from this story...

1. Faith is the only currency of heaven

Hebrews 11:6
Faith lives with expectation...even when it doesn't happen the way we wanted it to
Heaven comes to earth by faith
Psalm 62:5 my expectation is of Him
2 Corinthians 5:7 - live by faith and not by sight
You learn to see what you cannot see...what God sees
These friends had the currency that they needed

2. Faith comes from the preaching of God's word

Mark 2:2 - Jesus preached the word to them
Preaching is a declaration of truth, it's not a question!
He proclaimed the truth to the people...and faith was released
Faith rose in the hearts of the people
Romans 10:17
When we leave church our faith should be more buoyant because of the preached word

3. Faith acts

Mark 2:4 - tenacity! They didn't give up, they found a way!
Some people stop at the first obstacle...they think it's God telling to stop.
I love the fact they would not be denied! Their faith was in Jesus not in their tenacity...but their faith, their tenacity caused a response from Jesus
Faith prays, faith invites...it brings, it adjusts to circumstances. Faith creates new ways.

4. Our faith matters

Not just as an individual. The power of unity.
Mark 2:5
Jesus saw 'their' faith.
When we connect, when we come together...God sees our faith. We're in this together!
Our faith matters! Be expectant - that God will move.