Due to time constraints, rather than full recaps of our last two sermons, here are some bullet points and the audio.
Mark 6:1-6
- 2/3 of the times that Jesus is addressed in the gospels, he is referred to as “teacher.”
- Secular folks tends to think Jesus was a good teacher, but not the Savior and Lord. Church folks tend to act like Jesus is the Savior and Lord, but not the Teacher.
- It’s possible to be so familiar with Jesus that you no long believe in him.
- Familiarity leads to unbelief which leads to Jesus doing “no mighty work,” which leads to familiarity with Jesus doing “no mighty work,” which leads to even deeper unbelief.
Mark 6:7-13
- The crowd controls their relationship with Jesus. The called are controlled by Jesus.
- The crowd marvels at Jesus’ authority. The called receive it.
- The crowd observes Jesus and goes home. The called are charged by Jesus to minister.
- Not all Christians are called to be apostles (literally sent ones). (1 Corinthians 12)
- Jesus does not always charge his sent ones to go without provisions. (Luke 22)
- The apostles proclaimed that people should repent, which means to change their mind about Jesus.
- There are two types of repentance: changing your mind about your beliefs and changing your mind about your behavior. The former leads to salvation, the later to sanctification.
- The apostles freed and healed people along the way, but their focus was calling people to repentance.
Mark 6:7-13 Discussion Starters
- Those in the group who have been on mission trips, share briefly your experience. Where did you go? What was the mission? How did it go?
- Only some Christians are called as apostles (literally sent ones, like missionaries). Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-31 together. It’s long, so you’ll want to break it up among the group. Discuss your callings in the body of Christ. What do you feel called to do? What giftings do you see present in the other members of the group?
- Does this passage indicate that Christians should always go about their ministries without provisions? (Read Luke 22:35-38 for more insight).
- What does it mean to repent? Would it have meant something different to the people of Mark 6, before Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, than it does to us today? What other scriptures help us understand repentance? (Ex: 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Hebrews 6:1; Ephesians 4:17-32) Discuss.
- Are we to proclaim repentance, cast out demons and heal people in the same way today? Why or why not?
- Take some time to pray with and for one another.
