Invisible People

We tend to think that some people are better candidates for discipleship than others. In Mark ten we have a parade of possible disciples... the pious Pharisees, the rich young ruler who was keeping the ten commandments, James & John (and the other ten disciples) who traveled with Jesus and wanted prominent positions in his kingdom administration...

But Mark chapter ten focuses on a man who was at the margins of society and who seemed to most to be an unlikely disciple... or at least an unimportant disciple.  Blind Bartimaeus was invisible to most - but even though he was blind, he saw that Jesus was the light of the world.

Great Disciples: Lesson 2

As Jesus led the way to Jerusalem where he would give his own life as a  sacrifice for sins, his disciples were still concerned about how they could claim the highest positions of honor and power in the coming kingdom.

If they had listened more closely, they would have realized that Jesus himself was the true measure of greatness. To be truly great they needed to follow his example.

He came, not to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.

Sermon In A Sack - Plane Tickets

Traveling is a big part of modern life. We have destinations in mind... how will we get there? Can we get there on a bus? A train? A plane? Are there flights to our destination? How much do the tickets cost? Can we afford them?

Good Ole Boys

Sometimes Jesus didn't make sense to the disciples. While little children were not important or influential, Jesus said that unless someone came like a child, he could not enter the kingdom of God.

Then, when an influential man came to Jesus asking about eternal life, Jesus disappointed him and told the disciples that wealthy people would have difficulty getting into the kingdom of God.

One of the disciples asked, "Then who can be saved?" 

Who indeed?

Rationalizer Man

When the Pharisees tried to put Jesus in a corner with their question about divorce, they got more than they bargained for. Jesus pointed out that they were misusing the law for their own evil motives.

Great Disciples: Lesson 1

Jesus was headed for Jerusalem and the cross. Meanwhile, his disciples were arguing about which of them was the greatest. This prompted a lesson from Jesus.

As sinful human beings we are prone to pride and we are concerned about what other people think of us and how we compare to others. Jesus says this is not the path to greatness as a disciple.

Do you want to be a great disciple? GOOD! Take Jesus at his word!

Limiting God

When Jesus came down from the mountain where he was transfigured, he found the disciples embroiled in an argument with the scribes because of their failure to deliver a boy from the demon who was trying to destroy him.  Jesus responded with exasperation... “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?”

This passage shows how people responded in faithlessness and suggests some ways in which faith should change our approach.