Sermon Tone Analysis

1) 6-14-09…AM...SBC     2)

“Features of a Follower” (Part 2)

Mark 9:14-50    

Introduction:

If our knowledge is going to fuel our zeal then we must learn that…

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*Proposition:   A Christian is one whose life reflects the Redeemer.*

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Ø      Last week we looked at Jesus demonstrate that in light of His own trust and Faith in God the Father it was painful for Him to “put up with” those who lack the quality of faith - Faith

 

Ø      We also looked at how the disciples squabbled over who was going to be the greatest instead of concentrating on their service to others - Humility

 

Ø      Today we want to look at the final two features of a follower

 

 

 

The next feature of a follower of Jesus Christ is that he will realize that he is and has…

3) Association                    *v38-41*

 

A-    What bothered John was that he and the others had seen someone cast out demons in Christ’s name, though that exorcist did not belong to The Twelve and perhaps not even to the broader circle of constant followers (Luke 6:13; 10:1).[1]

1-      All that we know for certain is that he had been casting out demons in Christ’s name, and that John and others—perhaps other apostles—had strongly disapproved of his actions[2]

 

2-      Driving out a demon in Jesus’ name involved invoking that name in doing so.[3] – John felt this was inappropriate for someone who was not a commissioned disciple of Jesus Christ

 

 

B-    Jesus said the issue was not whether he belonged in the group, but whether God was working through him in such a way as to affirm God’s presence in Jesus.

[4]

 

1-      Jesus affirmed that ministry in his name was not limited to an elite few and that a person who was a vessel of God’s power was not an enemy, but an ally in ministry.[5]

*2-      **This was yet another blow to the disciples’ impression that they had special status*[6]* *

*3-      **This episode complements the previous teaching on who was the greatest – Jesus teaches that if they will embrace that attitude then they can hardly have feelings of jealousy and rivalry for someone else who God is working through.*

* *

*Application:*

1-      *Discussion is over associations with true believers not those whose theology and practice oppose the Gospel*

2-      It is right and appropriate to take seriously those doctrines which affect the Gospel and be committed to defend them

 

·         Failure to think seriously about doctrine will open up to heresies such as Open Theism and New Perspective

 

3-      Just as it is proper to take doctrine seriously it is also proper to understand which doctrines are not fundamental to the center of our faith

 

·       The disciples were guilty of not associating with a brother because he was not of the same stripe as they were

 

4-      I believe that what Jesus is teaching here is that we must not regard ourselves as having cornered the market on all things pertaining to faith and living

 

·         we believe what we do for a reason and we feel that we have Scriptural support to back it up

·         we are not going to soften that stance in order to draw a crowd or fit in better in our community

·         *with that said, we must not be so militant that we don’t recognize another brother in Christ*

* *

-          we need to recognize fellowship where there is fellowship to be had and reject fellowship when it blurs or compromises the Gospel

 

Ø      Jesus taught that those who supported him or who did not oppose him should be appreciated[7]

Ø      Those who were responsive to Christ were to be seen as allies[8]

Ø      The new community Jesus was building was not an exclusive club.

Those who appreciated Jesus or were open to him were welcome.[9]

Application:  *I’m not saying* let’s break down all theological boundaries and unite in a spirit of love

 

I am saying…

 

1-      It is one thing to do battle for the virgin birth or the deity of Christ and completely another thing to do battle and separate over the versions, dress standards, children’s programs and the music styles of other believers

 

2-      We must stand against all who deny or devalue the fundamentals of the faith while at the same time understanding that there is room for disagreements in issues that are not directly connected to the fundamentals

 

3-      We must remember that we are not some exclusive club that has all the answers, but that there are others outside of our circles who are true believers and our associates in the proclamation of the Gospel.

Conclusion:     Praising God for what he is doing in our lives and the lives of others – even if those others don’t look exactly the same as we do

 

Ø      if we are all that God is doing in this world then we are in very big trouble!

Ø      Don’t develop an elitist attitude  - recognize other believers for what they are -associates

 

 

Transition:  The last feature of a follower that we are going to look at this morning is

4) Repudiation                  v42-50

A-    For Offending Others

 

1-      This verse thrusts back to *v36-37* where Jesus uses an insignificant child as an object lesson

2-      The Lesson here is…To cause these (whom society views as insignificant) to sin or stumble will bring serious judgment.

[10] (*context of who is the greatest and serving others*)

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*Millstone:  *The millstone of which Jesus speaks is the top-stone of the two between which the grain is crushed.

The reference is not to the handmill but to the much heavier stone drawn by a donkey.

In the middle of the top-stone, whether of a handmill or of a donkey-drawn mill, there is a hole through which grain can be fed so as to be crushed between the two stones.

The presence of this hole explains the phrase “that a heavy millstone /be hung around his neck/.”

With this millstone around his neck he will surely drown.[11]

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*3-    **the positive side of the lesson causes us to recognize our responsibility with others – not only are they watching our actions, but we are to also be helping them~/each other grow in their relationship with Christ*

* *

Ø      Where *v42 *is dealing with causing others to sin, *v43 *is concerned with permitting ourselves to sin

 

B-    Of Sin

 

1-      These verses contain metaphors that must not be taken literally, as did the church father Origen (d.

A.D. 254).[12]

2-      Neither must they be ignored.

Jesus used the most startling metaphors possible to show that the possession of spiritual life is worth the most costly sacrifice.[13]

3-      *Lesson:  *Whatever endangers spiritual life must be totally removed even as a surgeon amputates a limb that endangers the life of the rest of the body.[14]

Summary:

1-      Jesus reinforced the demands of discipleship  - Radical amputation leads to extreme devotion

2-      Jesus meant a disciple should take prompt, decisive action against whatever would draw him away from his allegiance to Him.[15]

3-      *It is better *to be a disciple and *to enter *eternal *life *in God’s future *kingdom*, and to do so *maimed, *minus earthly possessions that have been renounced, *than to *be an unbeliever.

An unbeliever retains his allegiance to this world, refuses eternal *life *with God on His terms, *and *so will be *thrown into hell*.[16]

– longevity of hell

 

Conclusion:                 *from v49-50*

1-      “All shall be salted with fire” probably means, therefore, a /fiery trial/ will come upon everybody, for the purpose of purification.

[17] (different use of fire then in the preceding context – judgment)

2-      This fire of trial and purification separates real disciples from fake disciples

3-      Jesus now uses the illustration of salt to again drive home his point about untainted discipleship

 

·  the residue left behind by the Dead (Salt) Sea is what is in view – it has a salt taste but was not valuable

·  Jesus is calling us to be salty – to allow our intellect and emotions which feed our actions to reflect discipleship (illustration of grass clippings after mowing – not really good for anything)

 

*Illumine the work Christ has done in your life by reflecting the Redeemer.*

Faith, Humility, Association, Repudiation

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[1]William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 10, /New Testament Commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark/, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 361.

[2]William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 10, /New Testament Commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark/, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 361.

[3]James A. Brooks, vol.

23, /Mark/, electronic e., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 151.

[4]Philip Wesley Comfort, /Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 11/, "With the Entire Text of the New Living Translation."

(Carol Stream, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005-c2006), 483.

[5]Philip Wesley Comfort, /Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 11/, "With the Entire Text of the New Living Translation."

(Carol Stream, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005-c2006), 483.

[6]Philip Wesley Comfort, /Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 11/, "With the Entire Text of the New Living Translation."

(Carol Stream, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005-c2006), 483.

[7]Philip Wesley Comfort, /Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 11/, "With the Entire Text of the New Living Translation."

(Carol Stream, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005-c2006), 483.

[8]Philip Wesley Comfort, /Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 11/, "With the Entire Text of the New Living Translation."

(Carol Stream, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005-c2006), 483.

[9]Philip Wesley Comfort, /Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 11/, "With the Entire Text of the New Living Translation."

(Carol Stream, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005-c2006), 483.

[10]Brooks, James A.: /Mark/.

electronic e. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 23), S. 152

[11]Hendriksen, William ; Kistemaker, Simon J.: /New Testament Commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark/.

Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1953-2001 (New Testament Commentary 10), S. 365

[12]Brooks, James A.: /Mark/.

electronic e. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 23), S. 153

[13]Brooks, James A.: /Mark/.

electronic e. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 23), S. 153

[14]Brooks, James A.: /Mark/.