Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Introduce myself

2 mins, ask me any question about myself and I will do my best to answer.

How this time will go

Background

Section by section of Jesus Teachings

Quick explanation

Easy Takeaway

Then we will dive into the last section of the reading for this week.

It is probably the part that I assume is the most difficult to understand so I am going to try to break it down.

This is going to seem a little segmented and disconjointed because this section

Background

Triumphant Entry has happened.

Being asked tons of questions by the scribes, pharisees and spiritual leaders of the time.

Great Commandment.

Who’s Son is the Christ?

Mark 12:35–37 (ESV)

And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared,

“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

until I put your enemies under your feet.”

’

David himself calls him Lord.

So how is he his son?”

And the great throng heard him gladly.

This comes right off the heels of Jesus just shutting the mouths of these religious leaders of the time.

After he answered the last question, it says in verse 34, And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

So Jesus just keeps teaching!

This is Jesus proving that he is fully God and fully man.

Using David’s own words to prove the scribes wrong.

He is correcting their view of Jesus being fully God and still in the lineage of David.

He does it using the very words that all of these religious leaders know so well.

These scribes, pharisees and spiritual leaders of the time, are all scholars of the Old Testament.

Here is one big application of this section: Jesus used the words of the bible to answer questions, so should we.

We need to know our bibles inside and out in order to be prepared to answer all of the questions that life throws at us.

This is a lifelong process that never ends.

I recently was reading a book called Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney, he says this, If reading the bible can be compared to cruising the width of a clear, sparkling lake in a motorboat, studying the bible is like slowly crossing that same lake in a glass-bottomed boat.

The point he is making is that when we slow down and really get to know the words of the Lord, there is so much depth to it, depth that helps teach us, correct us, and help us walk through the Christian life. 1 Timothy 3:16 says,

English Standard Version (Chapter 3)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

So if we want to be equipped to answer life’s toughest questions, just like Jesus, we need to be students of God’s Word.

Beware of the Scribes

Mark 12:38–40 (ESV)

And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers.

They will receive the greater condemnation.”

In the temple, in what should be the house of God, the scribes have turned into a place that honors them.

Jesus does not hold back.

He speaks truth, the truth that those who claim to be spiritual leaders of this time are going to receive a greater condemnation if they live a life of selfish deceit and manipulation.

Here are two takeaways from this passage:

1.

We need to examine the church leaders in our lives.

Now, I am not saying that they are these leaders are bad, or that they are living in sin like these scribes were.

But what I am saying is that they are human.

These scribes know the bible like the back of their hand and they teach it all the time, and still they live in this despicable way.

So we need to be mindful of those teachers and leaders in our life.

The New Testament, especially Paul’s letters, consistently preaches that we need to beware of false teachers and how big of a deal that it is that they know and preach the Word of God, but not only that, live like it.

2. We need to examine our own hearts.

We are all leaders, whether you think of yourself as a leader or not.

We all have some area in life that we lead others, work, church, home, clubs, schools, you name it.

We all lead in some way or another.

Do you lead like a disciple of Jesus?

Or do you live a life of self serving pride like the scribes?

It is so easy to point out the faults of the scribes and say, “wow, look how terrible they are.

They are the worst.”

But in reality, we are all sinners with a sinful nature.

So we need to heed the warning that Jesus says here and examine our own hearts.

Here are two takeaways from this passage:

1.

We need to examine the church leaders in our lives.

2. We need to examine our own hearts.

The Widow’s Offering

This whole section could be a sermon.

In the temple, they were taking a tithe to support the church.

There are many rich people who are putting in large sums, which is great.

But there was one person that really stood out to Jesus.

This poor widow who has given everything, everything that she has, she gave to the Lord.

AND it is next to nothing compared to what the rich were given.

Some of the takeaways are obvious.

Like that the Lord cares more about our heart while giving then the amount that we give.

Or that we should give with all we have, not just when its easy.

But I think the biggest thing that sticks out to me is the trust that she has that the Lord and His People will take care of her.

This widow obeys the Lord, without second guessing, gives all that she has.

This incredible act of trust is one that is inspiring to me.

One that convicts my own heart when I am greedy, but also encourages me when I look at this beautiful building, being able to get paid to reach students for the gospel, and even the generosity of those around me.

Like the house I get the opportunity to live in, shout out Stephanie, the car I get to drive, the food I get to eat, everything is a blessing from the Lord.

So we need to give it all back to the Lord, because it is all His anyway.

Destruction of the Temple and the End of the Age

So we are going to move back into our last section, can someone read Mark 13:1-13?

So this is a fairly intense passage that sets up a whole section of Jesus speaking about His second coming.

Now, I want to preface this section with this, I do not have the answers, I do not know for sure when Jesus is coming, I do not know if we are currently in a tribulation period, or if some of the seals that are stated in Revelation are open.

Here is what I do know, I trust in Jesus.

I trust in the words of Jesus and that his plan will one that is good for those who trust in Him to be the leader and forgivers of their life.

v 1-2

So the disciples say to Jesus, look how sweet this temple is! Look at how well built and pretty they are, so awesome right.

And Jesus responds, When I come back?

There will not be one bit of it left.

Well okay then Jesus, show them who is boss.

So the disciples, specifically Peter, James, John and Andrew follow up on this statement.

v 3-4

Mark 13:3–4 (ESV)

And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”

So they ask a question that we have all asked since this time 2000ish years ago.