The Cost of Toxic Religion

Mark 12:35–44 CSB

While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself says by the Holy Spirit: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’ David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How, then, can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight. He also said in his teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who want greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.” Sitting across from the temple treasury, he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. Summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had—all she had to live on.”

The Cost of Religion

Religion that elevates man repels, but faith that relates is worth everything.

Introduction:

(Insert Introduction Statements, Illustration)

- Brief Explanation of Text

Problem to be addressed

Solution/Restate Thesis

Mark 12:35 CSB

While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David?

Subpoint 1. (Text/Verse Insertion)

Explain Text

Subpoint A.

Subpoint B.

Mark 12:36 CSB

David himself says by the Holy Spirit: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’

Explain Text

Mark 12:37 CSB

David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How, then, can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

Subpoint B.

Mark 12:38–39 CSB

He also said in his teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who want greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.

Subpoint A.

Subpoint B.

Mark 12:40 CSB

They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”

Explain Text

Subpoint A.

Mark 12:41 CSB

Sitting across from the temple treasury, he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums.

Mark 12:42 CSB

Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little.

Subpoint 1. (Text/Verse Insertion)

Explain Text

Subpoint A.

Subpoint B.

Mark 12:43 CSB

Summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

Explain Text

Mark 12:44 CSB

For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had—all she had to live on.”

Subpoint B.

Conclusion:

- Call Back to Introduction

Restate Thesis

Solution and Call To Action

Closing Prayer