Like a Rock

In 1988, General Motors came out with their new Chevrolet truck model.

They ran that model for 14 years,

and it is still remembered as one of the most reliable trucks ever made.

Chevy wanted to market the truck as a dependable truck that could handle anything you could throw at it.

In 1990, they hired Donald Gould to come up with an advertising campaign.

He came across Bob Seger’s hit called, “Like a Rock” and couldn’t get it out of his head.

Although he was hesitant at first, Bob Seger eventually agreed to allow his song to become the anthem for Chevy trucks from 1991 to 2014.

What message was Chevy was trying to convey about their trucks with the slogan, “Like a Rock”?

Strength; solid; immovable.

Reliable; sturdy; able to withstand challenges.

Trying to reach men who wanted a “tough” truck.

Transition

We are going to pick back up in the Gospel According to Mark, chapter 10.

What we are going to see throughout this chapter is that slogan, “Like a Rock” applies to the human heart as well.

Because of sin,

our hearts are incredibly hard.

Like a rock, our hard hearts:

Affect how we relate to one another

Affect how we relate to God

Affect how we relate to hardships

First…

Our Hard Hearts Affect How We Relate to One Another

We like to think that we are pretty good people,

but we can see the hardness of our hearts in how we relate to one another.

i. We can be unforgiving (Mark 10:5)

Mark 10:2–5 ESV

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

Two schools of thought:

Divorce only in cases of adultery

Divorce in any circumstances (burning dinner; finding someone they liked more)

Moses allowed divorce because he was trying to bring some order.

Women wouldn’t be able to marry…

but now could receive a certificate of divorce to get remarried…

This was not God’s original intention.

One man, and one woman, for life!

God has joined them together… do not separate them!

We are to

What is the root cause of divorce? Unforgiveness!!!

Why are we slow to forgive others?

we don’t want to enable their sin

we want them to feel the weight of what they’ve done

we want justice

We need to have soft hearts that are willing to forgive as God in Christ has forgiven us!

Ephesians 4:32 ESV

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Christ’s model of forgiveness needs to be our standard.

We can only do this through the Holy Spirit,

who softens our hearts.

We need to pray for soft hearts.

Another way we can see the hardness of our hearts in how we relate to one another is that…

ii. We can be condescending(Mark 10:13)

Mark 10:13 ESV

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.

We don’t know the exact reason the disciples did this,

but children were seen as lowest on the totem pole in that day.

They likely felt like they were not worthy of taking Jesus’ time.

But Jesus welcomed the children!

He actually said that we need to be like them!

Mark 10:15 ESV

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

Children will believe anything you tell them.

This starts to wear off as they grow up.

This is a good quality that we are to emulate.

In what ways can blind faith be bad?

In what ways can blind faith be good?

Jesus is saying that we can trust Him!

We cannot prove the things He is saying, but we need to trust Him!

We must pray for soft hearts to believe by faith!

Our Hard Hearts Affect How We Relate to God

Rather than being like little children who are quick to have blind faith,

we are slow to trust God.

Instead…

i. We trust in our wealth (Mark 10:22)

Summarize story of rich young man.

Mark 10:22 ESV

Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Money was everything to Jews.

It signified God’s blessing.

To give it all up would be unthinkable.

This young man struggled to trust Jesus.

He trusted what he could see more… (his wealth).

We need trust Jesus’ words.

We will receive blessing when we are willing to let go of things in this world, for the promise of heaven.

Jesus’ Example

In the next instant, Jesus models the exact sort of attitude he wants the disciples to have.

He foretells his coming death.

He is willing to be rejected, hated, mocked, tortured and eventually killed.

Our hard hearts also affect how we relate to God because…

ii. We trust in our ability (Mark 10:37)

James and John come to Jesus so that they can receive authority and power.

Mark 10:37 ESV

And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

They were fuelled by a desire for power and authority.

They trusted their ability to make judgements and lead others.

Jesus teaches them how true leadership works in his kingdom…

Mark 10:42–45 ESV

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

True greatness lies in being a servant, not a lord.

Once again, Jesus is our great example!

Why do you think we trust our wealth and ability?

Lastly…

Our Hard Hearts Affect How We Relate to Hardships

We’ve already seen that our hard hearts make it hard for us to trust God.

Instead, we tend to trust ourselves more.

This is true when we face hardships as well.

We are too proud to call out to God for help.

As a blind man by the name of Bartimaeus learns Jesus is walking by,

he is not too proud, but does call out to Jesus for help.

The response of the crowd is not good though!

Mark 10:48 ESV

And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

The people were embarrassed for him.

We could probably relate if we’re honest.

This guy is disrupting everyone by shouting in the midst of the crowd…

and he would not stop!

But this man is a beautiful example of faith.

He had probably tried every method available in that day to regain his sight…

having heard of Jesus, he believed that he could make him well.

Key Idea:

We need to humble ourselves and go to God for help!

We need to ask the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts so that we understand our inability.

We cannot change nearly as much as we think we can.

God allows hardships into our lives, and He is the one who is able to get us through them.

Why do we resist going to God for help?

CONCLUSION

Our hearts are hardened because of sin.

This affects how we:

relate to one another, God, and our hardships.

We need to be continually asking the Holy Spirit to be softening our heart to the things of God!

As we pray that, He will answer and work in our lives to make us like Christ.

Closing Questions

Is there someone in your life that you need to forgive? Someone that you’ve been looking down on? What steps can you take to release the burden or bitterness you feel?

Is there some part of your life that you struggle to give to God? What step of faith can you take to show that you trust him?

Is there a hardship in your life that you are trying to solve yourself? What can you do to give it over to God?