Mark 8:14-21

Carla warning story - I was distracted by beauty (a good thing), so I missed a critical moment for spiritual growth.

14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

Think of an image that symbolizes distraction from God. Maybe satan comes to mind, or drugs, or porn. But I doubt the image in your head was a loaf of bread. Often the most powerful disctractions from God are the basic needs of life - food, friends, money, and work.

CS Lewis Screwtape letters - the man who was distracted by an advertisement for breakfast right before recieving Jesus.

Leaven is a bacteria that makes bread rise show picture. In the bible, it is a picture of evil and corruption. The influence of sin often starts small. You allow a little into your heart and it can contaminate your whole life.

Jesus specifically warns of two influences that we need to beware. Man made religion and political power. Self-help practices promise a better future without needing the power of God. Political power promises pleasure and security while ignoring the consequences.

Practical worries can dull your spiritual growth. Causing you to miss what God wants to say to you. And that is exactly what happens to the disciples.

16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread.

(Imagine Levi and Myles talking in the corner of the living room about what they will make for dinner. Concerned that their hunger won’t be met. What would that say about their memory? What would that say about their trust in me and Jordyn?)

17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? He gave sight to the blind. He enabled hearing for the deaf. And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

Jesus fed four thousand and they were worried about enough bread for their commute to work. How did they get to this point? They forgot. They failed to remember the provision of God.

There is a difference between experiencing and understanding. You all experience God - but do you understand?

Here are three ways to experience God tonight.

Release - they were so busy talking to each other, while Jesus was in the boat. They could’ve solved the problem by asking him.

Remember - their hunger in the present caused them to forget God’s provision in the past. When you feel weighed down by worries, remember God’s faithfulness. Money example: member who felt called to give, never missed a meal, gifts from church members.

Reject - Political podcast example reduce influences that give you misplaced hope.

Remembering God’s faithfulness yesterday is the key to growing in faith today.