The Power of Unbelief

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Unbelief that Blocks, Faith that Frees

Have you ever been faced with a choice that was so scary that, even though you wanted to do it, to take the risk, you decided not to?

Do you now wonder what might have been?

When it comes to taking opportunities, or seeing God do some amazing thing in our lives, we’re often challenge with stepping out in faith, or turning back in fear.

The question posed for us today is, “how does our faith, or lack of it, impact the work God wants to do in our lives?

I believe we see the result of faith and the lack of faith in today’s Scripture as we dig into Mark chapters 5 and 6.

In Mark 5, we see numerous miracles fueled by faith, and in chapter 6 we see where unbelief hinders the possibility of miracles.

Welcome to Innovate Church!

The Bible in a Year series...

Caution:

Mental and physical health issues are real.

Get care, help, take care of yourself.

Lack of healing or ongoing struggles are not always the result of unbelief.

Mark 5 and 6 tell of some amazing faith as well as some amazing unbelief, and we are brought along to see the effects of both.

Nicky says, “As today, some recognized Jesus and some totally missed out. The key distinction was whether or not they had faith. Jesus said to the sick woman, “your faith has healed you.” He said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” But in His own hometown, He was “amazed at their lack of faith.”

Context & Overview of Mark 5:21–6:6

Mark 5: Remarkable Miracles

Mark 5:21–23 ESV

And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.”

Jairus and his daughter (5:21–24, 35–43): Jesus tells him, “Do not fear, only believe”—and raises the girl to life.

He recognized who Jesus was in that moment and threw himself at His feet. He WORSHIPED Him.

While Jesus and Jairus are on the way to Jairus’s home...

Mark 5:24–28 ESV

And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”

Woman with the issue of blood (5:25–34): “If I only touch His garment…”—demonstrates bold faith.

Levitical Law was that she was unclean and anyone, or thing that touched her, or dare we say that she touched was also considered unclean.

One commentator says of this woman’s story, “the power of feeble faith.” Mustard seed faith

The woman is a poor shrinking creature, broken down by long illness, made more timid still by many disappointed hopes of core, depressed by poverty to which her many doctors had brought her.  MacLaren

Key Point: Faith opens the door to God’s power in each scenario.

Both the woman and Jairus received their requests because of their faith.

Jesus told Jairus: “Do not fear, only believe.”

He told the woman, “Your faith has made you well.”

Both of these persons took steps of faith because of their desperation and recieved what they most desired from the Lord.

Both risked judgement from those around them… even judgement from the One they were seeking. And yet they were warmly received by the Lord.

Are you desperate enough to step out in faith for the healing or the opportunity you seek?

What is your “risked judgement” that may be causing you to not exercise your faith?

Transition:

In Mark 5, desperate faith led to incredible miracles. But not everyone takes that bold step of trust.

In the very next chapter—Mark 6—we encounter Jesus’ hometown, where skepticism and overfamiliarity replace desperation.

Instead of stepping out in faith, they stand back in unbelief—and the result is strikingly different.

Let’s see what happens when people let doubt overshadow the power and presence of Christ.

Mark 6: Unbelief in Jesus’ Hometown

Mark 6:1–6: The very people who knew Jesus best—who watched Him grow up—couldn’t accept His authority or divine nature.

Scripture: “He could do no mighty work there… and He marveled because of their unbelief.”

These people “knew Him” yet they didn’t really “know Him.”

It’s interesting they marvel at His teaching, and His works, yet they simply don’t seem to be able to get past themselves to recognize Who He is.

The skeptic always “knows something” yet, they never put it to then test.

For me the skeptic fears and that fear keeps them from trying, or believing.

So, here in this case, their skepticism blocked them from experiencing more of Christ’s miracles.

What is it you’ve been a skeptic about?

What is at the root of that skepticism?

Someone has done you wrong, so you don’t believe any different of anyone else?

Maybe the Church has hurt you, so you’re skeptical and don’t want to “put yourself out there” again?

Is your skepticism about being healed, or being hopeful, due to things hardly ever working out for you?

Could your skepticism be keeping you from receiving the blessing God may want to give you today?

If our skepticism really can hold us back from God’s blessings, then what does it look like to overcome that doubt?

How do we move from a place of ‘I’m not sure God can or will’ to the bold, risk-taking faith we see in Scripture?

Let’s look at how genuine faith in action can open doors we never thought possible—and how even a small step can usher in God’s transformative power.

Faith in Action: The Woman and Jairus (Mark 5)

Result: Miraculous Healings

Both the woman and Jairus see God’s power because they lean into faith rather than fear.

In contrast to the faith and what it can do in chapter 5, we see what unbelief results in in chapter 6.

Unbelief That Blocks: Jesus in Nazareth (Mark 6:1–6)

Familiarity Breeds Contempt

They ask, “Isn’t this the carpenter? Mary’s son?” They reduce Jesus to “just one of us.”

Lack of Honor: They question His authority, effectively shutting out what He could do among them.

I honestly doubt that many of you listening to me today doubt His authority, but you may doubt His willingness, and therefore you have stopped or are tempted to stop asking for what you desire.

You’ve become the skeptic, losing hope and faith, and ready to just accept and no longer try.

Maybe it’s a “I’ve already tried that and it didn’t work” skepticism.

Maybe your “tried that” is medicine, a doctor, a diet, a business, a ministry, children, a promotion, etc.

What is your “that?”

Little Miracles in the Midst of Doubt

Scripture: “He could do no mighty work there… except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them” (Mark 6:5).

Key Point: Unbelief didn’t remove Jesus’ power but limited what the people were open to receiving.

Ask yourself honestly:

“Are you truly open to what God wants to do through you?”

“Is fear holding you back because you can’t see what’s on the other side?”

“Could the pain or discomfort of growth be stopping you from the freedom God is offering?”

Jesus Marvels at Unbelief

This is one of the few times Scripture says Jesus marveled (Mark 6:6). Usually, He’s amazed at great faith—here, it’s the opposite.

Reflection: Is there an area in our lives where we’ve grown too familiar or too skeptical, effectively shutting out God’s work?

I want Him to be amazed at my great faith and yours!

I believe we can and so I want us to be encouraged be these last few words:

Unbelief vs Faith

It wasn’t that Jesus had less power because of the people’s unbelief, it was because their hearts were hardened off and they were closed off to His mighty works.

Unbelief acts like a locked door, preventing us from experiencing all God might do.

In Mark 5, people experienced extraordinary miracles due to small acts of faith.

What small steps of faith do you need to make to get where God is wanting to lead you?

What steps of faith do you need to take to receive the blessing He has in store for you?

Don’t allow your skepticism, or cynicism, to lead you to missed opportunities.

Jesus marveled at a great faith, like Jairus and the woman, and we see Him marvel at great unbelief like we see in Nazareth.

My prayer is that He marvels at my great faith and yours!

Closing Prayer

Closing Song

Closing Encouragement

Acknowledge Any Unbelief

Reflect: “Is there a place where I’ve grown skeptical—my health, my relationships, my spiritual calling?”

Ask God to pinpoint areas of quiet unbelief.

Remember the woman who touched Jesus’ garment or Jairus who overcame fear.

Decide to Act in Faith

Even a small step of trust can open doors to God’s work.

Pray: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

Prayer and Openness

Invite the Holy Spirit to break through any fear or skepticism.

God meets us where we are—He responded to a desperate woman, a fearful father, and He can respond to us.

Expectant Hope

“Let’s not let unbelief block God’s hand in our lives. My hope is that He will marvel at our faith and do great things among us. Because I want Him to be amazed at my great faith—and yours!”

Post Service Discussion

Mark 5 follows Jesus’s parable of the Mustard seed, and Him calming a storm.

He asked the disciples in the boat with Him, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Desperation makes men bold. Conventionalities are burned up by the fire of agonized petitioning for help in extremity. Without apology or preliminary, Jairus bursts in, and his urgent need is sufficient excuse. Jesus never complains of scant respect when wrung hearts cry to Him. But this man was not only driven by despair, but drawn by trust.

She would fain have stolen away with her new-found blessing, but Christ forces her to stand out before the throng, and there, with all their eyes upon her-cold, cruel eyes some of them-to conquer her diffidence and shame, and tell all the truth. MacLaren

1. Recap & Reflection on Mark 5–6

Overview:

Mark 5: Faith-filled miracles (the bleeding woman, Jairus’s daughter).

Mark 6: Unbelief in Nazareth that limits the mighty works Jesus could do.

Discussion Prompt:

“Which story or moment in Mark 5–6 resonated with you the most, and why?”

“What do you think made the difference between the faith we see in Mark 5 and the unbelief in Mark 6?”

2. Key Scriptures for Further Study

Mark 9:24 — The father’s honest plea, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Hebrews 11:6 — “Without faith it is impossible to please God…”

Romans 10:17 — “Faith comes by hearing…”

James 1:5–8 — Praying without doubting, yet acknowledging God’s graciousness even in our struggles.

Suggested Activity: Read one or two of these passages as a group and discuss how they reinforce (or contrast) what we learned in Mark 5–6.

3. Personal Reflection Questions

Identifying Unbelief

“Can you recall a recent situation where you felt skepticism or doubt about what God might do?”

“What factors contributed to that unbelief—past disappointments, fear of failure, feeling unworthy, etc.?”

Fear vs. Faith

“Are there areas of your life where fear is pushing out faith? Maybe it’s health, relationships, finances, or serving in ministry.”

“If so, what’s one small step you could take to welcome God’s power instead of retreating in fear?”

Taking a Step Despite Uncertainty

“Think about Jairus’s moment—he got bad news, yet Jesus said, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’ Where do you sense God might be inviting you to push past discouragement?”

“How could even a small act of trust—like the woman touching Jesus’ garment—reopen your heart to God’s grace and healing?”

Avoiding the Nazareth Trap

“Is there a way you’ve grown ‘too familiar’ with Jesus or church, resulting in cynicism or complacency?”

“How might you rediscover a fresh sense of awe or expectancy in your walk with Christ?”

4. Practical Encouragement / Action Steps

Encourage each person to pray specifically about one area of doubt they identified. Ask God for renewed hope and willingness to take a bold step of faith.

Prayer Check-In

Remind everyone that they’re not alone in wrestling with unbelief. Offer to pray for one another’s “faith challenges,” whether in a private conversation or group prayer.

Community Support

Suggest picking one of the “Further Study” passages to meditate on throughout the week. For instance, reading Mark 9:24 daily and asking, “Lord, help my unbelief.”

5. Closing Thought

None of us are immune to doubts or fears, but God welcomes even the smallest seed of faith. Let’s keep leaning into trust, believing God can still do great things in our midst.