Faithful not Famous

Mark 3:7–19 CSB

Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing. Then he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, so that the crowd wouldn’t crush him. Since he had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch him. Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” And he would strongly warn them not to make him known. Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, to send them out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons. He appointed the Twelve: To Simon, he gave the name Peter; and to James the son of Zebedee, and to his brother John, he gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder”); Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Popularity does not equal success.

(CSB)

7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea, 8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing. 9 Then he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, so that the crowd wouldn’t crush him. 10 Since he had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” 12 And he would strongly warn them not to make him known.

7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea, 8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing. 9 Then he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, so that the crowd wouldn’t crush him. 10 Since he had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” 12 And he would strongly warn them not to make him known.

A. One of temptations Jesus fought was to allow his mission to be derailed by the demands of the crowd.

7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea, 8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing. 9 Then he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, so that the crowd wouldn’t crush him. 10 Since he had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” 12 And he would strongly warn them not to make him known.

10 Since he had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” 12 And he would strongly warn them not to make him known.

Illus: Let me share with you some of the most popular things of 2017.

spinners, little devices which spin a long time in your hand. Wildly popular… not worth devoting your life to.

Charcoal infused water. Yes you can buy water mixed with charcoal. Popular… not worth devoting your life to.

Crocheted pants. Men in parts of our country are wearing these things. Popular… not worth devoting your life to.

Speaking of crazy trends, you actually pay more for stylish ripped jeans. Popular… not worth devoting your life to.

Dabbing. Every kid in america is following thier favorite sports stars in dabbing… popular… not worth devoting your life to.

Making Slime. I garuntee if you talk to most kids in this church, they have all made slime… not worth devoting your life to.

Man buns. Yep men having growing their hair long so that they can put it in a bun on top of their heads.

Why do I go through this whole list? To prove that people will follow the dumbest things. When we decide that popularity determines our beliefs, actions or mission, what we are deciding that the same people who eat laundry detergent to get famous also determine what the church should do.

What directs the church is not popularity, but instead the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Our mission is given by God, not determined by men.

(CSB) 25 For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, and yet loses or forfeits himself?

B. It was good that Jesus healed sickness, but that wasn’t his grand purpose.

10 Since he had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” 12 And he would strongly warn them not to make him known.

Illus: There is a difference between good and great. Jesus could have come to this world to do good. He could have healed every disease and sickness.... but those people would still have died. He could have prevented world hunger, but people would still have died.

In fact… If Jesus healed people’s physical needs and never went to the cross, what good would he really have done them. He may have given them a few more years on this earth, but their eternal destination would still be hell.

There are many good causes. We should seek to dig water wells in Africa. We should build orphanages in third world countries. We should provide food for the broken… but doing these things without the gospel is offering false help.

What drives us us not humanity needs. We don’t go to dig a well and tack on the gospel to justify our going.

What drives us is our desire to bring the gospel to every person on earth. If it takes digging a well to do that, wonderful but the reason we go is spiritual, not physical.

<< Jesus kept the mission center>> (CSB) 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

It is better to invest much into a few than to invest little into many.

(CSB)

13 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles,, to be with him, to send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 He appointed the Twelve:, To Simon, he gave the name Peter; 17 and to James the son of Zebedee, and to his brother John, he gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder”); 18 Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

13 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles,, to be with him, to send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 He appointed the Twelve:, To Simon, he gave the name Peter; 17 and to James the son of Zebedee, and to his brother John, he gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder”); 18 Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

A. Jesus took the long view of investment over the quick gratification of popularity.

13 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles,, to be with him, to send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

THE TWELVE APOSTLES

13 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles,, to be with him, to send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 He appointed the Twelve:, To Simon, he gave the name Peter; 17 and to James the son of Zebedee, and to his brother John, he gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder”); 18 Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Illus: Growing up I had this idea that success is pastoring a church of 1500 people. I mean, look at what we do today, we think highly of the pastors who lead the Mega churches. We watch them on TV, download their podcasts and read their books. Why? Because God must be blessing them if they have a church that big.

Funny enough (with exceptions) many of the most famous preachers have abandoned the word of God and abandoned what it says. In fact in the last few years many have grown immensely in popularity in connection to compromising the word of God. Popularity is not always a sign of God’s blessing.

Success is seen in the pastor who works a second job while serving his church. Success is pastors forsaking the call of bigger churches and bigger paychecks to invest longterm in their churches.

Jesus walked away from the crowd, because his true investment was in the 12.

Jesus plan, btw was not about big events, but instead about personal discipleship.

(CSB) 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

B. Jesus knew His own limits.

13 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles,, to be with him, to send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

Illus: Jesus spoke to crowds, discipled 12 and invested in 3. If that was a full plate for Jesus, what does a full plate look like for us.

Can you imagine if we found one person to invest in. We chose to pass our faith on to some one else what a difference that would make?

Most of us have walked the Christian road alone. We have figured it our as we go on our own. Jesus paints the picture of discipleship. Investing in others.

(CSB) 2 What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Following God takes intentionality.

(CSB)

13 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him.

A. Discipleship is key to God’s great plan.

Illus: Big church is great. we need to come together to worship. Small groups are where discipleship happens. Relationships are built. There needs to be one more step… every person needs one person to invest in. Who are you investing into, who is investing into you.

(CSB) 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”