Mark 9:38-41
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38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.” 39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ—truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.
Jesus does not exist for your greatness.
Jesus does not exist for your greatness.
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”
Our “god” complex is often seen in our desire to control others.
Our “god” complex is often seen in our desire to control others.
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”
Illus: This is what it looks like...
Perhaps we see a friend or family member and a decision they are making with their children. At that moment we stop and “share our concern” with either them or more often with a person not even connected to them about how they are wrong.
Or perhalps we are in church, and we see someone serving and we decide to gripe about how they are serving....
Funny enough, most people who have time to gripe about people serving are not serving, but simply sitting on the sidelines watching and critiquing...
Another temptation happens when you are serving in a ministry and say, why are they not serving in my ministry… all the while they may be serving in a way that you do not see.
We have a desire to control what others do.
Why, because we secretly have a “god” complex. We want to control the actions of others.
Deeply we think we are more important that other people, and it comes out in the way we try to orchestrate their lives… look at the context.
WHO IS THE GREATEST?
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”
Do we lead people to follow God or to follow us?
Do we lead people to follow God or to follow us?
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”
Illus: You have heard the old phrase: give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish, and you lead him for a lifetime.
As believers, we are called to make disciples… i.e. fishermen. To often we we end up making eaters.
We may get people to join our church, come to our services, or buy into our brand.
The call of the believer is to make disciples.
When you become someone who is just a consumer of the faith, what you have done is lead them to follow you/your church… etc.
The great commission is to build disciples.... i.e. equip people to go beyond just attending, but instead able to feed themselves off the word of God, and serve.
The goal is to do more than connect them to the church, it is to connect them to Christ.
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went to the Judean countryside, where he spent time with them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptized, 24 since John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25 Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a Jew about purification. 26 So they came to John and told him, “Rabbi, the one you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan, is baptizing—and everyone is going to him.” 27 John responded, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Are you building God’s kingdom, or your own?
Are you building God’s kingdom, or your own?
39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me.
40 For whoever is not against us is for us.
We are quick to criticize, and slow to encourage.
We are quick to criticize, and slow to encourage.
39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me.
40 For whoever is not against us is for us.
Illus: Over the past fourteen years I can tell you that people do not come by the church office to encourage the staff. No matter the church.
That said, I can’t tell you how often people will schedule a time to speak with the pastor with what is bugging them about the church.
It is more than just the pastor though… in general we are critical people. The moment something does not happen our way, we are quick to complain, gripe, criticize.
Can you imagine the culture in our church if we killed criticism. What would happen if we went out of our way to build up one another. What would happen if we shared on a regular basis encouragement for what is going right?
Over and over in scripture, we are called to be encourages. Why? because our natural bent is to complain, gripe, criticize.
29 No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.
To accomplish God’s mission, we need to cease friendly fire.
To accomplish God’s mission, we need to cease friendly fire.
39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me.
40 For whoever is not against us is for us.
Illus: Crazy idea… when you see someone serving in the church in a way that bothers you… rejoice that someone is serving in the church and ask how you can help.
When you see a young family struggling with their kids, rejoice that the family is in the church, and ask how you can help.
When you
The bible does not call believers to Monday morning quarterback each other. It calls us to serve together, encouraging one another, and sacrifice our own wants and desires.
8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Let us be known for your service.
Let us be known for your service.
41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ—truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.
This week, instead of looking to tear others down, how can you build them up?
This week, instead of looking to tear others down, how can you build them up?
Illus: I have a challenge for you this week. I want you be aware for moments where you are tempted to complain or gripe.
When you feel the moment that you are about to gripe, purposely encourage, and then find how you can serve.
Let’s change the culture of our church. Let us be a body that is known for our love and service of one another.
13 For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.