A Church that grows spiritually. Mark 9:31-37
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A church that grows spiritually.
A church that grows spiritually.
30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.
31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,
37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
Intro: Having a lot of people in church is great. But I feel the most important thing for a church is to grow spiritually. Some churches are going to be small in numbers. (Tell story of first Baptist Jax)
It would be great to see more people in the pews, and see children heading to Children's church. And that will happen, but spiritual growth must come first. Spiritual grow means people are praying more effectively, spiritual grow means people are giving more financially, spiritual grow means people are more faithful in attendance. Spiritual growth means people are sharing the gospel of Jesus with the lost. When all this happens, growth in numbers will happen.
For a church to grow spiritually, the member's have to grow spiritually too.
I. Must understand what God is telling us.
I. Must understand what God is telling us.
30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.
Exploring the Gospel of Mark: An Expository Commentary A. Perfect Wisdom (9:30–50)
Now the Lord was on the move again, heading back toward home, seeking to keep His movements as secret as possible. The miracle-hungry crowds created interruptions that He wanted to avoid. His chief goal now was to teach His disciples as much as possible. As unpromising material as they doubtless seemed to be at this state, the future of the church and of God’s program for the next two millennia were in their hands. It was far more important that He teach them than that He heal a few dozen more sick people.
1. Jesus was on the move again, heading back toward home, seeking to keep His movements as secret as possible. (Passing though, kept passing through) The miracle-hungry crowds created interruptions that He wanted to avoid.
a. His chief goal now was to teach His disciples as much as possible. (We don’t see anymore public teaching from this point)
b. The time for the cross had come. (His hour (time) was soon). After Jesus left to go back home to heaven, soon after the church age would start. It would up to the disciples to get it started. The book of Acts tells the story.
c. What Jesus had to teach the disciples was more important then healing sick people. (Jesus would still do so) but, the important thing now was to teach them, which meant they had to learn as much as they could.
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31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
He say spoke (he began to teach them) to them about His death and about rising on the 3rd day. Now He is doing it again.
a. Everything that in the life of Jesus had led up to what was going to happen at the time of the passover. He had to die, He had to shed His blood.
22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
b. And without the cross, without His death, now of this would happen. Jesus had to teach them this. When He spoke of this before, Peter rebuked them. They had to except the fact of Jesus death. Just as they had to except the fact that it had to happen, for some to be saved they have to except the fact that it did happen.
c. “The Son of Man” is delivered” Betrayed.”Into the hands of men” By the betrayal of of one of the ones walking with Him. All this had to take place.
d. This next verse tell way Jesus had to teach them. It also tells us no matter how good the teacher is, some people had a had time understanding.
32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
Mark 9:
The Gospel of Mark B. Another Attempt to Prepare the Disciples (9:30–32)
Understood” (Greek agnoeo) usually means not to know, to be ignorant
Understood” (Greek agnoeo) usually means not to know, to be ignorant.
and it was hid from them, [so] that they preceived it not
and it was hid from them, [so] that they preceived it not.
45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
1. What was meant by being betrayed into the hands of men, and by his being put to death; they knew not, how these things could possibly be.
a. The true meaning of this saying was hid from their understanding. They were not granted understanding of what Jesus had said. But look at the last part of the verse.
33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?”
“and were afraid to ask” He may have given them a better understanding if they would have asked.
Mark
b. We need to be in prayer about what God is telling us. (Insurance)
c. What is God telling when it comes to being a servant at PGBC?
d. For myself and a Job. Part time Jobs. Elab why.
e. How do we know? Prayer.
Must not compare ourselves to others.
Must not compare ourselves to others.
33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
Back in Capernaum, their head quarters. Jesus has a question for them. He kept asking them, maybe asking Peter, then James, John.
a. They would not ask Jesus what He meant, so they had been discussing among them selves.
b. They held their peace, they kept quiet. Jesus had spoke humility, Jesus spoke of dying, suffering. Their concern was who was the greatest?
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2. So by this, there is a comparison. H pick me first, well He took me to the mountain.
a. When it comes to churches, there is noting wrong with seeing what other churches are doing to see what we can do. But we cannot conpare ourselves to other churches in their success and think we are not doing a good job. (Our family fun day) it was a great success for us. Now I know of some churches that did some similar and had a lot more people then us.
b. That doesn’t make us a failure. Some church may provide a full meal and we took some cookies. And the list can go on, and on.
c. This is a lesson for me as a pastor when I an around other pastors. (Big Church Pastors). It’s not about how has the biggest choir,
d. God has placed this church here for a reason. It
3. Not only for churches, but for every person.
III. Must use what and who God gives us.
III. Must use what and who God gives us.
35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,
37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
Mark
First we must be thankful for and use the ability that God gives you. (Your spiritual gifts, the talents)
a. The disciples were so concerned about who was the greatest. Each of them (other then Judas) would do great things for the Church. Some would write books that would become the Bible. But it didn’t make the others any less.
The disciples were so concerned about who was the greatest. Each of them (other then Judas) would do great things for the Church. Some would write books that would become the Bible. But it didn’t make the others any less.
b. Even when we think these men, we too may think of who was the greatest because of what we read about them. But, it not what people think about a person service to God that really matters. It’s what God thinks about their service that really matters.
Turn to mark 12: 41-44 READ AND ELAB