Going on a Little further

God Speaks, are you listening?

Title: Going on a Little further

Theme: Hearing God in are lives changes us.

Text: Mark1:14-20

Goal: Hearing God in are lives changes us.

ME: ORIENTATION: FIND COMMON GROUND WITH THE AUDIENCE

Hearing and going

Hearing the ability to perceive sounds

Hearing the ability to be able to perceive the message.

This ability to be able to hear God’s voice and act upon it and grow from the message of God.

How is your ability to hear the voice of God these days?

WE: IDENTIFICATION (MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU STRUGGLE)

When is it hard to hear the voice of God?

When there are competing voices.

Some folks can listen to TV, do their homework and retain what they learn.

When I spend time listening to God all other voices can be competing and I don’t hear.

How many of you can’t remember the last time they heard God’s voice?

GOD: ILLUMINATION (THE GOAL IS TO RESOLVE THE TENSION

I. Beginnings and Endings Jesus ministry in Mark begins with Epiphany. We see Jesus being revealed at his baptism as the Christ.

Mark 1:10-11 (ESV)

10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

A. John the Baptist ministry ends

Mark 1:14 (ESV)

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God.

A. John was handed over.

The only way we know to who is arresting him is by looking at other gospels.

b. It was not Mark’s focus to spend time on it. The focus changes from John to Jesus. Mark 6:17-29 death of John.

B. Jesus proclaims the Gospel

Mark 1:15 (ESV)

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

a. The Gospel is coming, God is bringing to pass what he promised.

b. Good News of truth

(a) good news of truth (Galatians 2:5; Colossians 1:5). Until Jesus came, it was possible only to guess and grope after God. ‘O that I knew where I might find him,’ cried Job (Job 23:3). Marcus Aurelius said that the soul can see but dimly, and the word he uses is the Greek word for seeing things through water. But with the coming of Jesus we see clearly what God is like. No longer do we need to guess and grope; we know.

Barclay, W. (2001).

B. Can you hear the voice of God through Christ the voice gets clear.

C. The good news brings hope

Colossians 1:23

23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation

D. Good News of peace

E. Good news of promise

Ephesians 3:6 (ESV)

6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

F. Good news of immortality

2 Timothy 1:10 (ESV)

10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

G. Salvation

II. Repent & Believe

Mark 1:15 (ESV)

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Repentance

In contrast, Jesus’ call to repent is not a caustic reprimand but an invitation to switch allegiances. He offers a summons, welcoming people to respond to God’s initiative. God is unleashing a new power that makes repentance possible.

Believe

πιστεύω (pisteuō). vb. to believe, trust; entrust. Describes the act of believing or trusting something on the basis of its truthfulness and reliability

III. God has a plan will you listen and follow.

Following Christ means leaving are own way.

Mark 1:16-17 (ESV)

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

a. They heard the voice of God.

b. We don’t know how much contact they had but they responded to the Gospel.

Do you remember when you asked Christ into your life? AS you grew all you wanted to do is be like him.

Lives change as we grow up and older.

How do we

Hearing God in are lives changes us.

Do You hear the voice of God.

C. Will you follow?

Hearing and going

Mark 1: 18-20 (ESV)

18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

YOU: APPLICATION (TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO AND WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD)

Conclusion:

Going on a Little further

Lives change as we grow up and older.

How do we

Hearing God in are lives changes us.

Do You hear the voice of God?

Will you follow?

Hearing and going