#4 Mark 3:7-19 "Jesus Prepares His Team"

The Gospel of Mark: Servanthood, Discipleship, and Following Jesus
#4 Mark 3:7-19 "Jesus Prepares His Team"

As we look at Mark 3:7-19, we see that Mark is specifically highlighting the difference between the crowd and the called, between fans of Jesus and those who will actually follow Jesus. Fans have knowledge but not intimacy (3:7-8), Fans want goodies but not God (3:9-10), and fans like convenience but don't really have conviction (3:11-12). There is a major difference between fans and followers. Followers are Called (7:13), Commissioned (7:14-15) and Changed (7:16-19) as walk with Jesus over a lifetime. Let's open our Bible, our hearts, and our minds and be challenged to take the next step of discipleship in our lives.

Introduction

How is everyone and what is one highlight from your week? Have you ever met a celebrity or childhood hero in real life? If so, what was the meeting like and was the person who you though they would be?  Which celebrity do you feel like you know really well even though you've never actually met them in real life? How is knowing about someone similar but different than actually knowing them? 

Fans have Knowledge but not Intimacy (3:7-8) 

The Crowds heard of Jesus, but they didn't follower after Jesus as his Disciples. What's the difference between knowing of Jesus and actually knowing Jesus?

Jesus said twice to believe in him and twenty times to follow him. What's the difference believing in Jesus or are you actually following Jesus?

Fans want Goodies but not God (3:9-10)

The Crowds are pushing in and practically crushing Jesus to get a healing or see a miracle. How do you know if you're coming to God merely for the goodies or for God himself? 

How is your discipleship going when you don’t get what you want from God? How has God refined you through times of spiritual dryness, physical suffering, or emotional uncertainty? 

Fans like Convenience but not Conviction (3:11-12) 

Despite hearing the demons cry out that Jesus is the Son of God, the crowds don't follow him as Lord but merely observe him as fans. 

How has Christianity become like a spiritual buffet where people take what they want and leave what they don't like? What areas in our own life do we act like Christianity is a Buffet? What aspect of Christianity would we want to put on our plate and which would we avoid? 

What has following after Jesus cost you? What areas are you tempted to give into convenience instead of living out of conviction?

Followers are Called (7:13), Commissioned (7:14-15) and Changed (7:16-19)

How have you experienced the call of Jesus to follow after him? Jesus has commissioned his followers to preach the Gospel and make disciples. How are you making Jesus' final orders your first priority? Jesus often changes the names of his disciples or gives nicknames to them. How has walking with Jesus changed you? 

Prayer Time

Take a moment to share what your next step of discipleship will be in the Month of October and how others can be praying for you and supporting you this coming month. 

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