Facing the enemy
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle B
Theme For The Day: Facing the enemy. God and his servants can expect opposition. In the First Lesson Samuel and the Lord experience flack because the people want a king. In the Second Lesson Paul continues to be pummeled by all sorts of enemies and by the weakness of his body. In the Gospel Jesus discovers that his opponents are not only the scribes but his own family, who regard him as crazy.
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: 1 Samuel 8:4--20 (11:14--15) (C)
The people plead with Samuel to obtain a king for them so that they might be similar to all the other countries about them which had kings. The request displeases Samuel; he considers it a rejection of the Lord. Nevertheless, he prays to God about it. The Lord too feels the rebuff of the people but agrees to give them what they want. Only he charges Samuel to inform the people of all the abuse their king will heap upon them. He will heavily tax their possessions and their labor. Here we seem to have an instance of the Lord giving the people what they asked for, even though it would not prove best for them. In choosing a king the Israelites would lose some of the their uniqueness and the nation would become divided. Two viewpoints on kingship for Israel are contained in 1 Samuel, one favorable to kingship and one not favorable.
Lesson 1: Genesis 3:9--15 (RC); Genesis 3:(1--7) 8--21 (E)
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 (C, RC); 2 Corinthians 4:13--18 (E)
Paul remains confident that God will bring them all, missionary and missionized, into the eternal presence of God in spite of his hardships. Physical deterioration does not deter the untiring missionary. Though the believers' outer transient nature is fading away, their inner spiritual nature is being renewed daily. The temporary afflictions of this life are preparing God's saints for an incomparable glory. The apostle commends us to focus on the eternal rather than things transient.
Gospel: Mark 3:20--35 (C, RC, E)
Jesus' ministry builds momentum as great crowds flock around him, probably attracted by the healings and exorcisms. Jesus creates such a stir that the scribes send a deputation to check it out. They conclude that Jesus is possessed by Beelzebul (a pagan god identified with Satan). Jesus points out the absurdity of their charge; if this were true, Satan would be battling with himself, but a "house divided against itself cannot stand" (v. 24). It is in this context, where men are attributing the work of God to Satan, that the warning against the so--called "unpardonable sin" occurs. Those who continue to maintain that the work of God springs from the Evil One have cut themselves off from the light of God's presence. Jesus is not talking about a one--time sin but a continuing state of spiritual perversity and unbelief, such as was exhibited by the scribes. Not only do the scribes think that Jesus is possessed, but his own family comes to take him away, thinking that he has lost his mind. Jesus teaches the crowd that his real family is defined not by biology but by obedience to God's will.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 138 (C) - "All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord" (v. 4).
Psalm 130 (E)
Psalm 129 (RC)
Prayer Of The Day
Great God, forbid that we ever be found to be opposing your good and gracious will. By your Spirit help us never to give ground to your foes and those enemies of our soul, but to stand in faithfulness with all your saints. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: 1 Samuel 8:4--20 (11:14--15)
Deja vu all over again (v. 5). The elders assemble together and decide that Samuel is getting too old to rule and his sons do not walk in his ways. It sounds like Eli and his sons all over again, though there is no mention of Samuel's sons being lawbreakers. There comes a time for us all to let someone else take our place.
Listen to the people (v. 7). God orders Samuel to listen to the demands of the people, even though what they desire is not God's ideal will. God may be telling us, as leaders of the church, to listen to our people, even if what they want is less than ideal. Perhaps God gave in to his people's wishes to let them learn from experience. In the same way a wise parent might give in to the wish of her child, even though that course contains pitfalls.
Who do you want to be king? The people wanted an earthly king; Samuel wanted God to be their only king. History shows that few of their kings were able and God--fearing rulers. In our day, most people want no king but themselves. Who do you want to be your king? Is Jesus your king?
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Expansive grace. "So that the grace of God extends to more and more people..." (v. 15). God's grace, by its very nature, is expansive; like a gas, it seeks to distribute itself over the widest possible area. We distort God's grace when we try to keep it to ourselves, but when we give free reign to God's grace it multiplies praise and thanksgiving to God (v. 15).
Brave heart. "So we do not lose heart" (v. 16). Paul confides that the Christian, when properly focused, does not lose heart, nor does he become discouraged about the deterioration of his physical body. Christians can maintain a brave heart because God is at work in our lives creating a new nature and will couple this nature with a new spiritual body in the resurrection of the righteous.
Peering beyond time and space (v. 18). The child of God can maintain her composure when caught up in the entropy of earthly things; she focuses on that which is beyond time and space, the new creation in Christ. The glimpse of eternal glory makes the sting of mortality appear to be a mere momentary trifle.
Gospel: Mark 3:20--35
What's the buzz about Jesus? From the onset of his ministry, Jesus was and is a controversial figure. We see Jesus through the lens of our prejudice, our tradition or our need. Jesus attracted great crowds of needy people (v. 20); they turned to him for hope and healing. Other folks considered him to be crazy, including his family, which came to restrain him. The scribes came to find some fault with him so they might discredit this troublemaker. Jesus caused quite a buzz in the highways and marketplaces of his time. Some claimed him as king and others cursed him as Satan. How do you interpret the buzz about Jesus?
Jesus in a straightjacket. Jesus' family set out to restrain Jesus; they tried to put him in a straightjacket (v. 21). Jesus was an embarrassment to his family. As you know, Jesus won't let himself be placed in a straightjacket. He may embarrass us in the presence of our friends; he may disturb our sensibilities, but if we try to tie him down, he has a way of coming back.
The unpardonable sin (vv. 28--30). Countless believers have feared that they have committed the unpardonable sin. What is the unpardonable sin? Mark answers this question forthrightly. It is the sin of attributing the work of Christ to Satan (v. 30). To do this a person turns evil into good and good into evil. In Luke's Gospel this saying is in a different context (Luke 12:10). It occurs in the midst of a passage concerning the power and wisdom, which is made available to disciples when their faith is called into question by the world. In Luke's context the unpardonable sin is to refuse the Spirit's aid during times of trial, to commit apostasy and deny Jesus.
Family ties. This passage indicates that the family ties between Jesus and his earthly family had become frayed. Jesus offers a new definition of his family; his family consists of everyone who does God's will.
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: 1 Samuel 8:4--20 (11:14--15)
Sermon Title: Be Careful What You Pray For
Sermon Angle: The people of Israel wanted a king and so Samuel took their request to the Lord. Having a king was not the future that God envisioned for his people, but God decided to give the people what they asked for anyway. This constitutes a prime example of not prefacing our prayers with the petition "Nevertheless, not my (our) will but your will be done." It might prove dangerous simply to tell God what we want. He might give it to us, with consequences which we could never envision.
Outline:
1. The elders of Israel asked for a king (v. 5).
2. The request displeased Samuel and God.
3. God gave them what they wanted and it eventually led to disaster.
4. Be careful what you pray for - God might grant it.
5. Always seek God's will in your prayers.
Sermon Title: The Changing Face Of Leadership
Sermon Angle: The request of the elders for a king came out of a realization that different times call for a different style of leadership. The Israelites were no longer a nomadic people. They were getting settled in the land and they recognized that a different kind of leadership was needed for a new day. For instance, they may have seen that they needed a more centralized form of leadership in order to protect themselves from hostile countries surrounding them. Samuel was getting to be an old man and no new judges were in sight (v. 5). The problem was that they latched on to a solution to their leadership needs that was not the best for them. We need to be sensitive to the changing leadership needs in church, community and country and shift as needed. At the same time we must never lose sight of the sovereignty of God.
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Sermon Title: How To Grow Old Gracefully
Sermon Angle: Most Americans probably dread growing old. Old age is not highly touted in our society. We all want to look younger and feel younger. We will do almost anything to turn back the biological time clock. Paul also experienced the afflictions of age but knew the secret of growing old gracefully. He did not focus on the deterioration of his body but rather set his sights on the new nature that God was creating in him (v. 16) through his grace. Paul developed a sense of perspective, which is God's gift to us as we grow older. He viewed everything against the backdrop of eternity. The afflictions of the body were nothing when compared to the glory that awaits us. The secret of growing old gracefully is to become more keyed in to spiritual (unseen) realities and less concerned with our bodies and bank accounts.
Outline:
1. Our society denies death and the reality of aging.
2. Paul lifts up the secret of growing old gracefully.
- Admit that the body is deteriorating but don't worry about it (v. 16).
- Focus on our spiritual nature, which is being renewed daily (v. 16).
- Set your sights not on past but future glory with God (v. 17).
- Realize that unseen (spiritual) things are more real than things seen (v. 18).
__________
Bessie Delaney died September, 1995, at the age of 104; she and her sister Sarah authored a book in 1993 which became a best--seller. The book is called Having Our Say: The Delaney Sisters' First 100 Years. The sisters' award--winning memoir has been on the New York Times best--seller list for 19 months at the time of this writing and has sold more than 900,000 copies. The book has also been translated into several foreign languages. They also authored a second book: The Delaney Sisters' Book Of Everyday Wisdom, which has sold over 160,000 copies. The article I read didn't comment on the religious outlook of the Delaney sisters but you can be sure that they didn't focus on the increasing decrepitude of their bodies. They were caught up in the things of the mind and spirit.
__________
Another newspaper article commented how President Reagan's Alzheimer's disease, a degenerative affliction of the nervous system, has brought him closer to his family. Reagan disclosed that he had the disease in November of 1994. Nancy Reagan reported: "I think any illness...brings things into focus and should reshuffle your priorities." The former first lady said that she had reconciled with her daughter, Patti Davis, who had written books critical of her parents and posed nude for Playboy. Miss Davis commented that the reconciliation started even before her father's disease was diagnosed. Reagan wrote notes to his daughter saying that he loved her, that both he and Nancy loved her. Though the body and mind of our former president were fading, his spirit became stronger as he became increasingly aware of the spiritual dimension of existence.
__________
Sermon Title: Don't Worry About The Mosquito Bites
Sermon Angle: Paul describes the trials and difficulties of life as "a slight momentary affliction" (v. 17). In other words, they were mere mosquito bites compared to the glory of God's kingdom. You've experienced mosquitos and mosquito bites; if you haven't, go to Minnesota or Michigan in the summertime. These creatures are pesky, and when they bite it may sting ever so slightly for a moment. The bite may even swell up and become red for several minutes, but before long you don't even know it was there, that is, if you don't scratch it. The afflictions of life are real but they are mere mosquito bites compared to the glory that shall be revealed to us.
Gospel: Mark 3:20--35
Sermon Title: About Trying To Place Jesus In A Straightjacket
Sermon Angle: All kinds of people have tried and continued to try to place Jesus in a straight--jacket. His family came to Jesus with the intent of restraining him; people were saying that he was crazy (v. 21). The scribes attempted to reign him in by accusing him of casting out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons (v. 22). Through the ages folks have attempted to put Jesus in their peculiar straightjacket, whether it be a theological, philosophical, economic, or political straightjacket. Jesus may appear to be subdued for a time but, like Harry Houdini, he always finds a way to escape.
Sermon Title: A House Divided
Sermon Angle: The scribes accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of the devil. Jesus responded: "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand" (vv. 24--25). It was this rationale that prompted Abraham Lincoln to engage the northern states in a civil war with the south. It was this same principle that guided his reconstruction efforts; he refused to inflict humiliation on the vanquished. During World War ll the U.S. was galvanized by a common objective, to win the war. However, in recent decades our society seems to have become increasingly polarized. The church has witnessed the same phenomenon. Remember, Jesus came to gather the flock, not scatter it.
Outline:
1. Jesus said, "A house divided cannot stand" (v. 25).
2. Tyrants know the "divide and conquer" principle.
3. Society and church seem to have become increasingly polarized.
4. Knowing God and doing his will unites us with God's family (v. 35).
Sermon Title: Have You Committed An Unpardonable Sin?
Sermon Angle: The so--called unpardonable sin, the sin against the Holy Spirit (vv. 29--30), has troubled countless souls through the ages. They have given up all hope, thinking that they had done something so terrible as to be damned. What is this eternal sin? In Mark's Gospel it is interpreted as attributing the work of God to Satan and the work of Satan to God. The unpardonable sin is to permit oneself to wander so far from God that spiritual darkness is complete and the proper distinction between good and evil has been lost. We aren't talking, I believe, about a one--time sin but about a continuous rejection of the very concepts of good and evil. It's safe to say that most people have not committed the eternal sin and the very fact that it concerns us shows that God's Spirit is still active in our lives.
Outline:
1. Is there any sin too great for God to forgive?
2. Jesus warns against committing the eternal sin (v. 29).
3. What is this sin? Murder? Rape? Robbery?
4. It is the sin of turning good and evil upside down.
5. If we are concerned about committing such a sin, we are in the clear.
6. Trust in the grace and mercy of God in Christ.
__________
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: 1 Samuel 8:4--20 (11:14--15) (C)
The people plead with Samuel to obtain a king for them so that they might be similar to all the other countries about them which had kings. The request displeases Samuel; he considers it a rejection of the Lord. Nevertheless, he prays to God about it. The Lord too feels the rebuff of the people but agrees to give them what they want. Only he charges Samuel to inform the people of all the abuse their king will heap upon them. He will heavily tax their possessions and their labor. Here we seem to have an instance of the Lord giving the people what they asked for, even though it would not prove best for them. In choosing a king the Israelites would lose some of the their uniqueness and the nation would become divided. Two viewpoints on kingship for Israel are contained in 1 Samuel, one favorable to kingship and one not favorable.
Lesson 1: Genesis 3:9--15 (RC); Genesis 3:(1--7) 8--21 (E)
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 (C, RC); 2 Corinthians 4:13--18 (E)
Paul remains confident that God will bring them all, missionary and missionized, into the eternal presence of God in spite of his hardships. Physical deterioration does not deter the untiring missionary. Though the believers' outer transient nature is fading away, their inner spiritual nature is being renewed daily. The temporary afflictions of this life are preparing God's saints for an incomparable glory. The apostle commends us to focus on the eternal rather than things transient.
Gospel: Mark 3:20--35 (C, RC, E)
Jesus' ministry builds momentum as great crowds flock around him, probably attracted by the healings and exorcisms. Jesus creates such a stir that the scribes send a deputation to check it out. They conclude that Jesus is possessed by Beelzebul (a pagan god identified with Satan). Jesus points out the absurdity of their charge; if this were true, Satan would be battling with himself, but a "house divided against itself cannot stand" (v. 24). It is in this context, where men are attributing the work of God to Satan, that the warning against the so--called "unpardonable sin" occurs. Those who continue to maintain that the work of God springs from the Evil One have cut themselves off from the light of God's presence. Jesus is not talking about a one--time sin but a continuing state of spiritual perversity and unbelief, such as was exhibited by the scribes. Not only do the scribes think that Jesus is possessed, but his own family comes to take him away, thinking that he has lost his mind. Jesus teaches the crowd that his real family is defined not by biology but by obedience to God's will.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 138 (C) - "All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord" (v. 4).
Psalm 130 (E)
Psalm 129 (RC)
Prayer Of The Day
Great God, forbid that we ever be found to be opposing your good and gracious will. By your Spirit help us never to give ground to your foes and those enemies of our soul, but to stand in faithfulness with all your saints. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: 1 Samuel 8:4--20 (11:14--15)
Deja vu all over again (v. 5). The elders assemble together and decide that Samuel is getting too old to rule and his sons do not walk in his ways. It sounds like Eli and his sons all over again, though there is no mention of Samuel's sons being lawbreakers. There comes a time for us all to let someone else take our place.
Listen to the people (v. 7). God orders Samuel to listen to the demands of the people, even though what they desire is not God's ideal will. God may be telling us, as leaders of the church, to listen to our people, even if what they want is less than ideal. Perhaps God gave in to his people's wishes to let them learn from experience. In the same way a wise parent might give in to the wish of her child, even though that course contains pitfalls.
Who do you want to be king? The people wanted an earthly king; Samuel wanted God to be their only king. History shows that few of their kings were able and God--fearing rulers. In our day, most people want no king but themselves. Who do you want to be your king? Is Jesus your king?
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Expansive grace. "So that the grace of God extends to more and more people..." (v. 15). God's grace, by its very nature, is expansive; like a gas, it seeks to distribute itself over the widest possible area. We distort God's grace when we try to keep it to ourselves, but when we give free reign to God's grace it multiplies praise and thanksgiving to God (v. 15).
Brave heart. "So we do not lose heart" (v. 16). Paul confides that the Christian, when properly focused, does not lose heart, nor does he become discouraged about the deterioration of his physical body. Christians can maintain a brave heart because God is at work in our lives creating a new nature and will couple this nature with a new spiritual body in the resurrection of the righteous.
Peering beyond time and space (v. 18). The child of God can maintain her composure when caught up in the entropy of earthly things; she focuses on that which is beyond time and space, the new creation in Christ. The glimpse of eternal glory makes the sting of mortality appear to be a mere momentary trifle.
Gospel: Mark 3:20--35
What's the buzz about Jesus? From the onset of his ministry, Jesus was and is a controversial figure. We see Jesus through the lens of our prejudice, our tradition or our need. Jesus attracted great crowds of needy people (v. 20); they turned to him for hope and healing. Other folks considered him to be crazy, including his family, which came to restrain him. The scribes came to find some fault with him so they might discredit this troublemaker. Jesus caused quite a buzz in the highways and marketplaces of his time. Some claimed him as king and others cursed him as Satan. How do you interpret the buzz about Jesus?
Jesus in a straightjacket. Jesus' family set out to restrain Jesus; they tried to put him in a straightjacket (v. 21). Jesus was an embarrassment to his family. As you know, Jesus won't let himself be placed in a straightjacket. He may embarrass us in the presence of our friends; he may disturb our sensibilities, but if we try to tie him down, he has a way of coming back.
The unpardonable sin (vv. 28--30). Countless believers have feared that they have committed the unpardonable sin. What is the unpardonable sin? Mark answers this question forthrightly. It is the sin of attributing the work of Christ to Satan (v. 30). To do this a person turns evil into good and good into evil. In Luke's Gospel this saying is in a different context (Luke 12:10). It occurs in the midst of a passage concerning the power and wisdom, which is made available to disciples when their faith is called into question by the world. In Luke's context the unpardonable sin is to refuse the Spirit's aid during times of trial, to commit apostasy and deny Jesus.
Family ties. This passage indicates that the family ties between Jesus and his earthly family had become frayed. Jesus offers a new definition of his family; his family consists of everyone who does God's will.
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: 1 Samuel 8:4--20 (11:14--15)
Sermon Title: Be Careful What You Pray For
Sermon Angle: The people of Israel wanted a king and so Samuel took their request to the Lord. Having a king was not the future that God envisioned for his people, but God decided to give the people what they asked for anyway. This constitutes a prime example of not prefacing our prayers with the petition "Nevertheless, not my (our) will but your will be done." It might prove dangerous simply to tell God what we want. He might give it to us, with consequences which we could never envision.
Outline:
1. The elders of Israel asked for a king (v. 5).
2. The request displeased Samuel and God.
3. God gave them what they wanted and it eventually led to disaster.
4. Be careful what you pray for - God might grant it.
5. Always seek God's will in your prayers.
Sermon Title: The Changing Face Of Leadership
Sermon Angle: The request of the elders for a king came out of a realization that different times call for a different style of leadership. The Israelites were no longer a nomadic people. They were getting settled in the land and they recognized that a different kind of leadership was needed for a new day. For instance, they may have seen that they needed a more centralized form of leadership in order to protect themselves from hostile countries surrounding them. Samuel was getting to be an old man and no new judges were in sight (v. 5). The problem was that they latched on to a solution to their leadership needs that was not the best for them. We need to be sensitive to the changing leadership needs in church, community and country and shift as needed. At the same time we must never lose sight of the sovereignty of God.
Lesson 2: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Sermon Title: How To Grow Old Gracefully
Sermon Angle: Most Americans probably dread growing old. Old age is not highly touted in our society. We all want to look younger and feel younger. We will do almost anything to turn back the biological time clock. Paul also experienced the afflictions of age but knew the secret of growing old gracefully. He did not focus on the deterioration of his body but rather set his sights on the new nature that God was creating in him (v. 16) through his grace. Paul developed a sense of perspective, which is God's gift to us as we grow older. He viewed everything against the backdrop of eternity. The afflictions of the body were nothing when compared to the glory that awaits us. The secret of growing old gracefully is to become more keyed in to spiritual (unseen) realities and less concerned with our bodies and bank accounts.
Outline:
1. Our society denies death and the reality of aging.
2. Paul lifts up the secret of growing old gracefully.
- Admit that the body is deteriorating but don't worry about it (v. 16).
- Focus on our spiritual nature, which is being renewed daily (v. 16).
- Set your sights not on past but future glory with God (v. 17).
- Realize that unseen (spiritual) things are more real than things seen (v. 18).
__________
Bessie Delaney died September, 1995, at the age of 104; she and her sister Sarah authored a book in 1993 which became a best--seller. The book is called Having Our Say: The Delaney Sisters' First 100 Years. The sisters' award--winning memoir has been on the New York Times best--seller list for 19 months at the time of this writing and has sold more than 900,000 copies. The book has also been translated into several foreign languages. They also authored a second book: The Delaney Sisters' Book Of Everyday Wisdom, which has sold over 160,000 copies. The article I read didn't comment on the religious outlook of the Delaney sisters but you can be sure that they didn't focus on the increasing decrepitude of their bodies. They were caught up in the things of the mind and spirit.
__________
Another newspaper article commented how President Reagan's Alzheimer's disease, a degenerative affliction of the nervous system, has brought him closer to his family. Reagan disclosed that he had the disease in November of 1994. Nancy Reagan reported: "I think any illness...brings things into focus and should reshuffle your priorities." The former first lady said that she had reconciled with her daughter, Patti Davis, who had written books critical of her parents and posed nude for Playboy. Miss Davis commented that the reconciliation started even before her father's disease was diagnosed. Reagan wrote notes to his daughter saying that he loved her, that both he and Nancy loved her. Though the body and mind of our former president were fading, his spirit became stronger as he became increasingly aware of the spiritual dimension of existence.
__________
Sermon Title: Don't Worry About The Mosquito Bites
Sermon Angle: Paul describes the trials and difficulties of life as "a slight momentary affliction" (v. 17). In other words, they were mere mosquito bites compared to the glory of God's kingdom. You've experienced mosquitos and mosquito bites; if you haven't, go to Minnesota or Michigan in the summertime. These creatures are pesky, and when they bite it may sting ever so slightly for a moment. The bite may even swell up and become red for several minutes, but before long you don't even know it was there, that is, if you don't scratch it. The afflictions of life are real but they are mere mosquito bites compared to the glory that shall be revealed to us.
Gospel: Mark 3:20--35
Sermon Title: About Trying To Place Jesus In A Straightjacket
Sermon Angle: All kinds of people have tried and continued to try to place Jesus in a straight--jacket. His family came to Jesus with the intent of restraining him; people were saying that he was crazy (v. 21). The scribes attempted to reign him in by accusing him of casting out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons (v. 22). Through the ages folks have attempted to put Jesus in their peculiar straightjacket, whether it be a theological, philosophical, economic, or political straightjacket. Jesus may appear to be subdued for a time but, like Harry Houdini, he always finds a way to escape.
Sermon Title: A House Divided
Sermon Angle: The scribes accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of the devil. Jesus responded: "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand" (vv. 24--25). It was this rationale that prompted Abraham Lincoln to engage the northern states in a civil war with the south. It was this same principle that guided his reconstruction efforts; he refused to inflict humiliation on the vanquished. During World War ll the U.S. was galvanized by a common objective, to win the war. However, in recent decades our society seems to have become increasingly polarized. The church has witnessed the same phenomenon. Remember, Jesus came to gather the flock, not scatter it.
Outline:
1. Jesus said, "A house divided cannot stand" (v. 25).
2. Tyrants know the "divide and conquer" principle.
3. Society and church seem to have become increasingly polarized.
4. Knowing God and doing his will unites us with God's family (v. 35).
Sermon Title: Have You Committed An Unpardonable Sin?
Sermon Angle: The so--called unpardonable sin, the sin against the Holy Spirit (vv. 29--30), has troubled countless souls through the ages. They have given up all hope, thinking that they had done something so terrible as to be damned. What is this eternal sin? In Mark's Gospel it is interpreted as attributing the work of God to Satan and the work of Satan to God. The unpardonable sin is to permit oneself to wander so far from God that spiritual darkness is complete and the proper distinction between good and evil has been lost. We aren't talking, I believe, about a one--time sin but about a continuous rejection of the very concepts of good and evil. It's safe to say that most people have not committed the eternal sin and the very fact that it concerns us shows that God's Spirit is still active in our lives.
Outline:
1. Is there any sin too great for God to forgive?
2. Jesus warns against committing the eternal sin (v. 29).
3. What is this sin? Murder? Rape? Robbery?
4. It is the sin of turning good and evil upside down.
5. If we are concerned about committing such a sin, we are in the clear.
6. Trust in the grace and mercy of God in Christ.
__________
