Moving From the Crowd to the Committed

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Moving From the Crowd to the Committed</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letting Go of Legalism"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Following Through on Following Jesus"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> previous/next sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Ministry Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Moving From the Crowd to the Committed, </B><B>Mark 3:7-35</B></div> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, July 9, 2000am</B></div> <bR> <div> Just like a big battleship commanded by a top-ranking captain has to adjust its course for a lighthouse manned by a lowly private, so we as humans have to adjust ourselves and our lives to God and his message, no matter how “special” we think we are.</div> <div> Many of us are content to be spectators in life and church; maybe keeping Jesus as part of our lives, but not letting him be front and center, the Lord of our lives.</div> <div> Move from the crowd to the committed.</div> <div> Mark 3.7-35</div> <div> There are 2 Categories of the Crowd</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. Mark 3.7-19: First Category of the Crowd: the Interested.</B></div> <div> Vss. 7-12, <U>The interested</U></div> <div> – Interested were those who followed Jesus around, checking him out, seeing what he offered.</div> <div> – Vss. 9-10, the crowds were taking advantage of the personal benefits Jesus had to offer (healing).</div> <div> Vss. 13-19, <U>The involved</U></div> <div> – Vs. 14, an “apostle” was a designated, authoritative representative.</div> <div> – Vs. 14, the disciples progression: be with him, then be sent out by him.</div> <div> – Vs 14-15, their work: preaching and displaying acts of authority (carrying out his work).</div> <bR> <div> B. Application: Move from being interested to being involved.</div> <div> – “Interested” means you are checking things out, looking at what Jesus has to offer, can do for you. Maybe you believe in the salvation he offers, but you are still on the fringes, waiting . . .</div> <div> – implications of becoming involved . . . </div> <div>      1. Give up things that get in the way (bad habits, wasted time, selfishness). </div> <div>      2. Change focus from what you get to what you can contribute; giving back to God and to others (not merely money).</div> <div>      3. Time commitment (contrast seekers to followers; seekers gave up some time to follow Jesus around; followers gave up their lives, their jobs). More time with God; commitment to worship, prayer; to serving Christ by serving other people and serving in the church.</div> <div>      4. Summary: Give Jesus control of your life.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. Mark 3.20-35: Second Category of the Crowd, the Rejecters.</B></div> <div> Vss. 20-30, <U>The Rejecters of Jesus</U></div> <div> – Rejecters followed Jesus’ path seeking to oppose his work, what he was trying to do, stifle his message.</div> <div> – Vs. 21, his family was trying to rescue him from danger by shutting him up.</div> <div> – Vss. 23-27, Jesus dispels the absurd notion that he is using Satan’s power (even though a common opinion, that a higher spirit is used to cast out lower spirit).</div> <div> – Vss. 28-30, “Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit,” Rejecting Jesus and the Holy Spirit’s testimony about who he is, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior. Ascribing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan or demons was in effect rejecting who Jesus himself really was. He was the only way of forgiveness, and to reject him is to close the door on the opportunity for forgiveness. And there may be a point at which the Holy Spirit quits working actively to lead someone to Jesus Christ.</div> <div> Vss. 31-35, <U>The Responders to Jesus</U></div> <div> – Vss. 33-35, those who do God’s will (in context, to respond appropriately). “Those seated around him” are his disciples (vs. 20), and other people listening to him, learning from him.</div> <div> – “family member” is one in close, spiritual relationship with Jesus.</div> <div> – Mark’s audience, persecuted believers, may have broken ties with families to follow Christ.</div> <div> B. Application: Move from being a rejecter to being a family member.</div> <div> – Whose family you belong to on earth has a lot of effect on your life. Whose family you belong to spiritually determines your eternal destiny.</div> <div> – Become a responder, not a rejecter. Join the family of God. Trust Jesus Christ.</div> <bR> <div> Move from the crowd around Jesus to the committed to Jesus. Move from being merely interested to actively involved. Move from being a rejecter of Jesus to a positive responder to Jesus.</div> <div> Committing to Christ might seem like a disastrous, danger-laden choice. But when you become willing to commit yourself to him, he’ll give you everything you need, and will help you succeed as a devoted, committed follower of him. Take the jump: move from the crowd to the committed.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2000, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>