A. When we come face-to-face with God’s holiness, we see how undeserving we are (Job 40:3-5; Isaiah 6:5)
B. Yet, His grace allows us to be near Him, in His embrace (Ephesians 2:8-9)
II. God’s guidance
A. Closeness to God gives us peace and rest (Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 11:28-30)
B. Closeness to His Word provides guidance and guards us from sin (Psalm 31:3; 73:24)
III. God’s glory
A. If abide in His Word, He will never abandon us—in times of joy, sorrow, or even death (Hebrews 13:5-6)
B. And when that time of death comes and we await the final judgment, we have confidence that He has prepared a place in glory—in His eternal “home on high” (John 14:1-3)
I. Jesus calls Levi [also known as Matthew] (Mark 2:13-14)
A. The multitudes taught (Mark 2:13)
B. Yet, the Teacher took the time to address the individual – and an individual unworthy of His attention [in the eyes of man] (Mark 2:14)
II. Jesus eats with Levi and his friends (Mark 2:15-16)
A. Tax collectors and sinners (Mark 2:15)
B. The Pharisees criticize Jesus (Mark 2:16)
III. Jesus reveals His purpose (Mark 2:17)
A. The physician treats the sick, not the well (Mark 2:17a)
B. The Lord calls sinners, not the righteous (Mark 2:17b; cf. Luke 19:10; Romans 3:10)
A. Even when persecuted and ridiculed (Matthew 9:3, 10-11, 24, 34)
B. If it happened to Jesus, it will happen to Jesus’ followers – rejoice! (1 Peter 4:12-16)
C. Don’t let anything in this world stop you, recognizing that God is with you when you obey His will (Matthew 28:18-20; Hebrews 13:5-6)
II. Look upon opportunities with love (Matthew 9:36-37)
A. Jesus’ compassion compelled Him to help (Matthew 14:14; 15:32; Mark 1:40-41; 5:19; Luke 7:11-15)
B. You are not expected to do what is beyond your ability, but you are expected to do all that you can! (2 Corinthians 8:12)
III. Pray (Matthew 9:38)
A. Pray for more workers (Matthew 9:38)
B. Pray for boldness in the work (Acts 4:29; Ephesians 6:18-20)
A. Answering the error of a misapplication of Romans 5:20b
B. Jesus died to sin (6:10), when we are baptized into Christ (and into His death) we also die to sin through Him—and we die to ourselves! (cf. Romans 8:13; Galatians 2:20; Luke 14:33; Romans 12:1)
II. Burial (6:3-4)
A. This points to the mode of baptism – “buried”
B. An act of submission
III. Resurrection (6:4)
A. Just as Jesus died, we die – just as Jesus was buried, we are buried – just as Jesus was raised, we are raised
B. The purpose: “to walk in newness of life” because we are dead to sin, freed from sin, made a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
IV. What it means for the Christian (6:5-11)
A. We are united with Him in His death and resurrection (6:5)
B. We are freed from sin (6:6-7)
C. We live with Him to God (6:8-11)
A. Taught by example – He went to the synagogue (1:21)
B. Taught by word – consistency between His words and actions, unlike the scribes (1:21-22)
II. The existence of evil (1:23-24)
A. The man with an unclean spirit was among God’s people at the synagogue (1:23; cf. 1 Peter 5:8)
B. The demon knew who Jesus was (1:24; cf. James 2:19)
III. The power of Jesus demonstrated (1:25-26)
A. Restrained the demon’s ability to speak (1:25)
B. Forced the demon to exit the man’s body (1:25)
C. The demon left, but did not go without a fight (1:26)
IV. The reaction of the people (1:27-28)
A. Amazed at His authority over evil (1:27)
B. When amazing things happen, word gets around (1:28)
A. God provided beautiful trees – “pleasant to the sight”
B. God provided nourishing trees – “good for food”
II. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil (2:15-17; 3:1-7)
A. Eve noticed three things about the tree (3:6)
B. What is the “knowledge of good and evil”?
III. The tree of life (3:22-24)
A. A tree that made perpetual life possible
B. This tree is still available to us, but not in the “here & now” – it is in “the Paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7)
C. How can we have access to it? (Revelation 22:14)
I. John the Immerser prepared people for Jesus (Mark 1:1-8)
A. The prophets foretold of John’s work (Mark 1:2-3; cf. Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3)
B. John’s work included confession, repentance, and baptism (Mark 1:4-5)
C. John’s humility seen in his attire, diet, and attitude (Mark 1:6-8)
II. Jesus faced ups and downs as He prepared Himself (Mark 1:9-13)
A. His baptism (Mark 1:9-11)
B. His temptations (Mark 1:12-13; cf. Hebrews 4:15)
III. Jesus did not attempt to do it alone (Mark 1:14-20)
A. Jesus’ message (Mark 1:14-15)
B. Jesus’ fishers of men (Mark 1:16-20)
A. What is your priority? (Matthew 6:33; Joshua 24:14-18)
B. How do you view the pleasures of the world? (Daniel 1:8; 1 John 2:15-17)
C. What is your goal when this life ends? (Philippians 3:12-14)
II. With your words?
A. Are you ready to stand up for God’s truth? (Jude 3; Philippians 1:17; 1 Peter 3:15)
B. Do you know why you believe what you believe? (2 Timothy 2:15)
III. With your things?
A. The love of this world’s material goods is detrimental to faith (Matthew 16:24-26; Mark 10:17-25)
B. We must love people and use things, rather than use people and love things! (Acts 4:32-37; 1 Timothy 6:10; 1 Corinthians 16:2)
C. You are only expected to do what God has enabled you to do – but He often enables us more than we think! (2 Corinthians 8:1-7; 9:6-8; Ephesians 3:20-21)
A. The wide gate leads to eternal separation from God (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30,46)
B. The narrow gate leads to eternity with God in His kingdom (Matthew 19:29; 25:46; 2 Timothy 2:10)
II. Warning against false prophets (7:15-20)
A. Lull disciples into spiritual apathy (2 Timothy 4:2-4)
B. Their fruits must be inspected (2 John 9-11)
III. Sound doctrine leads to sound living (7:21-23)
A. Avoid deception by studying and doing what God says
B. The purpose of miracles (Mark 16:20; 1 Corinthians 13:8-10)
C. Deception leads to destruction
IV. Rock-solid foundation vs. foundation of sand (7:24-27)
A. We must dig deep and lay the foundation on His rock (Luke 6:48)
B. It is not merely hearing the Word, but doing the Word (James 1:22-25)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
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