A Higher Purpose

October 29, 2023
Pastor Jack

Men fighting

Mark 9:30-50

And from there they went out and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples and was telling them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the statement, and they were afraid to ask him. And they came to Capernaum. And after he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they were silent, because they had argued with one another on the way about who was greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he will be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a young child and had him stand among them. And taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of the young children such as these in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but the one who sent me.” John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone expelling demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not prevent him, because there is no one who does a miracle in my name and will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Christ’s, truly I say to you that he will never lose his reward. “And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it is better for him if instead a large millstone is placed around his neck and he is thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than, having two hands, to go into hell—into the unquenchable fire! And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life lame than, having two feet, to be thrown into hell! And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not extinguished.’ For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt becomes deprived of its salt content, by what can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Jesus has just healed the boy with the demon…

Mark 9:30–32 Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

  • Why do you think Jesus “…did not want anyone to know…“?
  • “…teaching His disciples…” or those closest to Him, His closet friends.
  • Have you ever been afraid to ask when you didn’t understand? Why?
  • Relationship, conversation, and questions are so important!
    • Talk about who Jesus is!
    • Talk about what He has done!

Mark 9:33–37 Who Is the Greatest?

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

  • What is our proper place in the Kingdom?

  • There is no title of honor in the Church - only Christ!!!

  • What could “one of these little ones” do for anyone?

    • Less than 12 years old
    • No job or resources
    • Not important
  • Jesus is saying in effect, this (valuing what others can do for us) is not the way we should behave.

  • What do you think this passage says about a proper understanding of humility?

  • Two Greek words (synonyms) for servant:

    • Doulos emphasizes who you belong to. You don’t get to make independent choices about your life, because you belong to someone else.
    • Diakonos emphasizes what you do. You are carrying out activities which benefit someone else.

    If you want to stand out in Christ’s kingdom, aim to become both a diakonos and a doulos, a servant and a slave. What you do is important. Become a diakonos who takes action to carry out God’s will so that He can bless others through you. Why you do it is even more important. Become a doulos who lives in obedience to the One who owns you. Reference

Mark 9:38–41 Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

  • What does the phrase “always be Kingdom-minded” mean to you?
  • God calls us to grow the Kingdom, not our own circle of friends.
  • What does “growing the Kingdom” look like in your life today?
  • Where do you find your value or worth?

Mark 9:42–50 Temptations to Sin

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

  • Our example should lead others to Christ, not to sin.
    • What sort of things might lead others to sin?
    • What sort of things and actions might lead others to Christ?
    • Which things above are more prevalent in your life today?
  • God is loving, caring, and forgiving; He will forgive.
  • Look at verses 43 & 45.
  • Look for the phrase “to enter life”.
  • Now look at verse 47; what is “life” in this verse?

Questions for Reflection

  • Be flavorful (salty)!
    • Hold Kingdom ideas
    • Keep your eyes on Christ
    • Serve Him
  • When was the last time someone said “I see Christ in you”?
  • Live like we are called!
  • Be salty!
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