Elmhurst CRC

Sunday's Comin' #172 - Mark 3: 7-19

July 26, 2022 Elmhurst CRC Season 1 Episode 172
Elmhurst CRC
Sunday's Comin' #172 - Mark 3: 7-19
Show Notes Transcript

Jeff Klein, Pastor of Outreach

Jeffrey Klein  0:07 

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose in the word of God. Today is Tuesday, July 26 and this is Jeff Klein. I'll be reading from Mark chapter 3, verses 7 through 19.

Jeffrey Klein  0:18

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him. Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Jeffrey Klein  1:39

Jesus could definitely attract a crowd. Everywhere he went, people showed up in droves to hear him speak, and seek healing for a variety of ailments. But Jesus is interesting as he never puts his focus on attracting bigger crowds, or capitalizing on the limelight, or to take over and exert more influence. He doesn't trust the crowds. Jesus knew that if his ministry was going to become a movement, he would have to be focused on a few. In this way, he would multiply himself and the kingdom of God would move out in power way beyond what he could do as one man seeking the applause of the crowds. And this passage, he calls these 12 apostles to himself for three purposes: to be with him, to send them out to preach and to have authority over demons. These 12 disciples take on the work of Jesus and learn the ways of the kingdom. Because of this focus and selecting of few, Jesus changes the world way beyond his time on the earth.

Jeffrey Klein  2:43

In the days of mega churches, mega evangelistic campaigns, satellite sites where we beam in the preachers (and celebrity pastors) from other places because [only] they can preach, we can learn a lot about and from the method of Jesus. For instance, who are you coming alongside right now in order to help them learn the ways of the kingdom? Who have you selected to be alongside of and in the Word of God with? How will you multiply yourself - multiply the kingdom - on the on the earth?

Jeffrey Klein  3:16

I was thinking about the people God placed in my life who came alongside me. I would not be who I am without them coming alongside me. Sam, my youth pastor Rife and Steve - college friends - who told it like it was. Rick, one of the first pastors who selected me to work with him. Kevin, my seminary young life roommate who taught me about outreach. Scott, who helped me fall more deeply in love with Jesus and encouraged me to invest in what mattered. Who would put your name down? Who are you molding, pouring into, walking alongside of?