Grace Church Sermons Grace Church

Big Idea: Following Jesus requires Kingdom Vision. 

Kingdom Vision = Jesus is the Messiah, the fulfillment of God’s Story to rescue, redeem, and reconcile the world. And Jesus sends His followers, the Church, into the world, wherever they live, learn, work, or play, to tell this Good News in word and deed until the day God’s Kingdom comes at the end of time. 

How to Develop Kingdom Vision: 
By Faith (Mark 8:29; 1 Peter 1:21) Through the Revelation of God (2 Peter 1:3-4) In Community (1 Peter 2:5) Gradually (2 Peter 1:2, 5-13)  
Discipleship Questions:  
What’s holding me back from looking more like Jesus?  
Which of these steps do I need to embrace in a new way? 

Discipleship Failure = Failure to SEE 
The POTENTIAL of God’s Kingdom promise (Revelation 5:9) The WONDER of God’s Kingdom promise (Luke 2:10) The FULFILLMENT of God’s Kingdom promise (John 6:35) The DANGER of Unbelief (Mark 4:11-12) 
Big Idea: Following Jesus requires Kingdom Vision. 

Discipleship Questions:  
What’s holding me back from looking more like Jesus?  
What am I failing to see: potential, wonder, obvious, danger?   

Search me, O God, and know my heart! 
Try me and know my thoughts! 
And see if there be any grievous way in me, 
and lead me in the way everlasting! 
Psalm 139:23-24 

Big Idea: Jesus is available to restore those who think they’re disqualified.  
4 Ways Jesus Gives Hope to the Disqualified 
1. Sometimes Jesus needs to get your attention to draw out your faith (7:24-27)  2. Jesus recognizes humility as an indicator of true faith (7:28-30).  
Her response was incredible: 
She understood the parable.  She didn’t take offense.  She expressed true faith.   3. Jesus will restore you in deeply personal ways (7:31-35)  4. Jesus gives you a story to tell of his goodness (:36-37) : 
 
 The proper response when you experience God’s work in your life:   
Tell the story of what he’s done.  Personal reflection.  Worship.   
Discipleship Question 
Ordinary Heroes: “What is my next small step of obedience today?”  
 
Find more series resources at www.whoisgrace.com/mark 

Big Idea- Monitor the condition of your own heart more than you monitor the behavior of others.  
 
Three-part Journey Toward Avoiding Hypocrisy 
 
Embrace your need to be spiritually clean (:1-5)  Behavior modification won’t bring Christ-exalting change to your life (:6-13)   4 ways behavior modification undermines true spiritual maturity.  
Behavior modification confuses man-made rules with God’s laws.  Behavior modification is always connected to a condemning spirit.  Behavior modification doesn’t deal with the source of uncleanness (7:14-16) Behavior modification will leave you exhausted and frustrated.   3. A clean heart is the antidote to hypocrisy and the key to an authentic spiritual life (:14-23)  
The primary role of your heart.  Your true struggle with sin is not external but internal.  At the cross, Jesus purchased for you a purified heart.  Discipleship Question: What’s holding me back from looking more like Jesus?  
 
Find more resources at www.whoisgrace.com/mark 

Big Idea: Jesus is easy to miss. 
 
Jesus fed the 5000 after His disciples returned from being sent out. (6:30-44) 
Jesus responded to the crowds with compassion, (6:34) unlike the disciples who showed irritation. (6:35-37) He cared for the crowd (6:38-44; Numbers 27:15-17) as the Great Shepherd (Psalm 23:1) by feeding them in the echo of the Prophet Elisha. (2 Kings 4:42-44)  
Ask yourself: How are you being called right now to meet someone’s needs while also sharing the Gospel with them? 
 
Jesus walked on the water and revealed Himself to His disciples. (6:45-56)
Jesus withdrew to prioritize the most important thing, spending time with His Father. (6:45-46) When the disciples struggled, (6:47-50a) Jesus went down and revealed Himself to them (6:50b) by “passing by” just as God had done in the Old Testament. (Ex 33:21-22; 1 Kings 19:11a) The disciples still didn’t recognize Jesus as the Son of God. (6:51-52)  Take time this week to look back on moments in your life where you’ve seen God’s provision, God’s comfort, or God’s deliverance. 
Ask yourself the Discipleship Failure question: What’s holding me back from looking more like Jesus? 

Find more series resources at whoisgrace.com/mark. 

Big Idea: is Pain is often for your growth or God’s glory.  
 
Causes of our Suffering and Pain 
We live in a fallen world.  Self-inflicted.  Caught in the backwash.   
5 Biblical Insights on Suffering 
All Christians will suffer. God doesn’t cause all suffering, but he allows it. Suffering isn’t the only way to grow spiritually, but it is an important way.  We long to know the purpose in our pain, but sometimes it’s not for us to know.  Suffering will eventually bring about greater joy.   
Next Step  
Reflect on this Discipleship Question for Ordinary Heroes:  
What is my next small step of obedience today?   

Find more series resources at www.whoisgrace.com/mark