Lake Point Church Sermons Lake Point Church

After the Parable of the Sower, Jesus goes on to explain how there are three responses that will enable us to produce the amount of fruit that Jesus says is available and that God wants for our lives. Pastor Frank Bennett shares those three responses in this message.

In Mark chapter 4, Jesus begins with the Parable of the Sower. We learn of four types of soils for planting. These soils also represents types of heart conditions for receiving the word of God. Jesus is asking us which heart best describes us. Are you a hard heart, a shallow heart, and crowded heart, or a good heart?

In Mark chapter three, we see three groups of people respond to Jesus in different ways. One group thinks Jesus is a liar. Another group thinks Jesus is a lunatic, while another group considers Him to be Lord. Mark is asking us this question...Is Jesus considered to be a liar, a lunatic, or a Lord?

We look at the teachings of Jesus about binding and loosing. Jesus has given the Church authority to bind things on earth, which will be bound in heaven and to loose things on earth, which will be loosed in heaven. We have authority to walk in victory through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus and our sins were bound on earth while on the cross. Jesus was also loosed from the grave to conquer death at the resurrection. His sacrifice and resurrection was bound and loosed on earth and also in heaven.

We often think that God rested on the 7th day because He was tired from all His work. it's hard to believe God was tired. He actually rested to take in and observe all His wonderful creation. Our Sabbath should begin with praising God for all He has accomplished over our previous week. We should approach observing our Sabbath not as an obligation (which it is a commandment), but rather a gift we receive from the Lord. Man was not created for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man.

Through the questioning from the Pharisees about fasting, Jesus answers with abstract explanations of the difference between following religion and following Him. Jesus brings celebration, whereas religion brings condemnation. Jesus offers new life, whereas religion offers to just patch up our lives. Jesus brings a bigger life, whereas religion brings a brittle life.