During our 4th week studying the Book of Mark we discussed Fruitful Faith. In Mark chapter 4 Jesus describes the laws of sowing and reaping in a parable about a farmer. A farmer goes out to sow seed...just as we are to go out and sow the Word of God. The "seed" we sow can be received in many different ways.
Mark 4:14-20
Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
We need to ask ourselves what type of soil we are right now. Are we bearing fruit, living for Christ? Are we tilling our soil? Are we removing thorns? Are we continually aware of the fact that 24/7 we are sowing some type of seed?
In order to sow the type of seed that will bear fruit, we need to know and share the Word, serve others in the name of Jesus Christ and cultivate relationships that give us the opportunity to sow over time.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Book of Mark
We began our new series on Sunday entitled, Living Authentic Discipleship. Over the next five months we will journey through the book of Mark.
Though the author of the book of Mark is anonymous, it is assumed that it was written by John Mark, an apostle of Peter, around the early to mid 60's for Christians in and near Rome. At the time is was ascribed, Rome was ruled by Emperor Nero. Nero was known for his severe persecution of Christians after the fire that ravaged Rome in 64 A.D. It is believed that Mark escaped from Rome with written stories of Jesus' life, and with his knowledge of the culture, compiled the stories partly to simply preserve them.
After reading the entire first chapter we focused on Mark 1:14-22. Jesus calls to Simon and Andrew who are in their boat casting nets. He calls to them, "'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him." His request is significant because he appealed to their trade and said they would go after a much bigger, more important catch. In Mark 1:19-20, Jesus calls out to James and John who choose to leave their father with hired servants to run the family business and follow him. Sometimes to be an authentic disciple we may have to leave everything we think is important behind.
As we continue through this study, remember the five points of Authentic Discipleship...Put Jesus First, Follow His Teachings, Be Fruitful, Love Other Disciples, and Make Disciples of Others.
The ultimate goal of living as an authentic disciple is to become like Christ in every area of life.
Though the author of the book of Mark is anonymous, it is assumed that it was written by John Mark, an apostle of Peter, around the early to mid 60's for Christians in and near Rome. At the time is was ascribed, Rome was ruled by Emperor Nero. Nero was known for his severe persecution of Christians after the fire that ravaged Rome in 64 A.D. It is believed that Mark escaped from Rome with written stories of Jesus' life, and with his knowledge of the culture, compiled the stories partly to simply preserve them.
After reading the entire first chapter we focused on Mark 1:14-22. Jesus calls to Simon and Andrew who are in their boat casting nets. He calls to them, "'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him." His request is significant because he appealed to their trade and said they would go after a much bigger, more important catch. In Mark 1:19-20, Jesus calls out to James and John who choose to leave their father with hired servants to run the family business and follow him. Sometimes to be an authentic disciple we may have to leave everything we think is important behind.
As we continue through this study, remember the five points of Authentic Discipleship...Put Jesus First, Follow His Teachings, Be Fruitful, Love Other Disciples, and Make Disciples of Others.
The ultimate goal of living as an authentic disciple is to become like Christ in every area of life.
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