Mark 1, continued:

Jesus calls disciples and appoints the twelve

• Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-21
• When Jesus appointed the twelve, there appear to have been others there with Him, which was important when a replacement was needed for Judas. The requirement for a man to be appointed an apostle was that he had been with them the entire time (Acts 1:21-26).

• Mark 6:7-13 – The apostles were sent out in pairs, given power over unclean spirits, and told not to take money or supplies with them. Note that miracles were secondary to teaching! Miracles could not and cannot save! Romans 1:16; Acts 11:14; James 1:21
• Mark 1:21-28 – Jesus taught as one having authority. Even the unclean spirits obeyed Him. He told the unclean spirits not to tell people who He was, possibly to avoid endorsements from disreputable sources.
• Mark 1:35-39 – Jesus came to teach.

Mark 2

• Mark 2:1-12 – Jesus forgives a man’s sins who was brought to Him for healing.
• Mark 2:18-22 – There was a right time and place for fasting.
• Mark 2:23-28 – The Sabbath was made for man!

Mark 3

• Mark 3:1-6 – Jesus is grieved at their hard hearts when they try to trap Him with regard to the Sabbath.

Introduction

• Psalms 32:8-9 – God wants us to think!
• Matthew 22:44

Equivocation

• Deceptively switch the meaning of a word.
• Example: “A feather is light. What is light cannot be dark. Therefore, a feather cannot be dark.”
• This is also called “bait and switch.”
• Ephesians 4:25
• Sometimes this is used as a joke or a rhetorical device and is not a logical fallacy.
• II Corinthians 5:21 – “Sin” is used in two different ways, but it is not a fallacy.
• The word “evolution” can mean minor changes or major changes.
• Clear, precise language can prevent misunderstandings.
  • I Peter 3:21
  • The Bible uses “baptism” in several different contexts.
    • Matthew 3:11
    • Mark 10:38-39
    • Acts 1:5; 19:3
    • Romans 6:3
    • I Corinthians 10:2
  • And people today use it in different ways.
    • Infant baptism
    • Baptism into a denomination
    • Baptism as an outward sign of inward grace.

Circular reasoning

• Assuming what you are trying to prove.
• Mark 2:1-12 – How did Jesus prove He could forgive sins? By miraculously healing a paralytic.
• II Timothy 3:15-17 – The Bible claims to be inspired, but that claim alone is not sufficient to prove it.
• Dating fossils and rock layers is often done using circular reasoning.
• Matthew 26:63-66 – “Jesus is not the Christ” because “He blasphemes (by claiming to be the Christ)” because “Jesus is not the Christ” …
• Example: Evolution occurred because we are here!
• It’s easy to slip into this if you are speaking to an audience that already agrees with you.

Second preaching journey (Acts 15:36-18:22)

Philippi (Acts 16:9-40), continued

• Acts 16:35-40 – Paul is attempting to exonerate himself and the cause of Christ by having the officials publicly declare his innocence.

Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9)

• A bad attitude can counteract the truth.
• Despite a bit of a rough start, this would later become a strong church!

Berea (Acts 17:10-15)

• This group had a different reaction to those in Thessalonica, despite the message and the messenger being the same.

Athens (Acts 17:16-54)

• Compare Acts 14:15.

Corinth (Acts 18:1-17)

• Acts 18:8 – Compare I Corinthians 1:14-15.
• If the gospel worked in immoral Corinth, it will work anywhere!
• Acts 18:12 – This was AD 51. Archaeology shows that Gallio served in that role in that year only.
• Acts 18:17 – See I Corinthians 1:1. Is this the same Sosthenes that replaced Crispus?!

Antioch (Acts 18:18-23)

• The first and second journeys of Paul began and ended in Antioch.

Introduction

• Acts 7:1-8 – Stephen summarizes the formation of the nation of Israel.

The nation God created and cared for

• Genesis 12:1-3; 15:3; 17:3-8
• Exodus 13:3 (Deuteronomy 5:6)
• Exodus 19:3-6
• God loves to bless His people!
  • Luke 18:28-30 – Even if we must leave the physical, we will gain the spiritual.
  • Ephesians 1:1-6
  • Ephesians 3:19-21

The nation who made Him grieve

• Hosea 2:2, 7
• Hosea 11:1-9 – Israel just kept turning away from God.
• Nehemiah 9:26
• God’s heart breaks when we sin.
  • Ephesians 4:30
  • We must learn not to turn our backs to God!
  • Hebrews 10:28-29

The nation who gave the world our savior

• Matthew 1:1, 20-21
• God allows anyone to become a child of Abraham!
  • Romans 2:28-29
  • Romans 9:3-8
  • Galatians 3:6-9, 28-29

Mark 1, continued:

• Mark 1:14-15 – Compare the message of John the Baptist in Matthew 3:2; 4:17; 10:7.

The kingdom promised and prophesied

• Daniel 2 – Prophesied the rule of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and then the kingdom of God.
• Daniel 7 – Four beasts: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome. Then the kingdom of God would come and saints would prevail despite persecution.
• Daniel 7:14 – See Acts 2:14-47; Ephesians 1:18-23.
• What is the kingdom that is at hand?
  • The word “kingdom” is used in different ways:
    • The universal dominion of God – Psalms 145:13
    • Heaven – II Peter 1:10-11 (see also I Peter 1:3-4)
    • Inhabitants or population subject to a king Individuals who’ve been “translated into the kingdom” by being “born again” (baptized) – Colossians 1:13; John 3:3, 5
  • The kingdom is the saved!
    • Colossians 1:13-14
    • Acts 2:22-36
    • Matthew 7:21
    • John 3:3-5
    • I Peter 3:15
  • The church is the saved!
    • The church is the “called out.”
    • II Thessalonians 2:14
    • Romans 6:3-11
    • I Corinthians 12:13 (Ephesians 5:26)
    • Ephesians 5:23
    • Ephesians 5:24
  • The house of God is the saved!
    • I Timothy 3:15
    • Galatians 3:26-27
    • Ephesians 2:16-22 – church, kingdom, and family
  • Kingdom, church, and house of God – three different terms identifying the same group of people.
• Acts 2 – Fulfillment of all
  • Daniel 2; Daniel 7; Matthew 16:18; Isaiah 10:22; Romans 9:27
  • This is what was at hand.
• Luke 1:32-33
• The kingdom coming with power!
  • Mark 9:1
  • Acts 1:6-8
  • Acts 2:1-36
  • The kingdom came with power when the Holy Spirit came with power on Pentecost in Acts 2.
• In the church, in the kingdom.
  • Colossians 1:12-14
  • Revelation 1:4, 9
  • Churches:
    • Baptized into – I Corinthians 12:3
    • Member of body – I Corinthians 12:14-26
    • A house / body of stones – I Peter 2:5-9
  • Kingdom:
    • Baptized into – John 3:3-5
    • Citizen of kingdom – John 3; Ephesians 2; Hebrews 8
    • A kingdom of priests – Exodus 19:6; I Peter 2:6-9; Revelation 5:10
• Jesus came to preach!
  • Mark 1:38
  • Salvation is at hand!