"Speak Boldly: Not Everyone Says "'Yes'"
Mark 4:1-20
January 26, 2020

What took place with the disciples before Jesus sent them out the first time?

"As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will send you out to fish for people.' At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him."
-Mark 1:16-20

"Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. 'Follow me,' Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: 'Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?' On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'
-Mark 2:13-17

The disciples themselves were invited in

"The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, 'What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.' News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee."
-Mark 1:27-28

"Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere."
-Mark 1:45

“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.”
-Mark 3:7-8

The disciples watched others become followers of Jesus

Who invited you? How did becoming a follower of Jesus happen in your life?

Not everyone that hears will respond positively and even some that do respond will not continue in a life of faith.

This is good for us to know and good for us to know that Jesus knows.

"Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. 'Where did this man get these things?' they asked. 'What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?' And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.' He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith."
-Mark 6:1-6

What step will you take in Speaking Boldly this week?

“Study Deeply: Do It!”
Matthew 20:20-28
January 19, 2020

A disciple is someone who follows closely behind another to learn their ways, their language, their attitudes, their values, their beliefs, what they do, and why they do it for the purpose of becoming like the one they follow.

Historically, disciples of Jesus are called Christians.

“The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”
-Acts 11:26

A Christian is someone who follows closely behind Jesus to learn His ways, His language, His actions, His attitudes, His beliefs, what He did/does, and why He did/does it for the purpose of becoming like Jesus.

Discipleship is the process through which a disciple becomes like their master.

“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” -Matthew 4:19-20

“Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”
-Matthew 19:21-22

Being a disciple of Jesus includes discipling others.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
-Matthew 28:19-20

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
-1 Corinthians 11:1

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”
-2 Timothy 2:2

We are discipled by Jesus directly through the Bible, by the Holy Spirit, and through the lives of others.

Who has discipled you, helping you become like Jesus?

Matthew 20:20-28

You must live as a servant.

You will serve as I serve.

As a Christian we must do what the Master says and live like the Master lives.

Often what we are instructed to do seems unnatural.

A necessary step of being a Christian is obedience.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
-Luke 6:46

“Study Deeply: Ask Questions”
Matthew 18:1-4
January 12, 2020

Matthew 18 begins with a question.

Only those who are willing to ask, wrestle, discuss and think more will be changed.

“The disciples came to him and asked, ‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?’"
-Matthew 13:10

“The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”
-Matthew 13:11

“Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”
-Matthew 13:12

“This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”
-Matthew 13:13

Jesus speaks in parables.

The disciples ask “Why?”

Jesus says it is so “they” won’t get it, but “you” will.

“In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'”
-Matthew 13:14-15

“But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”
-Matthew 13:16

The disciples see and hear.

What have the disciples seen and heard?

Jesus is Lord.
Jesus is Savior.
Jesus is Messiah.

Because the believe, they ask questions.

One characteristic that seems to set the disciples apart was their willingness to ask questions.

“You don’t need to know everything today.”

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
-Matthew 18:3-4

A disciple is someone who is humble enough to ask questions.

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’ At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, ‘This fellow is blaspheming!’"
-Matthew 9:2-3

“But the Pharisees said, ‘It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.’"
-Matthew 9:34

“But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.”
-Matthew 12:14

Questions don’t demonstrate a lack of faith, they might demonstrate a strong faith.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
-Matthew 7:7-8

We cannot know everything today.

Studying deeply doesn’t mean finding all the answers, it sometimes means finding lots of questions.

"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
-John 14:25-26

Being a follower of Jesus means having enough faith to ask questions.

“Study Deeply: Be Amazed”
Matthew 8:23-27
January 5, 2020

“Count Me In”

Pray Fervently: commit to grow in our practice of daily prayer.
Study Deeply: commit to be a part of a Sunday School class or Bible study group, as well as, to read Scripture daily.
Worship in Community: commit to be present and engaged in worship every Sunday, whether at Bethany or another location.
Give Generously: commit to give generously to the church.
Serve Joyfully: commit to actively serve in a way that benefits the Kingdom.
Speak Boldly: commit to invite at least one person or family a month to Bethany and journey with them, and to invite one person/family into your home.

As we grow in these practices we are shaped and changed into the type of people who reflect the character and grace of God.

Pray Fervently
Give Generously
Study Deeply
Serve Joyfully
Worship in Community
Speak Boldly

As you read the Bible be amazed!

God reveals or makes Himself known to us through the Scriptures.

The Bible expands our view of God.

The place to start is to be amazed.

Being amazed was part of the disciples’ process of coming to understand who Jesus is.
Matthew 8:23-27

Amazed = Unbelievable!

Be amazed at who Jesus is.

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.”
-Matthew 1:18

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” –which means, ‘God with us.’”
-Matthew 1:23

Be amazed at what Jesus does.

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people . . .”
-Matthew 4:23

Be amazed at what Jesus taught and commands us to do.

“If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other cheek also.”
-Matthew 5:39

“If someone wants to take your coat, give him shirt as well.”
-Matthew 5:40

“love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
-Matthew 5:44

“If anyone looks at another person lustfully, they have already committed adultery with them in their heart.”
-Matthew 5:28

“Don’t worry about tomorrow.”
-Matthew 6:34

Be amazed.

If we are not amazed, then chances are we have missed what the Bible is saying.

“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”
-Matthew 7:28-29

Jesus said to taste it.

Be amazed and then let someone else taste it too.