Here is a man from Mark we can all relate to: one who says "I believe, Lord, help my unbelief".

Mark 9:14-29,6:7
John 11:40

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why were the apostles not able to heal this young man?

• Why is the prayer "I believe, help my unbelief" one that we all can relate to?

• What was Jesus' response to such a prayer?

• How can we nurture a strong faith and resist unbelief?

Mark describes that Jesus was transfigured before some of His disciples. The implications are vastly far reaching and immensely encouraging to those who have chosen the pathway of discipleship.

2 Peter 1:16-21
Revelation 1:9-18
Mark 8:27-9:8
John 14:6,6:68
Acts 4:12
Romans 8:17-18

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What does the word transfiguration mean?

• Why is the transfiguration so important?

• What does it teach us about Jesus?

• Why is it such an encouragement after what Jesus just called His disciples to in the context?

• Where are we heading?

If grace abounds then shouldn't I keep sinning so I can receive more grace? Paul might disagree.

Romans 6:1-14,5:6-10,5:20-21,6:15,6:19-23
Jude 1:4

Jesus is calling His disciples to follow Him down an unpopular road. In this pivotal passage from Mark He gives them reasons to NOT be ashamed of Him and His gospel. Powerful reasons.

Philippians 2:5-11
2 Thessalonians 1:3-12
Mark 8:27-38
2 Timothy 1:6-8,1:16-18,1:12
1 Peter 4:3-5
Romans 6:21,1:16
Hebrews 2:11,11:16

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• When do you feel the pressure to be ashamed of Christ or the gospel?

• What reasons does Jesus give to help us overcome this pressure?

• What if you have failed in this area in the past... is this a one and done?

• How did Paul try to encourage Timothy in all of this?

What good does it do to gain the whole world and yet to lose your soul? What can compare with the soul and what will you sell it for? Jesus has a way of quickly getting us to ponder the most important matters of life and beyond in this passage from Mark.

Luke 16:19-31
Mark 8:27-38
Romans 8:17-18
Philippians 3:8

• The whole world cannot make up to a man the loss of his soul. The possession of all the treasures that the world contains, would not compensate for eternal ruin. They would not satisfy us, and make us happy while we had them. They could only be enjoyed for a few years, at best, and must then be left for evermore. Of all unprofitable and foolish bargains that man can make, the worst is that of giving up his soul's salvation for the sake of this present world. It is a bargain of which thousands, like Esau, who sold his birth-right for a mess of pottage, have repented--but many, unhappily, like Esau, have repented too late.
  
  Any man may lose his own soul. He cannot save it. Christ alone can do that. But he can lose it, and that in many different ways. He may murder it, by loving gin and cleaving to the world. He may poison it by choosing a religion of lies, and believing man-made superstitions. He may starve it, by neglecting all means of grace, and refusing to receive into his heart the Gospel. Many are the ways that lead to the pit. Whatever way a man takes, he, and he alone, is accountable for it. Weak, corrupt, fallen, impotent as human nature is, man has a mighty power of destroying, ruining, and losing his own soul.
  
  Let these sayings of our Lord sink deep into our hearts. Words are inadequate to express their importance. May we remember them in the hour of temptation, when the soul seems a small and unimportant thing, and the world seems very bright and great. May we remember them in the hour of persecution, when we are tried by the fear of man, and half inclined to forsake Christ. In hours like these, let us call to mind this mighty question of our Lord, and repeat it to ourselves, "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
  
  These words were meant to stir us up to exertion and self-denial. They ought to ring in our ears like a trumpet, every morning when we rise from our beds, and every night when we lie down. May they be deeply engraved in our memories, and never effaced by the devil and the world! J.C. Ryle The Gospel of Mark

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What are the two roads laid out ahead of everyone?

• Which one does Jesus call us to take?

• What are the reasons He gives to encourage us onto the right one?

• What meaning does the title of this sermon have and why is that so opposite of how people think today?

We live in a fallen world; a world at war. Sin, Satan, a rebellious humankind, and a holy, loving God who is saving. That puts all of us in a hard place and in need to make hard decisions. In this text from Mark, Jesus presses us for an answer.

Mark 8:27-38
Romans 8:7
John 10:17
Galatians 2:20
1 Corinthians 1:18,4:9-10
Luke 14:26
Acts 20:22-24

• Jesus stipulated that those who wish to follow him must be prepared to shift the center of gravity in their lives from a concern for self to reckless abandon to the will of God. The central thought in self-denial is a disowning of any claim that may be urged by the self, a sustained willingness to say 'No' to oneself in order to be able to say 'Yes' to God. This involves a radical denunciation of all self-idolatry and of every attempt to establish one's own life in accordance with the dictates of the self. This demand is reinforced and intensified by the horrifying image of a death march. Bearing the cross was not a Jewish metaphor, and Jesus' statement must have sounded repugnant to the crowd and the disciples alike. The saying evokes the picture of a condemned man going out to die who is forced to carry on his back the crossbeam upon which he is to be nailed at the place of execution. By the time Mark prepared his Gospel this had become cruel reality, both for Jesus and the Church. Jesus' words were a sober caution that the commitment for which he asked permitted no turning back, and if necessary, a willingness to submit to the cross in pursuance of the will of God. His followers must be prepared to die...Professor William Lane The Gospel of Mark

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What is the situation we are in that requires us to make a hard decision?

• What is that decision?

• How do I renounce myself?

• What does that look like?

• Why does Jesus make such hard demands on us?

In this passage from Mark, Jesus is forcing the disciples off the fence and at the same time revealing some amazing things about His amazing love and willingness to sacrifice for us.

Matthew 4:8-10
Mark 8:27-38,6:14
Philippians 2:8
2 Corinthians 5:21

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why did Jesus ask the questions He asked in this text?

• Why were His words so shocking to the disciples?

• What was on Peters mind when he rebuked Jesus?

• What was on Jesus' mind when He rebuked Peter?

• Why was what Jesus did for us so great?

• Are we off the fence?

The church has one main task... make disciples. What does that mean? Who are the Paul's and the Timothy's in your life?

Romans 15:14
Hebrews 10:24-25
Matthew 28:18-20,10:24-25,23:8-10
Luke 9:23-26,14:25-27
Acts 6:1-2,6:7,9:1,9:19,9:25-26,11:25-26,11:29,16:1,16:3
1 Timothy 1:18,4:14-16,5:22-23,6:11-13
2 Timothy 1:4,1:6-8,1:13,2:15,2:22,3:10-11,2:1-2
Titus 2:3-5

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What is the church supposed to be doing... according to Jesus?

• What is a disciple?

• How are disciples made?

• Who have been the Paul's in your life?

• Who are your Timothy's"?

Are you making progress in your faith? Does Jesus agree with your assessment? Mark tells us He challenged the disciples in this area and still does today.

Mark 7:31-8:26
1 Corinthians 1:22-23
2 Timothy 3:7-9
Romans 8:22-23
2 Corinthians 5:1-2
Ephesians 6:16

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why did Jesus heal these two men differently than most?

• What was Jesus' concern for the progress of the disciples' faith?

• How is our faith?

• Are we making progress?

• Are we making the connections?

• How can we nurture our faith?

What can a frantic mom described in Mark teach us about prayer? Much because Jesus commended her faith and she saw her daughter delivered!! Are we good intercessors? Do we know what it truly means to be persistent in prayer?

Matthew 15:15-28,10:5-6,28:19-20
Mark 7:24-30,6:30-34
Romans 8:34
John 4:22
Acts 1:8,11:17-18,13:46
Isaiah 62:6-7
James 1:6-8

• In the first place, this passage is meant to encourage us to pray for others. The woman who came to our Lord, in the history now before us, must doubtless have been in deep affliction. She saw a beloved child possessed by an unclean spirit. She saw her in a condition in which no teaching could reach the mind, and no medicine could heal the body - a condition only one degree better than death itself. She hears of Jesus, and beseeches Him to "cast the demon out of her daughter." She prays for one who could not pray for herself, and never rests until her prayer is granted. By prayer she obtains the cure which no human means could obtain. Through the prayer of the mother, the daughter is healed. On her own behalf that daughter did not speak a word; but her mother spoke for her to the Lord, and did not speak in vain. Hopeless and desperate as her case appeared, she had a praying mother, and where there is a praying mother there is always hope.
  
  The truth here taught is one of deep importance. The case here recorded is one that does not stand alone. Few duties are so strongly recommended by Scriptural example, as the duty of intercessory prayer. There is a long catalogue of instances in Scripture, which show the benefits that may be conferred on others by praying for them. The nobleman's son at Capernaum - the centurion's servant - the daughter of Jairus, are all striking examples. Incredible as it may seem, God is pleased to do great things for souls, when friends and relations are moved to pray for them. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16)
  
  Fathers and mothers are especially bound to remember the case of this woman. They cannot give their children new hearts. They can give them Christian education, and show them the way of life; but they cannot give them a will to choose Christ's service, and a heart to love God. Yet there is one thing they can always do - they can pray for them. They can pray for the conversion of profligate sons, who will have their own way, and run greedily into sin. They can pray for the conversion of worldly daughters, who set their affections on things below, and love pleasure more than God. Such prayers are heard on high. Such prayers will often bring down blessings. Never, never let us forget that the children for whom many prayers have been offered, seldom finally perish. Let us pray more for our sons and daughters. Even when they will not let us speak to them about religion, they cannot prevent us speaking for them to God. J.C. Ryle Expository Thoughts on the Gospels

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why was this woman so distraught?

• Why did Jesus treat her with what seems to be a lack of concern and compassion?

• Why did He reach out to Jews first?

• What does she teach us about prayer?

• About persistent prayer?

• About believing prayer?

• Why does God like us to be persistent?