Jeff Shelnutt Sermons

When Jesus came to His disciples, walking on the sea, they did not recognize Him. But Jesus met them where He so often meets us--in our adversity. Jesus revealed to His disciples three things about God: His will, His glory, and His voice.

When Jesus encountered the huge crowd by the Sea of Galilee, He fed their souls with the Word of God. He then proceeded to nourish their bodies with a miraculous multiplication of bread and fish. As followers of Jesus, we, like the twelve disciples, will sometimes receive an unreasonable demand from God ("You give them something to eat!"). As we step out in faithful obedience, we will recognize the wilderness lessons God has for us, and receive the provision provided by the Good Shepherd. And we will ultimately find our satisfaction in Him.

Jesus' disciples return from their first preaching mission, and excitedly report to Him all that God has done. Jesus recognizes their need for rest, and together, they go to a secluded place. However, they are interrupted by the needs of the huge crowd who have followed them there. It is in the secluded place with Jesus that we find rest. It is also in interruptions that we often find God at work.

There was no prophet greater than John the Baptist, yet speaking truth got him arrested and beheaded. Mark relates the account of Herod's dealings with John. Far from a digression, this narrative foreshadows the cross. If we are to cooperate with God, we must perceive Jesus correctly, repent of sin quickly, and embrace death daily.

As Jesus begins His third preaching tour around Galilee, He sends out the twelve in pairs to preach repentance. What Jesus instructs them to bring and not to bring along is instructive to the unique ministry God has given to every Christian. Were they ready for such responsibility. No. And that is the point!

After months of ministry in Galilee, Jesus returns to His home village of Nazareth. Those who think they know Him are at first astonished by His teaching in the local synagogue. However, their astonishment quickly turns to offense. Their unbelief prevents Jesus from doing what He otherwise would do for them...and our unbelief has the same limiting affect.

While Jesus speaks to a woman who has just received healing after twelve long years of hemorrhaging, Jairus's daughter dies. Speaking into his despair, Jesus tells Jairus to keep on believing in spite of the circumstances. Jesus not only heals diseases, He raises the dead. Jesus resurrects that which has died in our lives as well, a foretaste of the the coming resurrection for all who trust Him.

A woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years comes to Jesus in desperation. He responds to her focused faith. When we seek Jesus we must 1) feel our helplessness; 2) trust in His sufficiency; and as a result, 3) proclaim God's peace.

Those from the nearby towns who came out to see his transformation could hardly believe this was the same man who had been possessed by a "legion" of demons. Neither did they know what do with Jesus, who was responsible for his transformation, so they sent Him away. We answer three questions from the text: Can a person change? What does change look like? Who does change affect?

Jesus crosses the sea to Gentile territory. Upon setting foot in this dark land, He is confronted by a man who is possessed by multiple evil spirits. We see from this account what it looks to enter the darkness, how to understand the darkness, and what it means that Jesus subdues the darkness.