Have you ever been in a situation where you knew you should stand up for the truth, but you hesitated? Maybe it was gossip, a false story, or pressure to compromise your convictions. That’s hard enough when the cost is just awkwardness or reputation. But what if the cost was much higher—your friends, your job, even your life? That’s the question before us in Mark 6, where we find the horrific story of John the Baptist’s death. At first it feels like an interruption, but Mark has placed it here—sandwiched between the disciples being sent out and their return—to remind us that proclaiming the message of the King comes with a cost. To follow Jesus will bring rejection, and the question is: will you compromise, or will you stand courageously?

John the Baptist stood courageously. He confronted King Herod and Herodias over their adulterous and scandalous marriage, even though he knew it could cost him everything. Herodias raged against him, Herod feared him, and yet John would not stop speaking truth. In fact, Herod himself was haunted by John. He feared him, respected him, even listened to him gladly, summoning him from prison to hear him preach. But like so many today, Herod was intrigued by God’s Word without submitting to it. His conscience was pricked, but he would not yield. Church, that is a warning to us—hell will be filled with people who enjoyed listening to Jesus but never surrendered to Him as Lord.

Herod’s cowardice is exposed in his birthday feast. Manipulated by Herodias through her daughter’s seductive dance, he makes a rash vow to save face before his guests. Though he knows John is innocent, he gives in to the pressure of the crowd. What happened? Every time Herod ignored the truth, he turned down the volume of his conscience until it was silent. And unless God’s Word is shaping our conscience, we too will cave under pressure. We will fear man instead of fearing God. Church, do not let that happen. Tune your conscience to the voice of Scripture, so when the moment comes to stand, you can stand with courage.

John’s faithfulness cost him his head, but it also pointed beyond himself to Jesus—the greater King who would also be condemned unjustly by a cowardly ruler. But unlike John, Jesus did not stay in the tomb. On the third day, He rose, conquering sin, death, and Satan. And because Jesus triumphed, we know the cost of following Him is worth it. Herod received his reward—the fleeting praise of men. John received his reward—the eternal presence of Christ. So the question remains: who will you follow? If you’ve compromised, run to Jesus in repentance, rest in His grace, and rise up refreshed by His resurrection power to live courageously this week. Because Christ has conquered the grave, we can live courageously for the King.

Main Idea – Because Christ has conquered the grave, we can courageously follow Him, even if we face rejection.

Imagine for a moment that you are one of the disciples. You’ve just watched Jesus calm a storm, cast out demons, heal the sick, and even raise the dead. Your confidence in Him is soaring. Then Jesus takes you to His hometown, and instead of celebration you watch Him face rejection and mockery. And right after that, He gathers you in and says, “Now it’s your turn.” But here’s the catch—you are to go out with almost nothing. No bag, no bread, no money, not even a change of clothes. Yet the assignment remains staggering: proclaim the kingdom, cast out demons, heal the sick. Do what He’s been doing, but do it without resources.

What Jesus was teaching the disciples, He is teaching us. If you belong to Jesus, you’ve been sent out by Him. And if you’re anything like me, you often feel unprepared, undersupplied, or simply inadequate for the task. That’s exactly how the disciples must have felt too. Jesus doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called. He calls us not because of our merit, but to make us depend on Him. I can testify that when Jesus called me to plant this church, I didn’t feel ready. Maybe you feel the same way when it comes to sharing your faith, discipling your family, or stepping into a ministry role. But Jesus calls His people to step out, even when we feel ill-equipped.

It’s true that these specific instructions were originally given to the Twelve Apostles, a unique group who walked with Jesus and witnessed His resurrection (Acts 1:21–22; 1 Cor. 15:7–9). They held a foundational office in the church (Eph. 2:20), wrote Scripture by the Spirit’s inspiration, and their message was confirmed with signs and wonders (Heb. 2:4). While their office is unrepeatable, the principle remains: disciples are sent. There are no bench-warmer Christians. Every believer has been summoned by Jesus’ grace and sent out in Jesus’ power.

Notice also how Jesus sent them out two by two. They weren’t just representatives of the King—they were partners on mission. Scripture shows us why: together they could verify testimony (Deut. 19:15), complement one another’s gifts, offer counsel and encouragement, and provide accountability. That’s a picture of how the church is meant to live on mission—not as isolated individuals but as a gospel family. This is why community groups matter, why shared mission matters, and why we need one another as we go.

And here’s the good news: we do not go out empty-handed. Jesus gave His disciples authority, and He gives us the same assurance of His presence and power through His Word and Spirit. Yes, you will feel uncomfortable. Yes, you will face rejection. But Jesus sends us anyway, because the urgency of the mission outweighs our excuses. The call is simple: repent, believe, and declare the gospel in both word and deed. Whether across the street or across the world, the message remains the same. And as we go, we can trust Him to provide everything we truly need.

Main Idea: If you have been summoned by Jesus’ grace, you have been sent out in Jesus’ power.

Study Questions

1. Why do you think Mark places this account between Jesus’ rejection and John the Baptist’s beheading? What is Mark trying to communicate to followers of Jesus?
2. What are some obstacles that prevent you from living a sent-out life? What heart issues may hinder you from telling others the good news of the gospel?
3. Are there opportunities for your community group to go out together with the good news of the gospel?
4. Compare and contrast this account with Jesus’ later sending of the seventy-two in Luke 10:1–12. What explanations are given in Luke that are not explained in Mark?
5. Read Mark 6:12–13. Why do you think Mark references the proclamation of the disciples before their actions? What does this tell you about the centrality of the gospel in evangelism?
6. Why does the gospel demand the response of repentance?

Have you ever heard the saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt”? It’s true in everyday life. Many of us didn’t fully appreciate our parents until we left home. New Yorkers can live their whole lives without ever visiting the Statue of Liberty. I’ll never forget my first trip to the Rocky Mountains—jaw dropped in awe of their majesty. But the locals? Unmoved. Why? Because those mountains had always been there. Familiarity dulled their wonder.

That is exactly what happens in Mark 6. Jesus returns to His hometown, Nazareth. The people who knew Him best—neighbors, childhood friends, even family—did not greet Him with faith but with rejection. They had heard His teaching and even acknowledged His miracles, but they dismissed Him. Why? Because they thought they already knew Him. To them He was “just the carpenter,” Mary’s son, the boy who grew up down the street. Familiarity led not to faith but to unbelief.

And isn’t that the danger for us? Many of us know about Jesus, but do not truly know Him. We can grow up in church, sing the songs, and know the Bible stories, but never bow to Him as Lord. We, like Nazareth, keep Him at a safe distance when He challenges our expectations. If Jesus doesn’t give us what we want—a comfortable life, easy answers, or quick fixes—we are tempted to dismiss Him. Unbelief doesn’t just come from outright rejection; sometimes it comes from superficial familiarity.

But here is the good news: unbelief is not unforgivable. The cross proves that. The rejection Jesus faced in Nazareth pointed forward to a greater rejection He would face at Calvary. There, the Son of God was rejected by men and, ultimately, forsaken by His Father, so that sinners like us could be reconciled. Even those in the crowd who once dismissed Him—including Jude, the half-brother of Jesus—came to worship Him as Lord after His resurrection. That same forgiveness and invitation is extended to us. Don’t let familiarity rob you of faith. Don’t settle for merely knowing about Jesus. Trust Him. Treasure Him. Follow Him, and intimately pursue Him.

Main Idea – Resist unbelief by embracing the one who was rejected for us.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Mark places this passage immediately after the story of Jairus’ daughter and the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, and just before Jesus sends out His disciples? Why does Mark emphasize that “his disciples followed him” (v. 1)?
2. The crowd in Nazareth did not deny the humanity of Jesus, but they rejected Him in unbelief. What is unbelief? What were the root causes of their unbelief? How does the indwelling sin of unbelief still manifest itself in your own life?
3. In verse 6, Mark tells us that Jesus was amazed. The Greek word is thaumazō—to be struck with wonder and awe. What is it about unbelief that causes Jesus to respond this way? What other places in Scripture reveal the danger of unbelief and help us understand its seriousness?
4. In what ways can “superficial familiarity” with Jesus—knowing facts, attending church, practicing outward religion—be dangerous if it does not lead to true submission to Him as Lord? (See Matthew 7:21–23.)
5. What Old Testament prophecies or stories point forward to the rejection Jesus experienced by His own people? How does His rejection in Nazareth prepare us to see the greater rejection He endured at the cross? And how does the cross speak to our own struggle with unbelief?
6. How can you actively combat superficial familiarity in your life? How does participating in the means of grace that God provides help you to truly know and love Jesus?
7. Who in your life comes to mind when you think of someone who has hardened their heart toward Jesus in unbelief? How can you begin praying specifically for them this week?

In Mark 5, two desperate people find themselves at the feet of Jesus—a respected synagogue leader named Jairus whose twelve-year-old daughter is dying, and an unnamed woman who has been bleeding for twelve years. One is a man of status, the other a social outcast. One is surrounded by crowds, the other hidden in shame. Yet both have run out of options, and both come to Jesus because they believe He is their only hope. Mark weaves their stories together in what’s called a “Markan sandwich,” inviting us to see how these two encounters reveal the same truth: Jesus’ authority is comprehensive—over sickness, over shame, and even over death itself.

Jairus comes to Jesus with the raw, urgent plea of a father who knows his daughter’s life is slipping away. He falls at Jesus’ feet—risking his reputation—because he believes Jesus can do what no one else can. And Jesus goes with him. Along the way, another desperate soul reaches out. For twelve years this woman has suffered physically, socially, and spiritually—cut off from worship, touch, and community. She’s tried everything and spent everything, but nothing has helped. In a crowded street, she stretches out her hand to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe, believing even that will be enough. And instantly, she is healed. But Jesus won’t let her slip away unseen. He calls her forward—not to shame her, but to restore her publicly and welcome her as “daughter.”

Before Jesus can reach Jairus’ house, news comes that the little girl has died. But Jesus tells Jairus, “Do not fear, only believe.” He enters the home, takes the girl by the hand—ignoring every ritual concern about touching the dead—and simply says, “Little girl, arise.” In an instant, life returns. Death retreats. What began as two separate crises ends with one stunning truth: nothing is too great for Jesus. The woman’s twelve years of suffering end, and the girl’s twelve years of life continue—all because they encountered the One with power over disease and death.

These miracles point beyond themselves to the cross and resurrection. Jesus heals the sick and raises the dead, but His ultimate mission was to bear our uncleanness, pay our debt, and conquer the grave once and for all. One day He will call every believer to rise, not just for a few more years of life, but for eternity with Him. In your desperation—whether from pain, fear, loss, or hopelessness—run to Jesus. He alone has the power to meet your need and the love to welcome you as His own. As Martin Luther, grieving the loss of his daughter, once cried, “Hammer away! On doomsday she’ll rise again.” Death will not have the last word, because Jesus already has.

Main Point – Desperation should drive us only to the feet of Jesus is bold faith.

Yes, Jesus had stilled the storm in chapter 4—a breathtaking display of power—but this encounter is something different. Here, Jesus steps onto Gentile soil and meets a man no one dared go near. A man consumed by darkness, living among the tombs, uncontrollable and utterly alone. Society had done all it could: bind him, exile him, forget him. But Jesus does not avoid what is unclean or broken. He steps ashore with purpose. And with just a word, He confronts and commands an entire legion of demons—thousands of them—and they flee. No one had the strength to tame this man… but Jesus didn’t need strength. He had authority.

This man’s story is haunting, but also beautifully familiar. He is unclean, unwanted, and untamable—a walking picture of what Satan aims to do to every person made in God’s image. And yet, in a moment of shocking grace, Jesus travels across a stormy sea just to reach him. That’s not a throwaway detail. It’s a gospel preview. If Jesus would endure a storm for one man, surely no one is beyond His reach. Maybe you feel chained by sin, crippled by anxiety, or buried in shame. You’ve tried everything, but nothing works. The same Jesus who silenced the storm and freed the demoniac is still rescuing today. He isn’t repelled by your darkness. He’s drawn to it. And He alone can bring healing, wholeness, and freedom.

Yet not everyone responds to Jesus with joy. The townspeople—shaken by the cost of this miracle—beg Him to leave. They prefer pigs and predictability to the presence of the Savior. It’s a sobering warning: many are okay with Jesus at a distance, as long as He doesn’t disrupt their comfort. But the man who was freed? He begs to go with Jesus. He is clothed, restored, and transformed—and now, he wants nothing more than to be near the One who saved him. And yet, Jesus sends him out instead. He commissions him as the first Gentile missionary—to tell his story, to declare what the Lord had done for him. That’s what Jesus does: He saves us to send us. Every Christian has a story of mercy that someone else needs to hear.

And that’s really the heart of the passage—and the gospel. Jesus delivers us from the kingdom of darkness and brings us into His marvelous light. But He does it at great cost. Did you notice? Jesus leaves this man restored and accepted, but He Himself is rejected. That’s the pattern of the gospel. He trades places with the broken. Like the man in the tombs, we too were spiritually dead—unclean, unwanted, and unable to change. But Jesus came for us. He was cast out so we could be brought in. He bore our sin and shame on the cross, and on the third day, He rose again with all authority in heaven and on earth. Friend, if you look to Him today, you too can be clothed, forgiven, and sent with a new purpose. Jesus still steps ashore—and maybe today, He’s stepping ashore in your heart.

Main Point – Jesus delivers us from enslavement to evil so that we might proclaim the goodness of his mercy.

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Have you ever felt like you were wandering in a dry, weary land—desperate for something real, something lasting, something that truly satisfies? That’s exactly where David found himself when he wrote Psalm 63. Whether he was fleeing from King Saul or his son Absalom, David was in the wilderness, physically and spiritually—separated from safety, his people, and it seemed, even his God. Yet, from that place of fear and uncertainty, he cries out, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you…” (v.1). In these verses, David reminds us of a profound truth: our souls were created for God, and only in Him can we find the satisfaction we long for.

This Psalm lays out four powerful movements of the heart: our longing for the Lord, seeing His glory, responding in worship, and trusting in His victory. We were designed for relationship with God and for worship. But in a world filled with distractions and substitutes, it’s easy to seek fulfillment elsewhere. I once had a friend who ended up in the ER from dehydration—not because he had no access to water, but because he’d only been drinking coffee. His body craved something deeper. In the same way, our souls often settle for lesser loves—jobs, relationships, status—while the Living Water stands before us, waiting. David understood that God’s steadfast love is “better than life” (v.3), and from that understanding, he worshipped—even while in the wilderness.

David also shows us how remembering God’s past faithfulness brings present hope. In verse 2, he reflects on seeing God’s power and glory in the sanctuary. He meditates on God’s help through the night (v.6), and clings to Him because he knows it’s God who holds him up (v.8). His response is wholehearted praise—not just with his lips, but with his life. The kind of worship David models is not just emotional; it’s rooted in truth, memory, and trust. His joy wasn’t dependent on circumstances—it was anchored in the unchanging character of God. That’s what allowed him to say, even in hardship, “My soul will be satisfied as with rich food” (v.5).

Psalm 63 ends with a promise of vindication. David’s enemies may have seemed powerful, but his confidence was in a greater King. And we too can rejoice in that same hope. Jesus, the true King, was hung on a tree not for His own rebellion, but for ours. He bore the wrath of God to give us life, joy, and peace. So where are you looking for satisfaction today? Is it something temporary, or eternal? My prayer for you is this: may you thirst for God like David did. And when you do, may you find that in Him—not in success, not in comfort, not even in good things—your soul is truly, deeply satisfied.

Study Questions:

1. What are some ways that sin gets in the way of worshipping God correctly? Describe a time in your life when you felt separated from the Lord? What do you think was the root cause of that feeling?

2. The Jews put the ten commandments, Aaron’s staff, and some manna in the ark of the covenant in order to remind them of God’s faithfulness. What are some things we can do to remind us of the same thing?

3. Of David’s list of responses to God’s goodness in v3-8 which ones do you do well with and which ones need improvement? Why do you think that is?

4. David rejoiced in the Lord for His faithfulness in defeating his enemies. In what ways does the Lord give you victory daily?

Psalm 42 paints a beautiful picture of how to fight for joy by a crushed man. The author is a Son of Korah, one of the most notorious rebels in Israel’s history. God redeemed his sons, and gave them a place of honor in leading worship in his house. This Psalm, meant to be sung, is a brutally honest and desperate fight to put his hope in God. Even though God is far, even though he feels forgotten, even though he feels waves crashing over him, he remembers who God is, and commands his soul to put his hope in God.

Here’s the tension: He knows God loves him, that he will praise God again, and that God will save him, but he doesn’t feel any of it right now. The example he gives is by acknowledging his plight. He isn’t where he wants to be and he makes it known to his God. He also remembers who God is, what he has promised, and the times he was in God’s presence. With both of those in place, he preaches to himself that, in spite of his situation, he will hope in God and praise him again.

Main Idea – When we are cast down, we are called to fight for hope

The example in Psalm 42 shows 3 ways:

1. Acknowledge
2. Remember
3. Preach

Study Questions

1. Have you felt like the author before? Has there been power in acknowledging it before God? Others?
2. v8 is sandwiched in between 2 verses steeped in despair. It stands out as a testimony of God’s love and commitment to the Psalmist in the midst of abject misery. What are times when you, or someone you know, have had a “moon is always round” moment?
3. “Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy’s will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.” Screwtape Letters. This man is standing at a place the devils fear most. Reflect on this.
4. Do you believe God can bring forth praise and joy from affliction, and even those who feel abandoned by God can still be used to declare his mercy? Do you really?
5. Chuck Templeton hated God because he couldn’t worship a God who allowed suffering. When Lee Strobel asked him about Jesus, he broke down crying and said, “I miss him so much.” Do you see the beauty in his statement, relative to this Psalm? How does Jesus as “the knowable God” answer, or encourage us through times of Psalm 42.
6. “Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning… Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now this man’s treatment [in Psalm 42] was this: instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself, ‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul?’ he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says: ‘Self, listen for a moment, I will speak to you.” (Spiritual Depression, it’s in the church library). Take it from here… how do these conversations go? How can you talk to yourself in a way that will, eventually, lead to healing?

Psalm 84 is a rich expression of longing for the presence of God. The Sons of Korah write from the heart of a pilgrim, yearning not just for a place, but for the God who dwells there. This psalm reveals the unmatched joy of being near the Lord—a joy so powerful that even the birds nesting near the temple are envied. The cry of the psalmist is clear: true, lasting joy is found in the presence of God, and nothing else in this life can compare.

The journey to God’s presence, however, is not always easy. The passage describes a difficult road—one that leads through the Valley of Baca, a place of dryness and sorrow. And yet, those who place their strength in God continue moving forward, growing stronger along the way. In the same way, our own spiritual journeys often lead us through hardship. But God is faithful to refresh and strengthen those who seek Him through His Word, prayer, and worship. His presence sustains us even in life’s valleys.

At the heart of this psalm is a prayer for God to look on His “anointed one.” While this likely referred to Israel’s king, it ultimately points forward to Jesus—the true and greater King, the Anointed One who became our shield through His death and resurrection. Because of Jesus, we have full access to God’s presence. The psalmist’s desperate longing to be near the temple is now our everyday reality. Through Christ, we no longer stand on the outside looking in—we are welcomed in as beloved children of God.

This truth should transform how we approach worship, prayer, and life with God’s people. The psalmist says one day in God’s courts is better than a thousand elsewhere—and that even being a doorkeeper in God’s house is more satisfying than a life of comfort apart from Him. Do we believe that? Do we live like that? God is both our sun and shield, our light and our protection. In Him, nothing good is withheld. Joy isn’t found in the world’s offerings—it’s found in dwelling with God. May we be people who long for Him, who draw near, and who live daily in the blessing of His presence.

Main Idea- True joy is found in the presence of God.

Study Questions

1. What are some things in your life that you often seek for joy, comfort, or satisfaction more than God? How can you turn from your affections to find joy in God’s presence instead?
2. Psalm 84 speaks of going “from strength to strength” even in the Valley of Baca. In what ways have you not relied on God in seasons of dryness? What does it look like to lean on God in seasons of suffering and what good things come from it?
3. How does understanding Jesus as our temple, sacrifice, and high priest shape the way you approach God today? What difference does this gospel reality make in your daily life?
4. What does it mean that we are also the temple and that Christ is the cornerstone of that temple (1st Peter 2:14-16)?
5. Verse 10 says one day in God’s courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. Do your daily priorities reflect that conviction? What practices help you pursue God’s presence consistently?