Questions Jesus Asked #60

Mark 4:13 – (similar to Question #19) – Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?”  NIV

I have finished Matthew’s Gospel and covered all except one question of which I know that Jesus asked. I found that question as I was going through Mark and looking for questions that Jesus asked … not wanting to repeat the ones that He asked in Matthew’s Gospel. I’ll deal with that question in Mark’s Gospel. Since Matthew and Mark contain many of the same accounts, there will be significantly fewer questions in Mark’s Gospel.

Evidently, Jesus asked many similar questions to the one above to His disciples because He wanted to see if they were getting what He was saying. This question is similar to Question #19, but Jesus asked it in conjunction with a parable not recorded in Matthew’s Gospel but only in Mark and Luke’s Gospels.  It is about a farmer who went out to sow seed and it fell in various places: along the path, in rocky soil, among weeds, and on good soil (Mark 4:3-8). Evidently, Jesus perceived that His closest followers didn’t get everything that He was saying; so He sat them down and asked these questions.

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The Beat Goes On – Day 8.7

The song that came to me when we got to today was “The Beat Goes On” … a 1967 release by Sonny & Cher. (I know my age is showing!) However, we march to the beat of a different drummer! But we need to realize that this is not the end but only the beginning.

It’s been a great journey through the Barefoot Church Primer; but it’s only the beginning … a primer is just the basics. I encourage each of you to keep growing in this area of your life. Keep meeting as missional groups or communities.  God desires that we join Him in His mission to seek and to save those outside the Kingdom. Paul says …

  “Brothers and sisters, we can’t allow ourselves to get tired of doing what is right.”    (2 Thess. 3:13  – GOD’S WORD)

If you’re a group leader reading this, please let me in on your future plans.  And anyone who mentions this post to me, I’ll take you to coffee or lunch.

Here’s Brandon Hatmaker’s last post – Day 8.8 ….

http://barefootprimer.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/finishing-strong-week-8-day-8/

 

 

Tension – friend or foe? – Day 8.6

Tension is an interesting topic. Too much of it can cause physical, emotional, and even spiritual problems.  Too little of it can help us be apathetic … just seeking the path of least resistance.

However, just the right tension can produce wonderful results.  We have lots of mechanical examples.  Many of us have garage door opener that can affect the springs; but remember garage doors before electric openers … too little tension and the door wouldn’t stay up.  Too much tension and it popped up and you had to latch it to stay down.  If there was way too much tension, you endangered the frame of the door or yourself if the spring gave way.

The Holy Spirit can help us direct this tension.  He can release and free us from tension when we have too much; and He can used it to prod us in the right direction when we have too little.  Talk to him about the tension you feel over serving others.

If you want another resource on this topic, you might want to pick up a copy of Bill Hybels’ book, Holy Discontent: Fueling the Fire that Ignites Personal Vision.

 

What’s Next? – Day 8.5

This is the Community Day where your community or group decides what happens next.

How often will you meet and serve together?

Will you do a variety of projects or partner with a one non-profit organization or ministry?

Who is going to coordinate your efforts?

Be sure to spend some time in prayer both before and after you talk about these things.

 

Tough Questions – Day 8.4

The questions on page 183 seem simple enough; but if we answer them honestly, they will certainly help us discern our next steps in living the intuitive life.

1. What must I say “NO” to in order to live a more intuitive life?  It’s one thing if you’ve got some time wasters in there; but it’s another thing if you’ve got a lot of good things in your life.  Most of us probably have a lot of good things; so how do we choose?

2. What must you say “YES” to in order to live a more intuitive life?  For me this means that I need to say “YES” to spending more time listening to God in a variety of ways,  What about you?

 

Listening to the Spirit – Day 8.3

This is an interesting shift in thinking for many if not most of us.  I’m not saying that we never listen to God; but I am saying that I usually bring my agenda to Him rather than listening first for His agenda.  Are we willing to let the holy Spirit guide and direct, then act?

What tensions or problems are you encountering in shifting from service project or event mindset to allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and direct your actions?

 

 

Working with the Spirit – Day 8.2

Today the Primer reminds us that as Christ-followers we have been given the Holy Spirit – the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead!

He helps us see things as God sees them … and most of the time if not all of the time this is not how the world views things. We are Kingdom partners with God.  We are on mission with Him.  I am reminded of this passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians …

Ephesians 3:14-21

For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

     20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. NIV [emphasis mine]

How does it make you feel that he can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine?  Do we trust in the Holy Spirit’s direction and power?  What would it look like if we trusted Him more?

Brandon has no blog for today.