SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). A strategy (vs 13-14)
(2). A calling (vs 14-15)
(3). A listing (vs 16-19)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• Someone came up with these humorous observations or insights about life.
• (1). A balanced diet is a chocolate biscuit in each hand.
• (2). Misers aren't much fun to live with, but they sure make great ancestors.
• (3). Middle age is when broadness of the mind & narrowness of the waist change places.
• (4). Some-one who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
• (5). Hospitality is making your guests feel at home, even if you wish they were.
• (6). Money isn't everything....there's credit cards, money orders, and travellers checks.
• (7). You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
• (8). Junk is something you’ve kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
• (9). Nostalgia isn't what it used to be!
• (10). When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.
• (11). The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
• (12). If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.
• TRANSITION:
• Twelve men were about to get three years of real insights;
• They were about to embark on a journey that would not only change their lives;
• But would change the world.
Ill:
• Christianity is ranked the largest religion in the world today.
• According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life,
• In 2010 there were 2.18 billion Christians around the world,
• Nearly a third of the global population claim to follow Jesus Christ.
This new series of Bible studies on discipleship:
• Is a good reminder that Jesus wants more than people to own his name;
• And call themselves Christians.
• He wants to own their lives and call them disciples!
• In fact the term "disciples" occurs 269 times in the New Testament,
• While the term "Christian" only occurs three times.
• We are told that in the Bible book called Acts (chapter 11 verse 26):
• That "The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch”,
• The word “Christian” means “one in whom Christ dwells.”
• Here believers stopped calling themselves “Jews,” “Greeks” and “Gentiles.”
• They took the name of Christ. They were Christ-indwelt ones.
• And we have kind of made these terms ‘Christian’ & ‘Disciple’ interchangeable.
• And we forget that Salvation (becoming a Christian) occurs in a moment,
• But discipleship takes a lifetime.
• Note: every disciple is a Christian, but not every Christian is necessarily a disciple!
• A disciple is someone who is committed to,
• And who tries to follow, put into practice the teachings and lifestyle of their master.
Quote: Jonathan Dodson”
“A disciple is rational (learner), relational (family), and missional (missionary)”
(1). A strategy (vs 13-14):
“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles”
• As you read the gospels you soon notice that there is a strategy in what happens;
• Jesus did not just wonder from place to place;
• He had targets, goals, aims – we would say a strategy!
• Jesus had a plan for his ministry:
• i.e. He worked to a timescale; we often read those words:
• “My time has not yet come” (John chapter 7 verse 6)
• i.e. Another example of that plan in action is seen in verse 13;
• Where Jesus would choose for himself twelve disciples.
• You realise that Jesus had far more than 12 disciples;
• (Examples of that are Luke 8:1-3 & Mark 15:40-42);
• But here Jesus specifically chose 12 disciples to be his core followers.
• In these verses a new phase of Jesus’ ministry is under way:
• It will begin with the calling of the 12 disciples,
• And it ends with them being sent out on their mission (Mark chapter 6 verse 13)
Notice: in verse 13: Jesus makes a strategic withdrawal:
• Verse 13: “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray,”
• Jesus got alone with God the Father to implement this next important stage of their plan.
Ill:
• Doug Whitt and his bride, Sylvia, were escorted to their hotel’s bridal suite;
• They arrived in the early hours of the morning.
• In the suite they saw a sofa, chairs, and table, but where was the bed?
• Then they discovered the sofa was also a bed,
• They unpacked it and spent the night on a lumpy mattress;
• That had sagging and creaking springs;
• And as you might expect they did not get much sleep;
• And the next day they both woke up with sore backs.
• After breakfast Doug went to the hotel desk to give the management a tongue-lashing.
• This was their honeymoon suit and they expected better than a sofa-bed.
• The desk clerk replied: “Did you open the door in the room?”
• To which Doug replied: “What door?”
• They all went up to the honeymoon suite and the clerk;
• Went over to a door in the room and opened it.
• What Doug had thought was no more than an adjoining room door;
• Turned out to be a beautiful bedroom.
• Not only did it contain a very large comfortable bed;
• It was complete with fresh flowers and a large fruit basket!
• TRANSITION:
• Making important decisions without consulting God the Father;
• Is like being satisfied with a sofa-bed.
• Prayer is like opening another door and discovering that there is so much more!
• Before Jesus chose 12 men from the crowd of people following him:
• Jesus got alone with God the Father and prayed.
• Now the application of that truth is so obvious:
• All I need say is; “Go and do likewise!”
Note:
• The early chapters of Mark’s gospel show us how Jesus had impacted on the public:
• The people had never experienced anyone like him.
• But for his ministry to make an even bigger impact, a lasting impact;
• Then Jesus had two very practical problems to overcome.
• First, he had to find some way of making his message permanent;
• He knew he was here for a limited time (three years) and then what?
• Second, he had to find some way of disseminating his message,
• Getting his message out to the people who were not geographically near.
Ill:
• And in an age when there was no such thing as a printed book or newspaper,
• No radio or TV.
• And no way of reaching large numbers of people at the one time,
• That was no easy task.
• The solution, the next part of the plan was to choose:
• Twelve men, who would become his disciples, his devoted followers.
Ill:
• After a distinguished performing career, virtuoso violinist Jascha Heifetz;
• Accepted an appointment as professor of music at UCLA.
• When asked what had prompted his change of career,
• Heifetz replied:
• “Violin playing is a perishable art.
• It must be passed on as a personal skill; otherwise it is lost.”
• Jesus chose twelve men to receive hands-on instruction.
• So that they too could train, disciple others, who would disciple others….
• In following the master!
(2). A calling (vs 14-15)
“He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons”
Question: Did you notice Jesus threefold plan for his disciples?
Answer: It is there in verse 14-15.
FIRST: “THAT THEY MIGHT BE WITH HIM”.
Ill:
• A Peanuts cartoon showed Peppermint Patty talking to Charlie Brown;
• In which she said,
• “Guess what, Chuck? The first day of school, and I got sent to the principal’s office.
• It was your fault, Chuck.”
• Charlie Brown responds, “My fault? How could it be my fault?
• Why do you say everything is my fault?”
• To which she declares, “You’re my friend, aren’t you, Chuck?
• Then you should have been a better influence on me.”
Jesus chose 12 disciples to be an influence on them:
• He called them to be his steady and consistent companions.
• Others might come and go; the crowd might be there one day and away the next;
• Others might be fluctuating and spasmodic in their attachment to him,
• But these twelve were to identify their lives with his life and live with him all the time.
• Jesus chose 12 disciples to be an influence on them:
• His plan was to change their lives and the lives of those they encountered.
Application:
• Christian have you been with Jesus this week?
• Have you listened to him from the word?
• Have you shared with him through prayer?
• Jesus chose us – his followers to be an influence on us:
• His plan is to change our lives and the lives of those we encountered.
SECOND: “THAT HE MIGHT SEND THEM OUT TO PREACH”.
• Jesus wanted these men to be his representatives.
• They might be a rag bag mix of society, but Jesus wanted these men to be his representatives.
• In spite of their differences in temperament, in background and personality,
• These were the ones Jesus wanted to tell others about him.
• They themselves had been won in order to win others.
• The Greek word used in this verse translated as ‘sent out’ is a violent one;
• It was used for throwing out the rubbish. To thrust out.
• The idea being they need a good push to get them going!
• Quote: George Verwer:
• “Most Christians do not need a calling, they need a kick up the pants!”
Application:
• Jesus wants us (men & women) to be his representatives.
• Whether we preach, speak, gossip the gospel to our neighbours;
• The principle is the same - we are his witnesses!
Ill:
• King George I was King of England from 1714 to 1727!
• But King George I had a problem...he could not speak English!
• Being born and raised in Germany, he never learned to speak English
• And he did not make an effort to learn English.
• He simply left the running of the country to his ministers.
• Think of it - a representative of a country who could not speak the language;
• Sadly just like some Christians!
• Who do not testify of the Lord's love, because they have never bothered to learn of it!
THIRD: “AND TO HAVE AUTHORITY TO DRIVE OUT DEMONS”.
• Jesus gave his disciples supernatural power to do an impossible job!
• He knew in heir own strength they would fail!
• They needed supernatural help;
• To do a supernatural work
Application:
• Likewise Jesus has given each believer supernatural help to complete the job;
• Ill: Acts chapter 1 verse 8:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
• If you have the Holy Spirit (You received him at conversion);
• Then you are equipped to do great things for Jesus!
Ill:
• Cars run on the storage principle;
• Fuel is stored in the vehicle and then it runs out as the vehicle is driven.
• Electric trains run on the contact principle;
• They maintain contact with the source of power.
• Having the power of the Holy Spirit is our lives;
• Means we are living on the contact principle.
• So keep the contact strong every day!
(3). A listing (vs 16-19)
“These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him”.
Note:
• I think it is very significant that Christianity began with a group of people;
• They were called to live together, share together and grow to love together.
• The plan was these 12 men would live with each other and for each other.
• This was the very opposite of the Pharisees – the opponents of Jesus;
• The word ‘Pharisee’ meant ‘Separated one’;
• And it was a religion that separated them from their community.
Notice: Christianity also began with a very mixed group.
• It would appear that Jesus deliberately chose opposites;
• And extreme opposites at that!
Ill:
Matthew & Simon:
• Matthew was a tax-collector and, therefore, an outcast;
• He was a renegade and a traitor to his fellow countrymen.
• Simon the Zealot;
• And the Zealots were a band of fiery, violent nationalists;
• Who were pledged even to murder & assassination to clear their country of the foreign yoke
Christianity began by insisting that the most diverse people should live together:
• And the secret to them being able to cope, put up with and even love one another;
• Was due to the fact they were all living with Jesus.
Ill:
One hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other!
Notice:
• The men Jesus chose had no special qualifications at all.
• They were not wealthy; they had no special social position;
• They had no special education; they were not trained theologians;
• They were not high-ranking churchmen; they were twelve ordinary men.
Ill:
• As we go through life, many different people call our name.
• And it’s amazing to me just how many different messages that can be conveyed to us,
• Depending on just how people call our name:
(a).
• When we’re growing up, our parents call our name.
• Sometimes that is done in a very calm, gentle, loving manner.
• But other times, especially when they use our full name,
• It conveys a completely different message.
• Of course I only know that because’
• My parents often had to do that with my brothers and sister!
(b).
• Then when we go to school, our teachers call our name.
• And the way they call our name can convey all kinds of emotions:
• From delight to disgust, from reward to reproof.
(c).
• As a married man my wife often calls me names!
• Oops I meant calls my name.
• And the way she calls my name can either let me know she’s in an amorous mood;
• Or that I’m in big trouble.
The names of the 12 disciples are listed 4 times in the gospels:
• Matthew chapter 10 verses 2-4;
• Luke chapter 6 verses 14-16;
• Acts chapter 1 verses 13;
• Mark chapter 3 verses 16-19;
(a).
• Simon Peter is always listed first;
• And was clearly the leader among the disciples.
(b).
• Judas Iscariot is always listed last;
• No prizes for guessing why.
(c).
• Verse 17: James and John are given the nickname ‘Sons of Thunder’.
• Not because they were dynamic followers;
• But rather because they were prone to temper tantrums.
• Another example of how Jesus sees us as we are, but also as we could be!
(d).
• Andrew is listed next;
• As you night expect we will meet these first four disciples again and again in this book.
• Interestingly none of the other disciples are mentioned again in Mark’s gospel!
(e). Concerning three of the disciples:
• James, Thaddeaus, and Simon the Zealot;
• All we know about them are there names!
• Yet the calling of Jesus to be a disciple;
• Was as clear and important to these 3 men just as clearly as it was to Peter & Matthew!
• Remember it’s not what they were,
• Or what they became known as (title: apostles),
• But rather what God called them to do, and whether they did it that matters
• Jesus called them and they responded!
• We don’t know their particular personalities or ministries;
• But we do know that with these twelve men Jesus would turn the world upside down!
Application:
• Remember all of us have a calling in our life:
• God is calling us into a right relationship with Him.
• God is calling us to be His witnesses here on earth.
• God is calling us to be ministers of the Gospel, ambassadors, ministers of reconciliation.
• God is calling us to be godly men and women.
• And when we are united and obedient to that calling;
• Maybe then Jesus will be able to use us to turn the world upside down!
Ill:
• In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels,
• Threatening him with her fist if he didn’t.
• Linus. “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?”
• Lucy replies; “These five fingers…….
…Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit,
They form a weapon that is terrible to behold.”
• Linus replies:
• “Which channel do you want?”
• Then turning away, he looks at his fingers and says;
• “Why can’t you guys get organized like that?”
• God wants us his people to be united, in harmony with each other:
• That they might impact this world for Jesus!
