Sermons on Marion Clark:

What The Demons Know Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 21, 2012

The demons know more clearly than we who Jesus is.

Introduction Our action-movie director Mark is ready to show Jesus in action. Jesus has proclaimed the good news, called his disciples, and now we are going to see just what this man can do. The Teacher The scene begins tamely enough. 21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:21-28

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Time For Healing Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 21, 2012

Presents Jesus the healer.

Introduction Jesus’ ministry has started with powerful action. No sooner does he start to teach than he has his first encounter with an evil spirit, i.e. a demon. With a mere rebuke Jesus casts the demon out of his victim shrieking in agony. As Mark will show in this passage, that was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:29-34

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Time To Preach Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 21, 2012

As much excitement healing stirs up, Jesus says what really characterizes his ministry - preaching.

Introduction Jesus’ ministry has gotten off to a great start. Really, what more could you want if you are trying to make a name for yourself? In one day he has become a phenomenon through his preaching and especially through his miracle healings and exorcisms. He has a nice centralized ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:35-39

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Time To Cleanse Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 21, 2012

We come to the most shocking act of Jesus in his brief career - touching an untouchable.

Introduction I’ve coined a new name for Jesus. I call him Jesus the Great Gasper. He is the man who makes people gasp, who causes gaspers. Consider what he did in a twenty-four hour period. He amazed people by his teaching, just by his teaching! People are left astonished by the way he ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:40-45

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Time To Forgive Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 22, 2012

Jesus' most audacious act gives us personal hope.

Introduction Last Sunday I introduced Jesus as the Great Gasper. He is the one who causes gaspers – making other people gasp. And he has done some pretty amazing things to make people gasp – casting out demons, healing the sick, even cleansing lepers. Sometimes, though, it is the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus' Bad Company Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 23, 2012

The messy business of Jesus and the church is the invitation and welcome to sinners such as us.

Introduction When Jesus begins his ministry, people are filled with wonder at what he can do – cast out demons and heal the sick. “Wow! I saw Jesus command a demon to come out of a man!” “That’s nothing, I saw him heal a man born blind.” “Well, I saw ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:13-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus' Negligent Disciples Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 24, 2012

This passage presents the distinctions between Old Covenant and New Covenant religion.

Introduction We’ve noticed that, while Jesus has gotten off to a great start amazing everyone with his teaching, healing and exorcising of demons, he has also started to create controversy. He first seems like he has all the markings of a special man of God – maybe a prophet, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:18-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus’ Bad Sabbath Habits Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 24, 2012

This text presents what the sabbath is about.

Sabbath Conflict Our text today covers two stories, both of which focus on the matter of Sabbath-keeping. So, let’s take a moment to understand the place of the Sabbath in Jewish culture. That the Sabbath must be observed was not a matter of debate among the Jews. The observance was grounded in ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Managing A Ministry Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 25, 2012

Jesus' ministry, though popular, was mostly misunderstood. Indeed, he was popular with the crowd precisely because he was misunderstood.

Introduction Mark takes a break from confrontation stories between Jesus and his critics to give us an overview of Jesus’ ministry. It can be easy to lose sight of what actually is going on around Jesus. Mark reminds us that Jesus has become a superstar, and with that he has inherited the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:7-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus: Crazy Or Possessed? Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 29, 2012

Has anyone ever considered you to be crazy? How about demon-possessed? If you have been accused of either of these conditions, take heart; Jesus received the same diagnoses.

Introduction Has anyone ever considered you to be crazy? How about demon-possessed? I know some women who have suspected the first of their husbands and the second of their toddlers! If you have been accused of either of these conditions, take heart; Jesus received the same ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus' Family Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 29, 2012

In our passage, Jesus will use a family misunderstanding to give us greater understanding of his life and work.

Introduction Mothers, have you ever wondered what it would have been like to have Jesus for a son. At first thought, it would seem wonderful. Just think, a child – a son, no less – who doesn’t misbehave. He never lies to you; he does all of his chores; he doesn’t get ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:31-35

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Good Topsoil Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 29, 2012

The failure to live by the gospel is found in people’s hearts.

Jesus’ Parables We come to our first parable this morning, so we ought to consider before we get into it, what is a parable? I’ll give you a starting definition. A parable is a picture with a point. The picture may be a story such as the tale of the good Samaritan. It may be an ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Time To Hear Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 29, 2012

Jesus is saying, “I, the lamp, have come with the light of the gospel. Don’t cover me and my message over as many of you are doing. Let the lamp shine openly. The reason that you hide my light is that you really prefer something else which is less than

Introduction We are back to the parables this morning. In contrast to our extended metaphor of the sower and his soil conditions, we now come to a collection of short images and sayings. Remember how I said that usually it is the context that makes the parable’s meaning clear? The peculiar ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:21-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Real Miracle-Grow Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 29, 2012

The kingdom of God is mystery. Whether we are asleep or awake, whether its seed seems small or large, it will generate life that is abundant and rich.

Introduction A number of years ago at the prodding of a neighbor, who was also a church elder, my wife and I ventured into the mystical world of gardening. A section of our yard had once been a rose garden that one minister had lovingly cared for and another pulled up, so that it was bare when we ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:26-34

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Terrifying Question Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 29, 2012

The problem with the disciples is not that they didn’t have enough faith to trust Jesus in the storm. The problem is that their faith was not directed at the real Jesus.

Introduction As we move along in our study of Mark, we would do well to review the purpose and theme of the gospel. Mark and the other gospel writers had an agenda, which was to tell the “good news” about Jesus Christ. They were not writing biographies to give insight into the man ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed