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Faithful to the Finish
Peter's final call to a young and growing church
Grace and Glory
A short series through the highlights of 1 Peter
Entrusted
Gifts, risk, and the return of the King
the widow gave all she had in faith
We just heard Jesus condemn the officials of the church for being pompous, strutting around like peacocks and preying on the poor and defenseless (Mark 12:38-44). In Jesus’ time, a woman who was widowed was the lowest form of humanity. The men owned everything (even any money and property a ...read more
Scripture: Mark 12:38-44
Denomination: Episcopal
By contrasting the scribes with a poor widow woman, Jesus teaches us about true devotion.
THE MARK OF TRUE DEVOTION Text: Mark 12:38 – 44 What does it mean to be truly devoted to God? Does it mean that you are there every time the church doors open? Does it mean that you are the first to volunteer when there is a job to be done? Does it mean that you faithfully put 10% of ...read more
Denomination: Baptist
It was Tuesday before Jesus' crucifixion. Notice how He spent His last days. He condemned the self-righteous scribes and commended the selfless giving of one poor, destitute widow,
Countdown to Calvary Mark 12:38-44 Genuine Truths Revealed Inside the Temple Intro - 38 Then He said to them in His teaching… Outside the Temple in courtyard of women 13 shophar shaped receptacles (according to Mishnah - new shekel dues, old shekel dues, bird offerings, young birds for the ...read more
Scripture: Mark 12:23-44
True love for God demonstrates itself when we exalt the savior (not ourselves) and give everything we have.
In the Broadway play My Fair Lady, Eliza is courted by a man named Freddy, who writes her love letters every day. But that’s not enough for Eliza. Take a look (show video clip from My Fair Lady, “Show Me” song). Eliza's cries out in frustration: “Words! Words! I'm so sick ...read more
Scripture: Mark 12:35-44
Denomination: Evangelical Free
Jesus--the radical rebel that he is--continually turns our world upside down. He questions our assumptions and challenges our goals and our definitions of success.
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST NOVEMBER 8, 2009 Mark 12:38-44 “Upside Down” INTRODUCTION One of the questions that parents dread to hear asked them by their children is, “Why?’ This simple question challenges our assumptions and our preconceived ideas. If forces us to ask questions that ...read more
Denomination: Lutheran
If we truly love God and people, then we exalt the Savior, not ourselves, and give everything we have even when the days are dark.
A father passed by his son’s bedroom and was astonished to see the bed nicely made up and everything neat and tidy. Then he saw an envelope propped up on the pillow. It was addressed, “Dad.” With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter with trembling hands: Dear Dad, ...read more
The Widows Mite. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)
Reading: Mark 12:38-44. This chapter closes with two warnings from the Lord: • A warning against the pride of the teachers of the law or Scribes (Mark 12:38-40) • And a warning against the pride of the rich (vv. 41-44). Quote C.S. Lewis: “A proud man is always looking ...read more
Denomination: Brethren
God measures giving not by what we give, but by what we keep for ourselves. He measures the gift by the sacrifice involved. That is why Jesus valued the widow’s gift. She sacrificed her well-being in order to show her love for God.
When I was preparing my message for today, I came across a story about a little boy who went to church one Sunday morning to get out of the cold. He had been trying to sell newspapers, but no one had passed by. He entered the church, hoping to pass an hour unnoticed in the back row. The minister ...read more
Denomination: Anglican
Jesus ends His public ministry with three key principles: God’s love commands us to love our neighbors; He sees every action we do (don't be a Pharisee); giving sacrificially is what God requires of us, even if it means giving all we have.
Questions and Answers Mark 12:28-44 - Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant” - Jesus’ teachings, while difficult for some to deal with, are always timely -- God always allows us to hear from Him at just the right time - This morning we have two things ...read more
Scripture: Mark 12:28-44
Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Jesus summarizes the law in the Great Commandment, the scribes seek honor, and a poor widow gives all.
Mark 12:28-44 “Total Commitment INTRODUCTION It doesn’t take long, while reading the gospel of Mark, to realize that the kingdom of God is a very different from the nations and societies of the world. When reflecting on the kingdom of God and what it means to be a disciple of ...read more
Jesus cares how we view him, ourselves and our possessions.
• We value our vision. Seeing is important. • Many have had to experience, either for a temporary period, or in an advancing stage, life without good vision. • Part of that is getting old, I am learning. Just another inconvenience of living to be older. • A pastor went to a ...read more
Scripture: Mark 12:35-43
The story of the widow's mite has been used to show Christians what their attitude toward giving should be. This message challenges that traditional and longstanding teaching.
Growing up I don’t think I heard a teaching about the widow’s mite that did not take the widow and make her the standard by which all of us are to give when it comes to our giving. “This poor widow woman came to the altar and gave her last mite. She did that for the Lord! What an example she is to ...read more
Scripture: Mark 12:28-44, Leviticus 19:17-19, Matthew 6:1-2, Luke 20:39-47, Luke 21:1-5, Matthew 22:34-46, Matthew 23:1-14, Micah 6:6-8 (view more) (view less)
Volunteerism has been on the decline in the church. The need for recognition has become important to the few who do volunteer. We should volunteer to serve Christ
What happened to volunteerism in church? Mark 12:38-40 Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Mark 12:38 In His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, 39 and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor ...read more
Scripture: Mark 12:38-40
Denomination: United Methodist
A NEW message from the Widow's Mite narrative in Mark's Gospel. Understanding the culture of widows gives a new view of an old story.
Obligations drawn from the Widow’s Mite Mark 12:38-41 Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz 41 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper ...read more
Scripture: Mark 12:38-41
Givers trust in God, rather than in themselves; they are focused outward. Takers have not learned to trust in God and focus on their own needs.
Anybody remember the televangelist scandals of the 80’s? Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Oral Roberts and his highly publicized plea for - what was it, $8 million? - to keep God from striking him dead. Remember the uproar in all the secular news media and the shame felt by so many evangelicals at being ...read more
Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed
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