Sermons on Mark 12:23-44:

Not Far From The Kingdom Of God

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on May 5, 2022

You've heard the phrase, "close but no cigar". It communicates that getting almost there is not good enough. Jesus had an encounter with a teacher of the law in Mark 12 where he tells him that he was not far from the kingdom of God.

NOT FAR FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD Mark 12:28-34 You've heard phrases like, "close but no cigar" or “almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades”. These communicate that getting almost there is not good enough. Jesus had an encounter with a teacher of the law in Mark 12 where at ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34, Luke 10:25-29, Philippians 3:4-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

#52 Scribes And The Widow’s Offering

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Oct 4, 2021

Which are you more like: the scribes or the widow who gave God her last two coins?

#52 Scribes and the Widow’s Offering Series: Mark Chuck Sligh August 29, 2021 TEXT: Mark 12:38-44 – "And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, 39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: Baptist

Does Keeping People Out Of Work Fulfill The Law Of Christ? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 10, 2021

Can we fulfill Christ's command to love our neighbor as ourselves by adopting a socialist economy?

Monday of 28th week in course The queen of the South and the men of Nineveh will rise up and condemn the generation of pharisees for not believing in Jesus. At the end of time, they will also condemn the pharisees of our day for not believing in Jesus or His Church when they prophetically speak ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-7, 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Mark 12:31, Luke 11:29-32

Denomination: Catholic

Loving God Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 11, 2021

Let's look at the first of the great commandments, loving God.

Before we get into the topic of loving God deeply, let’s do a little housekeeping. Mark 12:30 seems to add a word, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Where does the extra word come from? When the Bible ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:30

Denomination: Baptist

Forcing People To Be Good, Can It Happen? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 15, 2021

It’s alien to Christ’s life and law of love to force compliance. One cannot and may not try to force sanctity or even basic justice on another.

Sophomore year in high school. We were assigned to study world history at that time, and we were using a Christian textbook, which rightly saw Jesus Christ as the center of all history. We even date years before and after the birth of Christ, even though the time line is about 3 years off what was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15, Mark 12:30-31, Matthew 19:20-22, 1 Timothy 6:8, Genesis 1:25-27  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Biblical Examples To Imitate

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 6, 2023

We can be rich in what counts even if we are poor financially.

Saturday of the 9th Week in Course 2023 The story of the journey of Tobias, narrated in the deuterocanonical book of Tobit, is one of the most inspirational from the OT period. It reads like an adventure novel, with a diabolical adversary, a heavenly helper named Raphael, two innocent teens ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: Catholic

The Spirit Of Giving-Laws Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 21, 2021

The giving laws in the Old Testament contain principles which are still valid for the Christian. Let's take a look at ancient godly principles which we can learn from today.

Giving was assessed and mandated in ancient Israel. Giving of firstfruits (Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 19:23-25), corners of fields for the poor (Leviticus 19:9), and leftover olives and grapes for the poor (Deuteronomy 24:20-21). All this helps us as Christians understand an important principle of ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:8-10, Mark 12:41-44

Denomination: Baptist

The Truth Of Forgiveness

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Dec 29, 2021

What does it mean that Jesus died for my forgiveness? This is an exploration of that idea.

The Truth of Forgiveness Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Mark 12:28-37 28 One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-37

Denomination: United Methodist

Hosea--Is He A Loser And Chump? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 24, 2025

He fell in love with a woman who found herself lovers, lots of them. She was frequently unfaithful. Despite her infidelity, Hosea took her back time after time.

Friday of the Third Week in Lent 2025 The prophet Hosea, if he lived in our modern culture, would be called a total loser, an inveterate chump. He was prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel and ministered during the reign of King Jeroboam II in the middle of the eighth century before Our Lord. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34, Psalm 81:6-11, Psalm 81:14, Hosea 14:2-9

Denomination: Catholic

Learning My Three Primary Old Testament Names Lesson 6 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jul 24, 2023

The LORD our God is one Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29) and includes three primary names of God.

A. INTRODUCTION: ONE GOD THREE RELATIONSHIPS 1. God is first seen as Creator – Elohim. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). 2. God is next seen as LORD – Jehovah – who created a person like Himself. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 15:2, Deuteronomy 6:4, Mark 12:29  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

What Is This Thing Called Love?

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 26, 2023

What is love, that we should know when we have it? Is love a feeling? a right? an instinct? What is love?

Some enchanted evening you will meet a stranger across a crowded room. Neither of you has a clue what the other is like. But your heart rate goes up and your imagination goes into overdrive and, well, you know how it goes, right? Happily ever after is just around the corner. Is this love? On her ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Give And Take

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 26, 2023

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

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Death And Taxes

Contributed by Rich O' Toole on Aug 14, 2023

Jesus was questioned about taxes paid to Rome

Death and Taxes Mark 12:13-27 In 1789, Benjamin Franklin said, “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency. …but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Is that statement true; nothing is certain except death and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:13-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Loving Your Neighbor: A Broader Perspective (Exodus 21:28-36) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Nov 12, 2022

Loving your neighbor includes: (1) watching over your goring ox (and mean dogs), (2) taking warnings about dangerous things seriously, (3) putting a fence around your pool. Take safety seriously.

Quite a few of us, if we were asked to name the ten words/commandments, wouldn't be able to come up with all ten. But for sure one of the ones we would name, is "Don't murder." At first glance, this command is straightforward. God doesn't want his people to kill someone ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 21:28-36, Mark 12:30-31, Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 19:19, Matthew 22:39, Luke 10:27, Galatians 5:14  (view more)  (view less)

Giving? Water! Finding Blessings In Seasons Of Trouble!

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 26, 2022

We survey GIVING. Purposeful giving. The role of WATER in giving... We can find God in some of the strangest places... God show his greatest in seasons of trouble.

#1 GIVING? WATER! FINDING BLESSINGS IN SEASONS OF TROUBLE! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) This is a 3 part lesson. LOVE GIVES THE BEST IT CAN AFFORD. GOD GAVE THE BEST HEAVEN HAD… TEXT: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Mark 12:41, Matthew 10:42

Denomination: Assembly Of God