Mark 1:21-28 (NASB)

²¹ They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. ²² They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. ²³ Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, ²⁴ saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are-the Holy One of God!” ²⁵ And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” ²⁶  Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. ²⁷ They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” ²⁸ Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.

Sermon Theme/Outline: Two aspects of Jesus’ authority that should stir up your affections for Him ad stoke your allegiance to Him as His disciples/followers.

1. His Authority show in teaching spiritual matters. (1:21-22)
2. His Authority displayed in power over spiritual beings. (1:23-28)

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Mark 1:16-20 (NASB)

¹⁶ As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ¹⁸ Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. ¹⁹ Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. ²⁰ Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.

Sermon Theme/Outline: Jesus has the authority to command people to follow Him and the power to transform people who do.

Two ways of life that Jesus calls you to as His disciples, in the new life He has given to you:

1. Following after Him (1:16-17a; 18-20)
2. Becoming fishers of men by Him and for Him (1:17b)

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Mark 1:14-15 (NASB)

¹⁴ Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

What is the Gospel?

• It is offensive.
• It is the Truth.

Other NT Scriptures expanding/expounding on the Gospel:

• John 3:16
• Rom 8:3, 32a
• 2 Cor 5:21
• Gal 4:4-5
• Eph 2:8-9
• Titus 3:4-5

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Mark 1:9-11 (NASB)

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came from the heavens: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

Sermon Theme/Outline: Three unique features of Jesus’s baptism that should heighten your appreciation for His righteous character and deepen your conviction to follow Him.

The Son’s Humble Submission (1:9)

The Spirit’s Anointing Empowerment (1:10)

The Father’s Loving Delight (1:11)

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Mark 1: 2-8 (NASB)

² As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

⁴ John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. ⁶ John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. ⁸ I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Sermon Theme: The forerunner was sent by God to prepare people for the arrival of the Messiah, the only One who could bring ultimate forgiveness and salvation.

Outline: 3 fundamental aspects of the forerunner’s life that funnel our attention to Christ and the Gospel.

Prologue (1:1)

1) The Anticipation of the Forerunner (1:2-3)
2) The Appearance of the Forerunner (1:4-6)
3) The Announcement of the Forerunner (1:7-8)

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Preaching of John the Baptist
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,

2 just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“Behold, I am sending My messenger before You,
Who will prepare Your way;
3
The voice of one calling out in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight!’”

The Baptism of Jesus
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came from the heavens: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

Jesus Preaches in Galilee
14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

….a sample of what we are studying in the next few months….

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Why abortion is a monstrous evil:

1. The baby in the womb is a separate person of God’s making. (Psalm 139:15‑16, Ex 4:11)
2. God considers babies in the womb to be precious to Him. (Psalm 139:13‑14, Job 31:15, 3:16‑17, 2 Sam 12:12‑25)
3. God says that murder is evil. (Ex 20:13, 21:22‑25, Deut 27:25, Jer 7:6, Amos 1:13)
4. It is a racist practice in this country, especially against black people.
5. God calls it something unthinkable to Him. (Jer 7:30‑31, 19:4‑5, 32:34‑35)

In the magnitude of God’s grace even abortion is not unforgivable (Psalm 86:5)

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Theme: We as Christians should acknowledge the Audacity of God with the purpose of deepening our admiration of, trust in, and obedience to Him, the One who does exactly as He pleases.

Definition of Audacity: Boldness, insolence, needless of restraint, a disregard of normal restraint or constraint.

Outline:

1. The audacity of God.
2. The audacity of the Son of God.
3. God’s audacity can tell man how to live.
4. God’s audacity to demand complete and total love.

Five reasons it is good that God (and Christ) are audacious:

1. He is the Creator.
2. He alone has Wisdom.
3. He alone has the Power.
4. He alone is Holy.
5. He alone is God.

Final comment: God is audacious in His Love (Rom 5:6-8)

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Omniscience: all knowing and all wise (continued from last week)

• Definition: God always chooses the best goals and the best means to those goals.
• Shown in: Creation, Plan of Redemption and our individual lives.

Omnipotence

• Definition: God has all power over all things at all times and in all ways.
• Shown in: Creation, sustaining creation, the angels of Heaven, fallen angels, mankind.

Omnipresence

• Definition: God does not have size of spatial dimensions and is present at every point of space with His whole being, yet God acts differently at different places.
• Shown in: Heaven and earth cannot contain Him. He fills heaven and earth so nothing is hid from His presence

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