Mark 2:13-17 (NASB)

¹³ And He went out again by the seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them. Levi (Matthew) Called ¹⁴ As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. ¹⁵ And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. ¹⁶ When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹⁷ And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Sermon Theme/Outline: The Lord Jesus Christ was singularly focused on the mission of making disciples, befriending spiritually sinners who needed God’s grace.

1) Jesus Teaches (2:13)

2) Jesus Leads (2:14)

3) Jesus Connects (2:15)

4) Jesus Corrects (2:17)

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Mark 2:1-12 (NASB)

1 When Jesus came back to Capernaum a few days later, it was heard that He was at home.  2  And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer space, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them.  3 And some people came, bringing to Him a man who was paralyzed, carried by four men.  4 And when they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and after digging an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralyzed man was lying. 5 And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking it over in their hearts,  7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were thinking that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you thinking about these things in your hearts?  9 Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’?  10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet, and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Sermon Theme/Outline: Jesus demonstrates that He has the authority to forgive man’s sins by His powerful healing of a paralytic

1) The Curious Crowd (2:1-2)

2) The Faithful Five (2:3-4)

3) The Greatest Gift & Giver (2:5)

4) The Suspicious Scribes (2:6-7)

5) The Overpowering Proof (2:8-12)

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Mark 1:40-45 (NASB)

40 And a man with leprosy came to Jesus, imploring Him and kneeling down, and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, and *said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44 and He *said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.

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Mark 1:29-39 (NASB)

²⁹ And immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. ³⁰ Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her. ³¹ And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them. ³² When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. ³³ And the whole city had gathered at the door. ³⁴ And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. ³⁵ In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. ³⁶ Simon and his companions searched for Him; ³⁷ they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” ³⁸ He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” ³⁹ And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.

Three main elements of Jesus’ ministry:

1. The proof of who Jesus is – miracles. (1:29-34)
2. The power behind His ministry – prayer. (1:35-37)
3. The purpose of His coming – reaching the world with spiritual healing (1:38-39)

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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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