Post on 14-Apr-2017
SSMCSUNGAI WAY-SUBANGMETHODISTC H U R C H
REV DR NG SWEE MING | 3 JAN 2016
A NEW BEGINNINGMARK 3:14-15
2016 YEAR OF PASSION:
Harry S. Truman(1884 – 1972)
Harry S. Truman(1884 – 1972)
"Bess" Truman(1885 - 1982)
a new beginning:
Being With JesusMark 3:14-15
Mark 3:1-191 Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man
with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse
Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.
3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."
4 Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.
5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.
Mark 3:1-196 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the
Herodians how they might kill Jesus. 7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large
crowd from Galilee followed. 8 When they heard all he was doing, many people came to
him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.
9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him.
10 For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.
11 Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God."
12 But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was.
Mark 3:1-1913 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him
those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve — designating them apostles —
that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach
15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom
he gave the name Peter); 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them
he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder);
18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot
19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
a new beginning:
Being With Jesus
Theme Verse for 2016Mark 3:14b-15“… that they might be with him and that he might send them
out to preach and to have authority
to drive out demons.
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
Q: WHAT did Jesus do just before choosing His 12 Apostles ?
Mk 3:13 ‘Jesus went up on a mountainside…’Lk 6:12-13 ‘...Jesus went out to a mountainside…
to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also
designated apostles:
a new beginning-
Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
Q: WHY did Jesus do that ?
After all - He’s God and all-knowing…
A : Because of the importance …
God had only PLAN A …
Success or Failure rested
on the ‘12’ …
God had NO PLAN B.
Q. Given the importance of the task …. with ‘eternal’ consequences …are you ‘surprised’ by the people chosen? fishermen tax-collector religious zealot ‘? uneducated’ could it be -
‘Judas Iscariot’ most educated !!
Ordinary people …just like you & me
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
Calling ‘Ordinary People” is OK …if they can be given 1st Class Training ….
Mark 3:14-15 > 3-step Training Curriculum Outlinethat they might be with him and …that he might send them out to preach and …to have authority to heal sicknesses and
drive out demons.
Limited timeframe … No margin
for failure …
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
Because we know the ending ...
the Apostles did what needed to be done …
the Gospel was proclaimed…
to the ends of the world …
So – Ordinary people …
in the hand of an extraordinary God
can do the WORK
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
The KEY lies in this 2 verses …that they might be with him and …that he might send them out to preach and …to have authority to heal sicknesses and drive
out demons. something in the order …something in the sequence …that we need
to learn from …that we need
to apply …
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
Defn: “Apostle” Gk - “one who is sent.”
• 1st Step to being an Apostle
Being with Jesus…
Being MUST PRECEDE Going & Doing…
Q: What does it mean - ‘Being With Jesus’ ?
Q: What does it involve ?
Q: What does it ‘feel like’ ?
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
A: I will first tell you what’s it’s NOT ….
It’s NOT …Praying more, louder, longer …Having more Regular ‘Quiet time’…More Reading of the Bible…More memorizing of scripture …Attending more classes & seminars…More Regular Sunday attendance…More Discipleship Group attendance…
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
What Is It Then – ‘ Being With Jesus ‘Best Description …Falling in love with Jesus …Falling in love with Jesus all over again…Rediscovering our 1st love for Him…Dare I use that word –‘PASSION’
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
How do you define ‘PASSION’Google’s Definition :1. strong and barely controllable emotion…2. the suffering and death of Jesus….So much truth in this ‘association’ ….Because of Christ’s Passion at Calvary …Can we respond in anyway less …
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
3 impt factor to consider :
1. TIME• Basic requirement• You cannot ‘be with’ someone …
without spending time together…Eg Courting relationship ….Eg Apostles – 3 years with Jesus Eat, Sleep, TravelTeach, Show, ShareOn-the-job Training
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
2. TRUST :Disciples first …Already listening, following …Builds TrustWhen call to be an apostle … Did not seem to have asked questions … Just Obeyed & Follow
Time spend together … pre-requisite builds trust …
Trust facilitates obedience…
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
spend TIME >>>> building TRUST >>>>
results in ….
3. TRANSFORMATIONTime spend …Trust build …Transformation seen…
Eg Acts 3 & 4
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had ……. BEEN WITH JESUS.
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
Acts 4:19-20"Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
3 important steps… 1. TIME spend …2. TRUST established …3. TRANSFORMATION results…From simple uneducated fisherman …. Into bold & confident men capable of taking
on even the Sanhedrin…This TRANSFORMATION is …
TANGIBLE…VISIBLE…POWERFUL…
a new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
‘Being with Jesus’is NOT MORE …
Praying - louder, longer …
regular ‘quiet time’…Bible reading…scripture
memorizing…classes & seminars…Sunday attendance…DG attendance…
what it is…Intentionally…Purposefully…Deliberately…Making time to be with
Jesus…Having continued
conversations with Him…Reading His ‘biography’
starting with His-Special Story in the 4 Gospels…
TRANSFORMATIONa new beginning-Being With Jesus Mk 3:14
Interest/Hobby Vs Passion• An interest/hobby is
something you choose to do when you have spare time, cash etc.
• It gives satisfaction and pleasure but it’s not in your mind all the time.
• A passion is a strong and barely controllable emotion or feeling
• It’s constantly on your mind, all consuming.
• It something you cannot live without …
Enjoy your hobbies, but live your passion.
Interest/Hobby Vs Passion• An interest/hobby is
something you choose to do when you have spare time, cash etc.
• It gives satisfaction and pleasure but it’s not in your mind all the time.
• A passion is a strong and barely controllable emotion or feeling
• It’s constantly on your mind, all consuming.
• It something you cannot live without …
Enjoy your hobbies, but live your passion.
a new beginning: BEING with JESUSTheme Verse for 2016Mark 3:14b-15“… that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.