Disciples and the Word - Part I

Disciple Series - Part 9

“And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that "they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven."  13 And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?  14 The sower sows the word.  15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.  16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.  17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.  18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.  20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold."

- Mark 4:11-20

The Disciple’s Prayer Habit

Disciple Series - Part 8

“On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it.... 20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered." 22 And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received1 it, and it will be yours.”

- Mark 11:12-14, 20-24

Where God Has Commanded the Blessing

Stand Alone Message

“A SONG OF ASCENTS. OF DAVID.  Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!  2It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!  3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”

- Psalm 133:1-3

The Disciple’s Obedience

Disciple Series - Part 7

“And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.  19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'"  20And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth."  21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."  22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

- Mark 10:17-22

The Disciple’s Imparted Gifts - Part II

Disciple Series - Part 5

“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.  4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.  5 And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."  6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.  7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son;listen to him."  8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.  9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.  10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.”

- Mark 9:2-10

The Disciple’s Imparted Gifts

Disciple Series - Part 4

“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.  4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.  5 And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."  6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.  7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son;listen to him."  8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.  9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.  10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.”

- Mark 9:2-10

The Disciple’s Consecration

Disciple Series - Part 4

“And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.  36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?  37 For what can a man give in return for his life?  38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

- Mark 8:34-38

The Disciple’s Vital Connection

Disciple Series - Part 3

“And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach.”

- Mark 3:14 

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

- Acts 4:13