December 18th, 2011 The Kingdom Family, Book of Mark Wk9

Continuing our series in the book of Mark, we see Jesus paint the picture of family through the eyes of the Kingdom.

If you want a study tool to go along with the podcast, see Lift Notes here:

The Gospel of Mark: The Kingdom Family

December 18th, 2011  by Kasey Crawford

Today’s Passage: Mark 3:31-35

Review…(Mark 1:1-3:30)

A framework for understanding Mark: The book of Mark puts on display how Jesus brings more of heaven to earth and invites his followers to experience the same as they learn a new (kingdom) way of life from the Master and respond with regular repentance (turning to God) and belief (taking action).

New (Mark 3:31-35)

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. ³² A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” ³³ “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. ³⁴ Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”      Mark 3:31–35

This statement would be shocking to those present as family was the source of a person’s ___________.  In addition, someone’s __________ in life was to fulfill obligations and duties to your family.

Jesus experienced the __________ of family in a broken world.

When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”    Mark 3:20–21

They are _____________ of him and try to shut him ________.

And they took offense at him. ⁴ Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” Mark 6:1-6

Jesus’ family also __________ him.

Jesus knows the pain of not being supported by his own family, and shows us how to __________ so that the kingdom breaks in to our life.

Jesus teaches something radical with family: Jesus puts ____________ to God and the _________ of living for God’s will above family obligations or pressures.

What are the implications of this teaching?

• It gives _______________ to put God first even when family doesn’t understand or agree.

• It promises that the family experience we all long for is part of the goodness his kingdom that God wants for us, through _______ __________ 

The deepest bonds for Jesus are made not through __________ birth but through ___________ birth.

Jesus made the incredible promise that: “when two or more gather in my name, I am there.” Matthew 18:20

This promise brings the hope and ____________ that every time two or more gather with the mutual understanding that we want to see heaven invade earth, an ___________ moment can be transformed into a little invasion of more heaven in our lives.

• It __________ us to _______ our earthly family in the midst of struggles and brokenness.

• It brings hope that our earthly families can be ___________ as well. 

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