Is God Boring? November 6th, 2011 Book of Mark Wk6

Continuing our series in the book of Mark, we see Jesus clash with the religious leaders over what God is all about.

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

The Gospel of Mark: Is God boring?

November 6th, 2011  by Kasey Crawford

Today’s Passage: Mark 2:18-3:6 

Review…(Mark 1:1-2:17)

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 and belief in His good news.

The disciple carries with them two questions at every moment of every day: “What is God saying to me?” (repent) and “What am I going to do about it?” (believe); so that little by little every day we turn away from our old life and grab hold of more of heaven on earth now.

New (Mark 2:18-3:6)

“Religion is what happens when the Spirit has left the building.”

-Bono, lead singer of U2 and passionate follower of Jesus

What is often understood as religion becomes this experience of just following _________ that seem to hold us back and control our lives, or having to do empty __________ that are devoid of life and power.

Here we see a ________ between what Bono calls “religion” and Jesus’ life in the power of the __________ of God.

And he looked around at them with anger…Mark 3.6

Jesus is angry that the religious leaders are squeezing out the _________ of the Spirit ‘til it becomes a lifeless, legalistic, empty ritual.

If life with God is boring, you don’t yet _________ the real Jesus very well.

“Religious” life is not meant to be the boring, out-of-touch, “don’t do this or that”, suck-the-fun-out-of-life experience; it is supposed to be a feast for the soul on who God is, that makes us more __________ than we ever thought possible.

Jesus said “come follow me”, that means to __________ _______ the Master. So until we are living a life like Jesus did then God isn’t anywhere close to done with us.

If our life with God is ____________ or boring we have somewhere along the line intentionally or unintentionally put some boring and stagnating ___________ on what God is aloud to do.

God calls us to a certain kind of life that will be the truly abundant life that we are made for. For example, in the Sabbath command…

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 2:27

In other words, the Sabbath is a ________ to you from God

(Based on Exodus 20:8-11) The Sabbath is:

Holy, which means _____ ________ for God.

And its purpose is _________.

With? _____________________________________________

Jesus says God has given you a gift in the Sabbath: Take one day per week to intentionally be with God so that our soul rests and is refreshed and filled up to go out into the week in his strength and produce good _______ in the face of the ______________ that come our way.

Going deeper with God this week….

Do you feel stuck or stagnant in your walk with God?

1. Ask God to show you where He wants to grow you next!
2. Tell someone what God puts on your heart and ask them to pray for the power to do what God is saying.

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