October 9th, 2011 Book of Mark Wk3

Are you open to Heaven? Continuing our series in the book of Mark, we see Mark share a few shocking examples of Jesus bringing heaven to earth, leaving the reader with the question:  Heaven is open to you. Are you open to Heaven?

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

The Gospel of Mark: Are you open to Heaven?

October 9, 2011  by Kasey Crawford  Today’s Passage: Mark 1:21-2:12

Review…(Mark 1:1-20)

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 in their life as they drop everything to follow him.

The Invitation from Jesus: “Come Follow Me” This is an invitation to be a disciple of a Master, in order to learn a whole new way of life.  The way of the kingdom.  The way of life in which Heavens comes to earth.

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 and more heaven on earth now.

New..(Mark 1:21-2:12)

After his first followers drop everything to learn from him a whole new way of life (the way of the kingdom), then we see mark share a few shocking examples of Jesus bringing heaven to earth, leaving the reader with the question:   Heaven is open to you. Are _____ open to Heaven?

Jesus demonstrates Heaven coming to earth in….

1. Teaching with __________, words of life and power 2:21-28
2. deliverance from the ___________ of evil 2:21-28

“they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this?”  God’s power is going to cause questions.  It is going to break the status quo of your life.  It is going to challenge preconceived notions. That’s ________.

Jesus demonstrates Heaven coming to earth in….

1. Healing a ________  1:29-34
2. Healing various __________   1:29-34
3. Casting out many __________  1:29-34

The reality of a ___________ realm and a spiritual presence that contributes to the current conditions in the ______________ realm is just an assumed given for Jesus.  When heavens comes to town and God reigns, the spiritual forces us evil need to be _________ ________.

1. Cleanses a ________ 1:40-45
2. ___________ the untouchable  1:40-45
3. __________ sin  2:1-12
4. ___________ the thoughts of the heart  2:1-12
5. heals the _________ so they walk. 2:1-12

This whole section demonstrate that there are 2 ways to wrestle with questions and doubt:

The 1^st is _____________  ____________ to learning the ways of God.

And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 1:27  

They have questions and doubt but they conclude that God is doing something they have never seen.

The 2^nd is ___________ _________ that doubts God because it trusts in self.     …some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ⁷ “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 2:6-7

They have questions and doubt but they conclude that God couldn’t do something they have never seen.

The scribes introduce to us a recurring theme in Mark: when people have preconceived __________ of how God can work, then their experience of God will be ___________.

What preconceived limits of how God can work do you have?

Are you open to your life looking more and more like the one Jesus demonstrates?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download