North Center Baptist Church
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
A diverse church for all ages
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January 24, 2010 Mark 11 by Pastor Stan Audio “THE CALL TO FOLLOW CHRIST” SERIES #4, PRAY IN FAITH MARK 11:20-26 JANUARY 24, 2010 INTRODUCTION The vision that God has given us here at North Center is to glorify Him by making disciples who know Christ, grow in him and show their love for him. We’re starting this New Year with a discipleship emphasis on the theme “The Call to Follow Christ.” All those who are called to know Christ are also called to follow Him, to be His disciple. Along with the sermon series on Sunday mornings we’re using a workbook through the week that’s based on a diagram called “The Disciple’s Cross.” At the center of the Cross is Christ, emphasizing that being a Christian means having a real, life-transforming relationship with Christ. Following Christ, being His disciple, means abiding in Christ, living a Christ-centered life. Our relationship with Christ is not just one part of our lives—it’s the central reality of our lives. Our relationship with Christ connects to and directs everything about our lives. The arms of the Cross are means God employs to enable us to live this kind of a life. Each week we’re examining a different arm of the cross. Last week we looked at the “Word,” referring, of course, to the Word of God, the Bible. We can’t grow spiritually without the discipline of Living in the Word, spending time in not just on Sundays but every day, reading, studying, and meditating in it and living by it. This week we move on to another arm in the Disciple’s Cross—prayer. Praying in faith is an essential discipline for the lives of those who are seeking to follow Christ. Jesus emphasizes this in the focal verse/memory verse for this week—Mark 11:24. Cf., Mark 11:24 Now let’s read this verse in its immediate context. vv. 20-26 A little background is important to understanding what’s going on here. What we’re looking at takes place during Holy Week, between Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem and His death and resurrection. Jesus’ arrival at Jerusalem took place on what we call Palm Sunday. Then on Monday Jesus went to the Temple and drove out the moneychangers and livestock merchants. Today’s text takes place on Tuesday of that week, and in these verses Jesus gives us 4 critical truths about praying in faith or believing prayer. I. BELIEVING PRAYER COMES FROM A GENUINE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. (VV. 20-22) A. A CONTINUATION OF AN INCIDENT THE PREVIOUS DAY 1. This account of the fig tree is actually a continuation of an incident that took place on the previous day in verses 12-14. Jesus and His disciples were staying in Bethany, about 2 or 3 miles outside Jerusalem, and were on the way into Jerusalem. Cf., vv. 12-14 Many critics reject this story as being unworthy of Jesus. And, admittedly, it does appear that Jesus is acting like a petulant, spoiled brat, throwing a temper tantrum because some poor tree doesn’t have fruit when He wants it. To be honest, the story does seem to be out-of-character for Jesus; it doesn’t seem to fit Jesus as we see Him in the rest of the New Testament. B. SO WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? How are we to understand this strange account? Is Jesus like the college basketball coach who was shaving one morning when his wife called him from the other room to tell him that Sports Illustrated was on the phone asking for him. With visions of an interview and the national recognition that it would bring, he hurried through the rest of his shaving, managing to nick himself three or four times. His face bearing the minor wounds of this episode, he rushed to the phone, tripping over the dog and banging his shin against a chair. At last, he had the receiver in hand and asked, "This is Sports Illustrated?" The voice came back, "Yes it is, and we want to offer you a special subscription price..." Like the coach Jesus is disappointed here, but His disappointment is not in the fig tree. 1. To unders |
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