“And He Appointed Twelve” (Mark 3:7-19)
“AND HE APPOINTED TWELVE”
(Mark 3:7-19)
INTRODUCTION: Mark portrays various states of commitment to Jesus.
I. THE CURIOSITY OF THE CROWD
II. THE COMMITMENT OF THE DISCIPLES
III. THE CALLING OF THE APOSTLES
Questions for Family Review/Discussion:
- Why do you think the theme of the “secret identity” is so popular in stories and literature? Give some examples.
- What are various levels of commitment to Christ found in our text?
- What was the main interest of the crowd in Jesus? What contributing factors do you think led to Jesus’ amazing, international popularity?
- What do you think about the growing practice of churches hiring marketers? Why did Jesus not need a marketing team? What would rightly draw people to attend a church? Why do YOU attend church?
- What is the definition of the term “disciple”? Are you a disciple of Jesus? Would other people consider you to be his disciple? Why or why not?
- Why do you think Jesus forbade the demons to tell who he was?
- What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle? Some claim to be apostles today. Upon what do they base their claim? Why is this basis biblically inaccurate? What dangers arise when people today claim to speak with the authority of an apostle, equal to the biblical apostles? Do you know of any who make this claim?
- What three-fold promise did Jesus give to his apostles? When can any church rightly claim to exercise apostolic authority?
- What about the promise that they would cast out demons? Are demons possessing people today? What “device of Satan” so prevalent in our day did the pastor suggest was equivalent to demonic possession? Why might it be important to see this device of Satan in this light?