Sermon Tone Analysis

Sunday Evening Service

Mayfair Bible Church

July 23, 1995 

*Gospel of Mark*

*Study In Christlikeness*

 

*1.

Fisher of Men: Mk. 1:17*

/"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."/

Jesus said this as he called the brothers Simon and Andrew to become disciples.

He called them to come and learn and be like him, a fisher of men.

They were to become evangelists in the manner of his exemplary life.

Lord, help us to become fishers of men as your followers.

May our lives conform to yours in a way that will draw others to you.

May your attractiveness flow through us so that others will also become fishers of men as the Kingdom swells toward completion.

Christ is both the object and the pattern for being a fisher of men.

*2.

Taught With Authority:  Mk.

1:22*

/The people were amazed at his teaching because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

/Since Jesus wrote the Word, he knew it, lived it and taught it with authority.

Anyone who teaches in his Name also has authority but with great responsibility as well.

Real teaching does not take place without humility, correct interpretation and application and from a standpoint of personal holiness.

It is only as we are in Christ that we may teach with authority, but it is his authority, and without authority nothing constructive will get taught.

Lord, we place ourselves under your authority so that your authority might be proclaimed.

* *

*3.

Filled With Compassion: Mk. 1:41*

/Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.

"I am willing", he said.

"Be clean!"/

The leper begged Jesus on his knees and asked for cleansing if Jesus was willing.

Jesus was willingly moved with compassion to heal the man.

We may not be able to heal someone from leprosy, but we pray that we will always be willing to be moved with compassion to meet another's needs in ministry as God enables us to meet them.

And how can we begin to meet the needs of another unless compassion stirs our hearts to understand and identify?

Christ's identification with us took him to the cross to meet our needs.

He was willing.

\\ *4.

Forgiving:  Mk.

2:5*

/When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."/

Jesus equated forgiveness with healing in this story about the paralytic who was lowered through the roof, claiming his authority to do so as the Son of Man.

Thank you Jesus that you are able and willing to forgive sins and heal such severe paralysis as spiritual sickness.

And we too are commanded to be forgiving, especially as you have said if we want our prayers to be answered.

* *

*5.

Renewed With Rest:  Mk.

6:31*

/Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."/

Jesus was aware of human need and limitation and took action to seek renewal so that both he and his disciples could continue to minister.

Ministry is hard work and spiritual effort consumes physical resources.

No one is served if the one who is called is unable.

Lord, give us good sense to know our limitations and to have the vision of revitalization.

You are the source of all our needs; the source of both our ministry and our rest.

* *

*6.

Burden for Teaching: Mk. 6:34*

/When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

So he began teaching them many things./

The same compassion that stirred Jesus to heal also stirred him to teach.

So many people wander aimlessly without steadfast spiritual truth on which to cling.

Christ, the source of truth, knew he was the answer to their need and did not withhold himself from them.

In Christ they would know deliverance from sin unto salvation.

This shepherd was able to deliver them and he freely taught the way to all who would listen.

Lord, we pray we may be like Jesus willing to teach with a burden to show others the way to his sufficiency.

* *

*7.

A Man of Prayer:  Mk.

6:46*

/After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

/Jesus kept open communication with the Father./

/He spent time alone in spiritual communion.

He sought obedience in prayer, became our example in prayer and was eminently effective in prayer.

We too must seek out the source of our spiritual (and physical) life in God in quietness to hear his heartbeat so that our hearts can beat in time to his.

Prayer is our link to life, and as he fills our lives we are able to overflow to the benefit of others.

A man of prayer is a man of God.

A man of God is a man of prayer/./

\\ *8.

A Man of Courage:  Mk.

6:50b*

/Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage!

It is I.  Don't be afraid."/

Having all power over creation, Jesus was even able to cause the wind to cease against the boat when he got in with the disciples in the middle of the lake.

Our Lord was not subject to anything he did not willingly subject himself to.

He feared no man, no demon, no force of nature.

His courage becomes ours as we willingly subject ourselves to him.

His kingdom shall prevail.

Ministry is a spiritual battle demanding spiritual courage.

If we stand on our own we are surrounded by nothing.

If we don't stand on our faith we won't stand at all.

We stand with Christ victorious.

* *

*9.

Willing to be Touched:  Mk.

6:56b*

/They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

/Jesus did not remain aloof and untouchable from the crowds, thinking himself too pure and holy to mingle with common humanity.

They are the reason he came.

His love took him to the streets where the need was greatest.

They touched his cloak and he also let them touch his heart.

We can't minister if we don't mingle.

May we always be willing to be touched to meet human need in the name of Christ.

* *

*10.

Unbound by Tradition:  Mk.

7:8*

/"You have let go of the Commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."  /The Pharisees came under Christ's condemnation because they cared more for tradition than for God.

They did not understand or carry out the spirit of the law.

Christ embodied the spirit of the law.

He opposed their mindless tradition and they sought to kill him.

Lord, give us spiritual insight to know the difference between following men and following you.

May we live in obedience to the freedom of the law's intent and not in legalistic bondage.

Christ is our example of unhindered truth.

* *

*11.

A Man of Excellence:  Mk.

7:37*

/People were overwhelmed with amazement.

"He has done everything well," they said.

"He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

/Obviously, since Jesus is God, he did everything well for God is perfect.

And his righteousness becomes our salvation.

But he is also our example in well-doing.

In his strength we shall strive for excellence in all that we do - in preaching, teaching, prayer, compassion, understanding and in motivation - bringing glory to him for he is our reason for excellence and our empowerment for ability.

\\ *12.

Thankful:  Mk.