We often miss what God is doing not because he’s absent but because he’s close to us, and we’ve stopped paying attention.
Sermon Title: TOO CLOSE TO SEE
Sermon Text: MARK 6:16 (ESV)
Sermon Series: EXPANDING THE MISSION: THE KINGDOM UNFOLDS
By: PTR NESTOR SY
Sermon Notes:
MARK 6:1-6 NIV
1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.
Proximity without wonder can lead to blindness – or worse.
I. WHEN THE FAMILIAR BLINDS US
amaze | Greek: ekpesso
“to be struck with astonishment, to be overwhelmed with wonder.”
offense | Greek: skandalizo
“to stumble, to be repelled, or to trip over something that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Sometimes what we think we know about God becomes the biggest obstacle to actually knowing God.
God’s greatest work often comes packaged in the most ordinary wrapping.
The danger of spiritual expertise is that we can become too smart to be surprised by God.
We can become so familiar with the forms of faith that we lose touch with the power of faith.
Familiarity without wonder leads to blindness, and blindness limits God’s power in our lives.
What assumptions about God or church might be limiting our spiritual growth?
II. WHEN ASSUMPTIONS/UNBELIEF CLOSES THE DOOR
God’s unlimited power operates through our limited faith.
Faith isn’t just believing that God can do something. Faith is creating space for God to actually do something.
God’s healing and blessing are always acts of grace, not rewards for perfect faith.
Faith creates space for God to work; unbelief shrinks that space.
Where in your life are you limiting God through unbelief?
III. WHEN RESISTANCE REPLACES FAITH
amaze | Greek: thaumazo
“to wonder at, to be struck with admiration or astonishment.”
Our faith or lack of faith has the power to move the heart of God himself.
Sometimes the people closest to miracles are the least amazed by them.
Exposure to truth without response to truth leads to hardness of heart.
LUKE 4:28-30 NIV
28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
The danger of spiritual privilege is that we can become professional Christians without being authentic disciples.
What spiritual privileges has God given to you?
We often miss what God is doing not because he’s absent but because he’s close to us, and we’ve stopped paying attention.
Proximity to Jesus doesn’t substitute for faith in Jesus.