Sermon Tone Analysis

*A disciples downfall*                                                             

  Mark 9:25-35

  \\ A Disciples Downfall \\ Mark 9:25-35 \\ Eric A. Snyder, Minister \\ Farwell Church of Christ \\ September 22, 2001 \\ \\ One day God was looking over creation and He decided that He wasn’t really happy with the way things turned out.

So He called the 3 most powerful men on earth, George Bush, Vladamir Putin and Bill Gates, to come and see Him.

He told them that in 3 days He was going to end world.

So basically they had 3 days to prepare their people.

\\ So Putin convenes an emergency meeting of the Russian Parliament and says: \\ "I have bad news, and really bad news.

First of all, there is a God.

Secondly everything we have worked for since the revolution will be totally destroyed in 3 days."

\\ George Bush makes a State of the Union address to the American people on TV and says: \\ "I have good news and bad news.

First of all, there is a God.

Secondly, everything we have worked for since the revolution will be destroyed in 3 days."

\\ Bill Gates convenes a meeting of the board of directors and says: \\ "I have good news, and really good news.

First of all, there is a God, and He spoke to me personally.

Secondly, in 3 days, IBM will be destroyed."

\\ \\ Have you ever met someone who just Thought they were God’s Gift to the world.

In Mark 9:25-35 That’s where the disciples were.

They had let the concept of power wear on them.

So they eventually began believing that they were something spectacular.

\\ \\ A Texas farmer was touring England.

He happened to meet an English farmer and asked him, "What size farm do you have?" \\ \\ The Englishman proudly announced, "Thirty-five acres!" \\ \\ "Thirty-five acres?" the Texan scoffed.

"Why, I can get in my truck at 8:00 AM and start driving and at noon, I am still on my farm.

I can eat lunch and start driving again and at 5:00 PM I am still on my farm.

\\ \\ "Ah, yes," the Englishman nodded in understanding.

"I had a truck like that once."

\\ \\ In Mark 9 Jesus’ disciples are boasting \\ Jesus keeps them in check \\ \\ Read \\ 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit.

"You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."

26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out.

The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He’s dead."

27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn’t we drive it out?" 29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee.

Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples.

He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.

They will kill him, and after three days he will rise."

32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

33 They came to Capernaum.

When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

\\ Prayer \\ \\ Two geese were about to start on their annual migration when they met a frog who begged to be taken along.

The geese said, "OK, if you can think of a way that we can manage it.

\\ \\ The frog produced a long stalk of grass and suggested that each goose hold it at opposite ends and that he could cling to it by his mouth, in the middle.

\\ \\ In this manner, the three were heading south when they were noticed by a man below.

The observer expressed admiration for this clever maneuver and shouted, "Who thought of such an unusual mode of transportation?"

\\ \\ The frog was so puffed up over the compliment that he opened his mouth to say, "The idea was mine!"

Of course he lost his hold, fell to the earth and was killed on impact.

\\ \\ The moral of the story is this: When you have a good thing going, don’t be so eager to take credit.

It’s best to keep your mouth shut.

\\ \\ The disciples were \\ \\ 1. Egotistical \\ They were so full of themselves it must have been driving Jesus crazy.

\\ \\ He comes down from the mountain and finds them.

They are fighting with the religious establishment.

I can just see him smacking himself on the forehead and saying.

“These are the guys that are going to change the world” \\ In fact that’s what is going on in verse 19 \\ Jesus is talking to this man also but I want you to get the scene here Jesus has come down, from the mountain he sees his disciples arguing.

Now he knows that the man is there but he is not talking to him at this point.

He is talking strictly to the disciples.

\\ \\ When I was younger I was baby sitting my brother and sister.

I was throwing a ball in the house and I broke an overhead lamp fixture.

And I remember when my parents came home they said Eric, How did this get broke.

And before I could respond my sister came right in.

As if it was her cue, I mean she could have worked for the CIA, She said Eric broke it playing basketball in the house.

\\ \\ That’s what this man was doing.

He wanted to be heard first.

\\ So while the disciples were starring at the ground kicking the dirt because they knew they were entrusted to responsibility and they knew they had blew it this man says “Your disciples are full of empty promises” \\ \\ They are all talk and no action He is saying these guys are charlatans.

\\ Listen Jesus If this is how your people are, If this is what you teach then it’s worthless.

In short , he is saying you sir are a fraud and a liar, You only offer empty hope you seek only your own interests, You only care about yourselves.

You are always watching your bottom line.

You are only concerned with your career.

You only care about yourself \\ \\ This gets Jesus upset, But I want you to note where his frustration is directed.

Jesus has compassion on the man, He knows the man is of little faith.

He knows this is a seeker.

\\ \\ Jesus also knows that His follower’s represented Him.

He knows that His disciples are an extension of what He is really trying to accomplish.

Jesus is upset because His disciples dropped the ball.

They were goofing around when they were supposed to be watching the Kids.

\\ \\ We are the disciples of today, Which means this, When people want to find out what Jesus is all about they look to you, They look to you in many areas.

Do you practice what you preach, are you a source of comfort and strength in tough times.

People look to you.

Jesus understands that.

\\ \\ So I want you to observe the remarks of Jesus in the direction of His disciples in verse 19.

\\ He says “You faithless cowards” \\ \\ He isn’t reprimanding the man so much for lack of faith as much as he is saying to his core group.

This was an easy one.

What have you guys been doing sleeping at your desk again?

You guys could have cost us a soul.

And if you are under the impression that this is about anything other than seeking and saving the lost then this guy is right.

Your are full of empty promises.

How long do I have to do this before you get it?

\\ \\ His disciples Lead the man to believe that they could handle the issue.

“Oh sure we can take care of that” You know we can fix almost anything.

\\ Later on they are walking down the road and discussing who is the greatest.

\\ What a bunch of self indulged, arrogant, egotists.

It’s surprising that with heads that big they didn’t have a higher rollover percentage.

\\ \\ Have you ever thought “man I am all that”?

Have you ever said to God “You can’t touch me”?

Have you ever thought that you could make it on your own.

Have you ever said like the Babylonians Come let us build a tower that will reach to the heavens?

Have you ever said “who needs God with modern medicine”?

Have you ever said we are going to build this church not thinking about How God wants to grow this church.

\\ \\ It’s real easy to write a mission statement and follow appropriate steps and attempt to build.

But The bible says that “unless the Lord builds the house the labor is in vain” \\ \\ His disciples were two steps ahead and they forgot what they were fighting for \\ \\ But they also game to Jesus with \\ \\ 2. Embarrassment \\ \\ We do not like to fail.

\\ \\ A new business was opening and a long-time friend of the owner decided to send flowers for the occasion.