The disciples encounter someone who is attempting to cast out a demonic spirit in Jesus’ name. They try to stop him because he didn’t belong to their little group. Jesus took this opportunity to teach three lessons: 1. We should have a more accepting ecumenical spirit towards other believers. 2. No sin should be so cherished that it keeps us from God. 3. We should avoid actions that could cause a brother or sister in Christ to stumble in their faith.
In this passage Jesus continues to help his disciples see things clearly. Like the disciples, we are bombarded by false teaching which hinders us from embracing Christ as our Savior or following him as Lord. In this section Jesus confronts false teaching, criticizes the hard hearts and spiritual blindness of his disciples, and illustrates it all through a blind man!
SERMON SUMMARY For many people, a vacation aboard a sailboat, tucked away in some quiet cove, is a dream come true. But cruises don’t always have storybook endings. Shipwreck always is a possibility. Likewise, according to 1 Timothy 1:19, if we’re not careful, our faith can become “shipwrecked”. We all know someone who used to…
SERMON SUMMARY (Download the sermon pdf below for overview graphics that help you to see the landscape of 1st Timothy) Many years ago, around AD 62-63, the Apostle Paul penned two letters to a young pastor named Timothy, in which he outlined what God expected of him as a leader and shepherd of the first…
