Author: David Worcester

Lead Pastor of Compass Church http://CompassChurchSD.com #Jesus, #Family #ChurchPlanting #CollegeMinistry. #Missions http://GospelAppointments.com @collegiatecoll

How To Know If You Are A Legalist – Mark 7:1-13

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Reflection from my reading in Mark 7:1-13 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

When Tools Become Rules…

Jesus had a confrontation with the religious leaders about the Jewish ritual of ceremonial hand washing before eating. The religious leaders wondered by Jesus’ disciples didn’t follow this age-old tradition of hand washing. Jesus said…

 “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;  in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Mark 7:6–7

Jesus is saying that the religious leaders and their followers became so focused on human traditions that their hearts grew distant from God. When tools become rules, people’s priorities get mixed up.

When keeping traditions becomes more important than commands to love God and love your neighbor as yourself you die spiritually.

Is This God’s Law or Human Tradition?

“You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” Mark 7:8

How foolish is it to focus on tools set up by men when we have God’s commands! 

Jesus gives the example of how they were given the command to “Honor your father and mother” but instead of helping their needy parents they choose to donate their money to God.  

In other words they choose to look spiritual by doing a tradition when the right thing to do would have been to take care of their parents! Jesus said this about them..

“Thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.” Mark 7:13

Ironically in their attempts to serve God they are disobeying God’s word! 

It is easy to point the finger at the religious leaders here without asking ourselves this question…

Have we over emphasized helpful tools to the neglect of the most important commands?

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What is Your Motivation for Teaching God’s Word? – Mark 6:30-56

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Reflection from my reading in Mark 6:30-56 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

Work Hard, Rest Hard!

Jesus and his disciples were exhausted of all their work they didn’t even have time to eat! So Jesus said…

“Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” Mark 6:31

Jesus modled a life of hard work, but also showed us the value of rest.  As they were going to rest they landed on the other side of the lake a huge crowd had followed them!

Jesus Motivation

“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:34

Jesus was exhausted and on his way to his spiritual retreat when his plans were interrupted by love. Because of his compassion he was willing to stop and preach for the rest of the day, long enough that they had to get food for them (feeding of the 5,000)!

Jesus laid down his plan in order to sacrificially love us, and he did it through teaching! 

Compassion Ministry

Often the phrase “compassion ministry” has been reserved for feeding the poor or helping the less fortunate, but sometimes compassion ministry can be teaching God’s word. 

If God has gifted you to teach then often the most compassionate thing that your can do with your time is work hard to teach well.  Like Jesus, love and compassion should be our primary motivation for our preaching and teaching.

When you teach is your motivation to benefit others or make yourself look good?

When you look at the crowd are you filled with genuine love and compassion for them? 

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How To Deal With Rejection in Witnessing – Mark 6:1-29

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Reflection from my reading in Mark 6:1-29 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

If you have tried to witness chances are that you have been rejected. Here’s what Jesus told his apostles to do when they were rejected by people.

 “And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” Mark 6:11

This is a command specifically for the apostles, but there is a principle that applies to missionaries and people doing evangelism today. The Bible Knowledge Commentary explains what it means to “shake off the dust” in this context.

“Devout Jews did this when they left Gentile (alien) territory to show that they were dissociating themselves from it. This would tell Jewish hearers they were acting like pagans in rejecting the disciples’ message. This was to be done as a testimony against the citizens. It warned them that the disciples’ responsibility to them had been fulfilled and those who rejected the message would have to answer to God for themselves”

 Jesus tells them to basically “shake them haters off”. Here’s the principle,

If they are not interested, MOVE ON!

It sounds really simple, and it seems kind of harsh, but it is actually genius. Instead of spending all of your time bugging those who are not interested we should be looking for those who are ripe for the gospel.

Harvest The Ripe

One principle I have recently been encouraged by my Dad (John Worcester) is to harvest the ripe.

Church planters and missionaries specifically should sow the gospel seed broadly, but realize that the spiritually ripe are the ones who are going to respond. If we do our ministry with this goal we won’t be as worried and waste time trying to pull unripe fruit off the trees. We need to work with and seek out those who are spiritually interested and then help them discover Jesus!

There are many people who are ready to respond to Jesus if we will be faithful to seek them out.  Next time you are rejected for sharing your faith don’t let it get you down, simply move on and keep looking for those who are ripe for the good news.

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What is The Role of Our Faith In Healing? – Mark 5:21-43

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Reflection from my reading in Mark 5:21-43 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

In this passages there are two simultaneous stories. One about the local synagogue leader named Jarius’s daughter and a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years! Both exhibited faith on different levels.

Your Faith Has Made You Well

The woman who was bleeding believed that if she touched his robe she would be healed, and God allowed that to happen! Here was Jesus’ response to her.

“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mark 5:34

Jesus told this woman that her faith had made her well and she went away healed. Jesus clearly tells her that her faith played a role in her healing.

Do Not Fear, Only Believe

While this was happening messengers  showed up and told Jesus Jairus’ daughter had died, but they didn’t want to trouble Jesus with coming. They didn’t  believe that Jesus could raise her from the dead. Here was Jesus’ response.

 “Do not fear, only believe.” Mark 5:35–36

Even though Jarius and his messengers wavered in their faith Jesus was  able to do an even bigger miracle. Everyone was crying because of her death and Jesus said…

“Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” Mark 5:39

The crowds were also displaying a lack of faith by laughing after Jesus said this statement. Even though Jarius, his messengers, and the crowds didn’t believe Jesus could raise the girl from the dead he did it anyway! This shows us an important principle…

Weather you have a little faith or a lot of faith Jesus can heal if he chooses to. 

As we can see there was some faith in both examples. One woman had great faith the others had some. There are also many other people who have had great faith but God for one reason or another God choses not to heal.

Faith does play an important role in healing, but it is not a tool to control God or make him do something that is not part of his plan.

Christ’s healing does not come from our amount of faith but His ability to heal! 

We should have faith that Jesus is able to heal in any situation, but it’s His choice if He will or not.

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Is Jesus Calling You To Be A Hometown Missionary? – Mark 5:1-20

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Reflection from my reading in Mark 5:1-20 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

A famous story about Jesus healing the man oppressed by many demons is a powerful display of Christ’s power. Jesus makes the demons leave the man and sends them into the pigs. This angered the townspeople and they asked Jesus to leave. Here’s where the part of the story that I want to focus on picks up…

Send Me, I’ll Go

“As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him.” Mark 5:18

Now, generally this is what we look for in a follower, right? We look for someone who has been radically changed and eager to go anywhere. But Jesus had a different plan for him.

Go Home And Share

“And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Mark 5:19

Jesus knew that this man would have a greater kingdom impact if he stayed around his hometown and told his family all Jesus had done for him.

Sometimes those willing to go overseas are called to be missionaries to their hometowns. Some people who may want to be leaders in the church will be called to lead their own families.

Marvelous Results

“And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.” Mark 5:20

He obeyed Jesus and God used him in his hometown area called the Decapolis (which means the 10 cities). We don’t know if he traveled between the cities or how many he visited, but we do know that his ministry was fruitful.

Sometimes the most effective thing you can do is go to your hometown and share the good news of what Jesus has done in your life. The people who knew you before and after your life change will be amazed at what God has done!

Is Jesus calling you to stay as a missionary to your hometown?

 If so that’s the most effective thing you can do.

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How To Trust Jesus In A Storm – Mark 4:21-41

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Reflection from my reading in Mark 4:21-41 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

I had the privilege of seeing the Sea of Galilee myself during a minor storm. (See above picture) It was amazing to feel the wind and imagine what Jesus and his disciples experienced during the major one they experienced!

Now, when we look at stories in the Bible we need to make sure that we are seeing them as examples and not make them say more then they are meant to. With that said, here is the main principle from this story…

Have Faith in The Storm

The storm surprised the disciples and the waves were crashing in the boat to a point where it was in danger of sinking. Meanwhile, Jesus was sleeping! The disciples woke Jesus up and in their anxiety said,

“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:38

In that moment, they were not trusting that Jesus cared about them.

Do you ever question God’s love when you are going through a hard time? 

For many people, the storms of life are the times where their faith is most tested. It is hard for people to believe that God cares about them when they can’t see the way out of the squall.

Peace! Be Still!

In spite of their lack of faith, Jesus helped them out. This is good news, because very often he helps us out when we don’t have faith.

“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Mark 4:39–40

Jesus first rebuked the wind and the sea, then he rebuked the apostles for giving in to fear and for their lack of faith. Jesus used this situation as a lesson on faith for the apostles and for us.

No matter how crazy the storm we are in, we need to trust Christ.  

He doesn’t promise to always calm the storm right away, but we can still trust him in the middle of the storm. Here’s the disciples’ response to this amazing miracle.

Who Is This?

“And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:41

This verse has special significance for me because I am a surfer and I am well aquatinted with the power of waves and the sea. It is comforting to me that he has power over one of the seemingly most uncontrollable things in the world.

The apostles were starting to get a picture of the extent of Jesus’ power. The only one with complete power of the natural world is the creator. Jesus showed the disciples a glimpse of his divinity in that moment as they rightly realized that Jesus was not ordinary man!

No matter how bad the storm, trust that Jesus cares and have faith that he has the power to get you through it.

And for those of you whose storm ends in death, know that there is a place of peace and calm waiting on the other side for those who put their trust in him!

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Why Did Jesus Use Parables So Much? – Mark 4:1-20

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Reflection from my reading in Mark 4:1-20 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

The Secret of the Kingdom 

“And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.  And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables” Mark 4:10-11

After telling everyone parables Jesus got alone with is disciples and allowed them a private lesson.  They were allowed to ask questions and get insider information.

Jesus said that he have given them the “secret of the kingdom” and told parables to those outside. Here’s what “The Bible Knowledge Commentary” says about the secret…

“The basic “secret,” common to all the kingdom parables, is that in Jesus, God’s rule (kingdom) has come into human experience in a new spiritual form. The disciples had believed in Jesus. God had already given (dedotai, perf. pass.) them this “secret,” though so far they understood little of its full impact.”

Purpose of Parables

“so that “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.” Mark 4:12

Jesus is not saying that these people don’t have a chance to understand, but since they have keep closing their minds to the truth they will not be given further understanding. Jesus use of parables was genius.  Virtually everyone could follow the earthly story but the spiritual significance was harder to discern.  The Bible Knowledge Commentary says,

“Yet even the parables, which veiled the truth, were meant to provoke thought, enlighten, and ultimately reveal it (cf. 12:12). They uniquely preserved people’s freedom to believe, while demonstrating that such a decision is effected by God’s enabling (cf. 4:11a).”

The parables allowed those who were spiritually aware to respond and at the same time the message was encrypted enough that people had to really think about what was said and seek Christ.

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Go Hard Like Jesus – Mark 3:20-35

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Reflection from my reading in Mark 3:20-35 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

 Go Hard or Go Home

Jesus went hard.  He worked so hard that sometimes he and his disciples didn’t have time to eat.  Check out this little-talked about verse.

“Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat.” Mark 3:20

When was the last time you were so busy advancing God’s kingdom that you didn’t have time to eat? Next time you are tempted to feel sorry for yourself, think about how hard Jesus worked.

Crazy Work Ethic

 He worked so hard his family thought he was crazy.
“And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” Mark 3:21
His family attempted to guard his time and help him live a balanced life. Jesus’ goal was never to live a balanced life. Sometimes to fulfill God’s will for our lives, we have to push hard.
Now, I am not saying that Jesus was a workaholic. See my article “Set Healthy Boundaries Like Jesus“.  He knew when to rest and he knew when to retreat with his disciples. Jesus seemed to live by the motto…
Work hard, rest hard. 

I encourage you to use the short life God has given you to serve him with all you have! Go hard!

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How Jesus Apprenticed Apostles – Mark 3:1-19

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Reflection from my reading in Mark 3:1-19 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

Jesus selected 12 men who would carry on his work. He was very deliberate with whom he chose to spend his life, train, and pass the baton of leadership to.

Jesus Chose Who He Wanted

“And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.” Mark 3:13

Jesus called those he desired to invest in. Jesus’ training with the apostles was a specialized training that he didn’t give to every disciple who followed him. Jesus did things with the apostles and gave them inside information that no one else got.

It is strategic and wise to spend the most time training the people who have the most potential as leaders (especially apostolic leaders). Mark gave us a description of what Jesus did with them.

“And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.” Mark 3:14–15

 Jesus Limited The Number

Jesus knew that he couldn’t invest well in the few if he was trying to invest in everyone. Jesus knew that more time with less people would lead to greater growth in their leadership.

Jesus Was “With Them”

Jesus spent as much time as possible with them walking on the road, eating, going to events, preaching, healing, and pretty much everything! As Jesus spent time with them, they picked up the valuable life lessons, spiritual principles, and learned his teaching. They were also given training experiences that no one else did.

Jesus “Sent Them Out To Preach”

Jesus’ purpose was not just to make them nice people but to make them preachers. Jesus specifically called people who would have the potential to be leaders and preachers. Jesus trained them to preach by letting them watch him and then sending them out to do it.

Jesus Gave Them Spiritual Authority

Jesus gave them power to cast out demons. Jesus transferred not only his principles but his spiritual authority was also transferred to the disciples.

Throughout the gospels we see example after example of Jesus training his apostles. I challenge you to read the gospels with a lens for how Jesus trained his future leaders and you will see so many of the stories in a different way.

For more great vision and practical ways to apprentice apostles check out my father John Worcester’s website. He is a veteran church planter who has apprenticed many church planters and has written and spoke on the subject.

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A Fast Read on Fasting- Mark 2

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Reflection from my reading in Mark 2 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

Fasting is not super popular in our culture. And honestly, I do not do it as much as I should. Our culture is not good at delaying gratification. We have fast food, fast access to information, and fast-paced entertainment.

Fasting, on the other hand, is all about choosing to do without something (normally food) to focus on the only One you can’t truly do without (God).

Don’t Fast At The Feast

Jesus was asked by the religious leaders why his disciples didn’t fast like the Pharisees. Here’s his response:

“Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.” Mark 2:19

Jesus is saying that while he was with them, they did not need to fast.

On the other hand, the religious leaders made fasting another legalistic rule instead of using it as a tool. 

You don’t fast for fasting sake; you fast for a purpose. The disciples at this point did not have a reason to fast so they didn’t need to.

They Will Fast…

“The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.” Mark 2:20

Jesus is saying that when Jesus isn’t physically with them, then there will be a need to fast. He says that they will fast, assuming that it is something that we will and should do.

2 Benefits of Fasting

  • Focused Prayer – Fasting can help especially with focusing on prayer for a specific request. Esther asked people to fast and pray before she approached the King with a risky request. It can also help if you are making a big decision in life.
  • Regaining Spiritual Appetite – If you are going through a dry season spiritually, it may be a good idea to fast from food to regain your appetite for God.

If you have never fasted before, I encourage you to prayerfully start with a do-able goal and see what happens!

Don’t make a big deal about it. Make sure you are doing it for the right reasons and not to impress your friends.

If you have something specific to pray about or just want a fresh connection with God it could be a good time to try fasting.

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