In this message Pastor Bryan teaches from Mark 2:13-17. We learn that a very good thing becomes a very bad thing when it becomes the ultimate thing.
Sermon Notes
The Gospel vs. Religion
Mark 2:18-22
Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”
Religion says obey and therefore I am accepted.
The gospel says I am accepted therefore I obey.
Religion says I obey to get things from God.
The gospel says I obey to experience more of God.
Religion is fear based.
The gospel is joy based.
Religion says it’s never enough.
The gospel says I am enough.
Religion works for approval.
The gospel works from approval The Gospel Contains Old Practices for a New Purpose- Mark 2:21
Fasting is physically abstaining from food to experience the supremacy of the Giver over the gift. Be patient with yourself.
Fast in community.
Focus on Jesus
The Gospel is Focused on a Person and Not Performance- Mark 2:18
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others”- Matthew 6:16.
A very good thing becomes a very bad thing when it becomes an ultimate thing The Gospel is not about Our Performance, But Our Pleasure- Mark 2:19
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore”- Psalm 16:11
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”- Matthew 11:28
