Sunday, March 19, 2023
Mark 3: 1-6
Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” 4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Psalm 103: 2-3
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
Review: 3 essential elements of faith.
Personal Elements
1 Corinthians 8: 7-8
7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
Important elements: see last week
Essential elements
1 Corinthians 15: 3-4
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Essentials in the book of Acts
To the crowd at Pentecost: Acts 2: 14-40
To the crowd at temple: Acts 3: 12-26
To the Sanhedrin: Acts 4: 8-12
To the synagogue at Antioch: Acts 13:16-41
To the Athenians: Acts 17:22-31
6 Essentials of Faith
God exists!
Hebrews 11: 6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Jesus is Lord
Romans 10: 9
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Jesus rose from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15: 3-8
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
We are saved by grace.
Ephesians 2: 8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
We must be born again.
John 3: 3
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Persevere in the faith.
Hebrews 3: 14
14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.
