1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. A reminder - Please: Turn off your cell phone or set to vibrate only
Turn off sound to all electronic devices
Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy
Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early)

3. Toxic Religion Matthew 15:39-16:12; Mark 8:10-26
A Winter landscape is beautiful, but cautions must be taken for the dangers
Carbon monoxide is a danger within the home
Most poisons either cause physical destruction or cause organs to malfunction

4. Toxic Religion Matthew 15:39-16:12; Mark 8:10-26
Carbon monoxide kills because your blood cells prefer it to either oxygen or carbon dioxide
Spiritual poisons work on the soul like carbon monoxide does on the body

5. Toxic Religion Matthew 15:39-16:12; Mark 8:10-26
5,000+
4,000+
Jesus miraculously fed two separate and distinct multitudes 5

6. Toxic Religion is Not Concerned with Truth Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12
Sadducees were aristocratic, ultra-liberal, denied the supernatural, and controlled the Temple concessions
Pharisees were working class, ultra-conservative, believed Scripture, but held their traditions as supreme

7. Toxic Religion is Not Concerned with Truth Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12
Pharisees & Sadducees could not work together unless they set aside fundamental differences
The Sadducees wanted Jesus destroyed because He interfered with their Temple business

8. Toxic Religion is Not Concerned with Truth Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12
The Pharisees wanted Jesus destroyed because He did not follow their traditions
The Sadducees were pragmatists and the Pharisees were hypocrites - neither were concerned for truth

9. Poisoned Religion Is Man-centered Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12
They challenge Jesus to produce a sign from heaven which they do not think He can perform
The Sadducees reject supernatural events, so did not think Jesus could produce such a sign

10. Poisoned Religion Is Man-centered Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12
The Pharisees thought signs from heaven had to be from God & they rejected Jesus’ claim to be from there
The Pharisees were wrong because Satan can perform signs in the sky - John 1:16, 18, 2 Thess. 2:9

11. Poisoned Religion Is Man-centered Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12
The Pharisees were wrong because Jesus is from heaven proven by His many miracles fulfilling prophecy
The Pharisees and Sadducees had poisoned Judaism with man-centered philosophy & Scripture twisting

12. Poisoned Religion Is Man-centered Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12
Teachers of toxic religion can be found even within churches professing to be evangelical

13. Toxic Religion Understands the Temporal, but Not the Eternal Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12
With a sigh Jesus points out they could discern signs of the weather but were blind to the signs of Messiah
Because they were evil, Jesus said they would only be given the sign of Jonah, which He did not explain

14. Toxic Religion Understands the Temporal, but Not the Eternal Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12
Beware of being like them and continuing to reject Jesus’ claims for God will abandon such a person

15. Jesus’ Warning Matthew 16:5-12; Mark 8:13-26
The disciples missed the point because their minds were fixated on what was physical / temporal
Jesus promises to provide for us, yet our minds can also become fixated on what is temporal

16. Jesus’ Warning Matthew 16:5-12; Mark 8:13-26
Learn to seek the Lord’s kingdom and His righteousness first and then rest in His promise to provide
You are not contaminated by products your buy or services you receive from non-Christians

17. Jesus’ Warning Matthew 16:5-12; Mark 8:13-26
The danger is the “leaven” of influence by toxic teachers which can hinder you or even turn you from Christ
The Pharisees were the legalists of the day - those under similar influence are in danger

18. Jesus’ Warning Matthew 16:5-12; Mark 8:13-26
The Sadducees were the theological liberals of the day - those under similar influence are in danger

19. Taking Heed
Be a truth seeker like the Bereans who examined what they heard against the Scriptures
Beware that poisoned teaching is enticing by design - seriously examine your own motives
Be interested in and pursue the things of God

20. Giving Sight to the Blind Mark 8:22-26
Two related miracles:
Gaining physical sight.
Gaining ability to understand what is seen

21. Giving Sight to the Blind Mark 8:22-26
This miracle demonstrates Jesus’ deity
This miracle illustrates Jesus can provide anything needed physical or spiritual - sight & understanding
It transitions to the question of who people say Jesus is

22. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ