1. 02 Jul 1:1-20 Baptism, Temptation & Call
09 Jul 1:21-45 Evil Sprit, Fever & Leprosy
16 Jul 2:1-17 Paralytic & Levi
23 Jul 2:18-3:4 Fasting & Sabbath
06 Aug 3:7-19 Crowds & Twelve
13 Aug 3:20-35 Beelzebub & Jesus' family
20 Aug 4:1-20 Parable of the sower
27 Aug 4:21-41 Seed parables & Calm storm
03 Sep 5:1-20 Evil spirit into pigs
17 Sep 5:21-43 Jairus & Bleeding woman
10 Sep 6:1-13 Nazareth & Twelve sent out
24 Sep 6:14-29 Death of John the Baptist
8 Oct 6:30-44 Feeding 5000
15 Oct 6:45-56 Walk on water & Gennesaret
1 Oct 7:1-23 Teaching of ancestors & Unclean
29 Oct 7:24-37 Syro-Phoenician & Deaf mute
22 Oct 8:1-21 Feed 4000 & Herod’s yeast
5 Nov 8:22-38 Blind man, Peter’s faith & Rebuke
12 Nov 9:1-13 Transfiguration
19 Nov 9:14-29 Boy with evil spirit
3 Dec 9:30-50 Who is greatest & Tempt to sin

2. The Kingdom of God is near
Q: Where did you sense God’s presence most last week? (Hope- Jim, Mercy – Gov, Peace – Jo,
God is present doing good and confronting evil in unlikely and dire places in visible and invisible ways; but is resisted and can look like failure. Christmas Stable
A word on confronting evil

3. Confronting “The Powers”
Share power with
Exercise power over
Serve
Dominate
Nurture
Control
Focus on other
Focus on self
Confront non violently
Be Violent (wage war)
Be responsible
Exploit
Love
Fail to love

4. Confronting “The Powers”
Share power with
Exercise power over
Serve
Dominate
Nurture
Control
Focus on other
Focus on self
Confront non violently
Be Violent (wage war)
Be responsible
Exploit
Love
Fail to love
How does this confrontation work?

5. “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” 3 weeks ago
34 Whoever wants to be my disciple must strongly say no to focus on their own self and walk with me down death row.
35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it (Mark 8)
Do the disciples/us understand?

6. God is found in "weak" places – confronting the powers
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples.
He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”
Do disciples understand this?
God is found in "weak" places – confronting the powers

7. 32 But they did not understand what he meant
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples.
He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”
32 But they did not understand what he meant
and were afraid to ask him about it.
Are you sure about losing power?
God is found in "weak" places – confronting the powers
We are afraid to seek God because we will lose power

8. 32 But they did not understand what he meant
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples.
He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”
32 But they did not understand what he meant
and were afraid to ask him about it.
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
How do you get to understand this?
God is found in "weak" places – confronting the powers
We are afraid to seek God because we will lose power

9. We are afraid to seek God & lose power
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
What does it look like …
God is found in "weak" places confronting the powers and serving others
We are afraid to seek God & lose power

10. We are afraid to seek God & lose power
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Is that all? Anyone can do this
God is found in "weak" places confronting the powers and serving others
We are afraid to seek God & lose power

11. 38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
Anything goes, then?
God is found in "weak" places confronting the powers & serving others
We are afraid to seek God & lose power

12. 42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
Thank God for his written Word to us
Be Salty: God is found in "weak" places confronting the powers and serving others
We are afraid to seek God & lose power

13. Confronting the powers in ourselves
How do we Exercise power over, Dominate, Control, Focus on self, Be Violent to, Exploit, Fail to love
Health, Friendships / Family
Work place, Church?
Be Salty: God is found in "weak" places confronting the powers and serving others
We aren’t afraid to seek God & lose power

14. Our Gathered worship has ended, our Worship & Service continue
From Amen to Action
May you know the blessing of finding strength in weakness of confronting domination in yourself and others
of serving others
Today and every day, for ever. Amen? Amen
Our Gathered worship has ended, our Worship & Service continue