Shake the Dust Off Where There’s No Welcome Mat

September 2, 2018

Sermon Notes

Jesus was rejected in His hometown and prepared His disciples for similar rejection.  Through His example and instruction, we learn how we should respond when our message is unwelcome.

Mark 6:1-13

He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.

And he went about among the villages teaching.

And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 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.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Rejection (6:1-6)

  • While our hearts reject Jesus, He still pursues us. (6:1)
  • Many will ask the right questions, but few will come to the point of belief. (6:2-3)
  • Those who knew Jesus were offended by who He was, not what He said or did. (6:2-3)
  • Jesus is not reliant on us, and His purpose is not to impress His audience. (6:5)
  • People went from marveling at Jesus because of His words and works to Jesus marveling at others because of their unbelief. (6:6)

Discipleship (6:7-13)

  • Jesus does not give us a relationship so we can keep Him to ourselves. (6:7)
  • Jesus wants to make sure we have the same living faith we are telling others to have. (6:8-10)
  • The blood of Jesus Christ bonds us closer than the blood of a relative. (6:11-12)
  • Dust shows God’s judgment, while blood shows God’s mercy. (6:11-12)
  • Jesus was rejected to show us how to share our faith without fear of losing:
    • Relationships
    • Materials
    • Reputations