An Important Message from God

Introduction

The Pastor called for a meeting of the church leaders. He handed them his resignation because he had seen no one converted for a long time. Shocked, they all begged him to stay - vying with each other to impress on the pastor how much his preaching edified them. When the excited talking had slowed down, the pastor replied, “Edified for what?” Turning to one of the leaders, he asked if he had ever led a soul to Christ. “No.” The pastor asked the next man and received the same reply. After more discussion, he promised to stay if all of the leaders at the meeting would promise to resign with him if, within a short period, they had not personally encouraged someone to Christ. The next morning, one of the men began by telling his confidential clerk about the Savior. By the next Sunday, eleven saved men accompanied him to service. Those accompanying the rest of the leaders from the meeting brought the total of new Christians attending to thirty. In Mark 6:7-13 we see that Jesus trained His disciples so that they would go out and call others to repentance. Study the passage to learn about the importance of repentance and the call to urge others to repent.

Observation

Pray

Before you study His Word, thank the Lord for revealing Himself to you through it so that you can know Him. Ask Him to give you understanding and an obedient heart as you study.

Read Focus Verses

As you read Mark 6:7-13 follow the story and try to determine what the key point is.

In One Sentence

Summarize the simple story of these verses in one sentence.

Main Message

What was the main message the disciples were to preach?

Keyword - Repent

Marking the word repent will help it stand out as the key idea in this passage.

Repent!

Mark the word repent in Mark 6:12.

Keywords - Jesus Christ

As is suggested by His only being identified by a pronoun - he - in today's passage, Jesus Christ is the main character of this whole book. Marking His Name helps us remember that it all relates to and revolves around Him.

Jesus Christ

Mark the references to Jesus in Mark 6:7-13.

The Twelve

Who did Jesus call to Himself in verse 7?

Two by Two

How many were in each group Jesus sent out?

You Have to Have It

To be able to give someone power over something, what do you have to have? What does it say about Jesus that He gave power to His disciples over demons?

Instructions

What instructions did Jesus give them for this trip in verses 8-9?

Lodging

Where were the disciples to stay on their trip according to verse 10?

Shake off the Dust

What if a town wouldn't receive or listen to them?

Sodom and Gomorrha

What comparison does Jesus make between a town who wouldn't receive the disciples and Sodom and Gomorrha?

Preached

What did the disciples preach?

Mighty Works

What mighty works did the disciples do according to verse 13?

Context

Mark 6:30-56 tells us what happened when the disciples returned from their preaching trip.

Interpretation

Identities

We learn who these twelve men are in Mark 3:13-19 when Jesus calls them. (You can learn more about them in the study plans on that passage, "The Twelve Disciples: Part 1" and "The Twelve Disciples: Part 2.")

As He Sent Them

Matthew 10 gives us more detail about Jesus sending out the disciples. As you listen to this chapter (or read it), notice both the instructions Jesus gives and the promises He makes.

Instructions

What are some of the instructions Jesus gave the twelve disciples as He sent them out?

Promises

What are some of the promises Jesus made to them and reminded them of as He sent them out?

Barnabas and Paul

God often sends His messengers out in pairs. He sent Barnabas and Saul (later Paul) together in Acts 13:2-3

Companion

When they parted ways they each chose a ministry partner in Acts 15:39-41.

Two Witnesses

Even in the Tribulation, God will send two messengers as we read in Revelation 11:3.

Alone

In Genesis 2:18-24 we see this has been true since the beginning - before sin.

Explained

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 helps explain this.

In Pairs

What are some of the reasons God often sends His messengers in pairs?

When…

In Luke 22:35-37 we get to hear a little more about the disciples' experience during this preaching trip.

No Lack

What does Luke 22:35 tell us about this trip and Jesus' command to not take any provisions with them on it?

Every Time?

How would you use these verses in Luke to answer someone who tried to use today's passage to say that God's messengers should never take provisions with them under any circumstance? (Hint: What did Jesus tell them to do on this occasion?)

Shake it Off

In Acts 13:50-51 Paul and Barnabas shake off the dust of their feet against a city that rejected the gospel like Jesus instructed the disciples to do on the trip in today's passage.

Again

We see it again in Acts 18:6.

Sodom and Gomorrha

Throughout the Bible, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha are used as examples of God's judgment against sin and unbelief. We see this in 2 Peter 2:4-10.

God's Summary

In Genesis 18:20-21 we read about God's summary of these cities.

Judgment

The first part of Genesis 19 tells the troubling story of the city of Sodom and the way God rescued Lot, Abraham's nephew. In Genesis 19:24-25 we read about the judgment of these cities.

Even Them

What does it tell us about the hardness of heart of those who rejected the preaching of the gospel if God says they were worse than Sodom and Gomorrha?

The Day of Judgment

Romans 2:16 tells us about the judgment day Jesus Christ refers to in today's passage.

Who

Hebrews 9:27 tells us who will face God's judgment.

Everyone

Who will face God's judgment?

How Much Does God Know?

How much does God know about you for judgment day according to Romans 2:16?

Persuading Others

2 Corinthians 5:10-11 tells us what knowing about God's judgment should motivate us to do.

Reconciled

The end of that chapter, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, tells us what we seek to persuade people to do.

Persuading to Be Reconciled

What should Christians who know about the coming judgment be seeking to persuade people to do?

The Same Message

In Mark 1:15 we discover that Jesus' main message was the same as the one He sent His disciples to preach.

Why Jesus Came

Jesus clarifies this further in Mark 2:17.

The Gospel

Luke 9:6 tells us of the same occasion as today's passage. Notice how this verse uses a different word to describe the disciples' message.

The Gospel and Repentance

As we put these two verses together, what can we conclude is one of the main points of the gospel?

Our Message, Too

This message of repentance and forgiveness called the gospel is the message Christians everywhere are supposed to be telling as we see in Mark 16:15.

Repent

What is the main message Jesus wants His people telling?

A Closer Look

Take a closer look at the word translated repent.

Why Choose Death?

Ezekiel 18:30-32 tells us why we must repent and what will happen if we don't.

Sin Will Ruin You

Why must we repent? What will happen if we don't?

If You Do

Acts 3:19-21 tells us what happens when a person does repent - turning away from their sin to Jesus Christ.

Justified

In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus tells a story to show what repentance looks like and what it results in. (Note: Justified means declared righteous before God.)

When a Sinner Repents

Luke 15:10 tells us what else happens when a person truly repents.

Forgiven, Saved, God Rejoices

What happens when you repent?

Paired

Acts 20:21 tells us what is paired with true repentance.

Faith

What is paired with true repentance?

Two Kinds

2 Corinthians 7:8-11 talks about two different kinds of repentance - the genuine kind and the counterfeit. (You can learn more about the difference using the study plan for James 4:6-10 called "Does God Feel Far Away?")

Works Will Show

Acts 26:19-20 reveals that true repentance shows in our actions.

Seek God, Stop Sinning

Isaiah 55:6-7 tells us what repentance looks like.

More

Ephesians 4:20-32 tells us more.

Basics

What are some of the basics of what true repentance looks like in a person's life?

Point of the Works

Today's passage tells us about the mighty works the disciples did on their preaching trip. Matthew 11:20 tells us what response these mighty works were supposed to provoke.

Witness

Hebrews 2:1-4 expands on this.

Why?

Why did God do mighty works through the disciples as they went and preached?

Confirmation

What are some of the ways that these miracles help confirm the truth of the disciples' message that they were from God?

Another Time

Another time Jesus sent out 70 of His followers with similar instructions. Notice what they say in Luke 10:17-20 after their return and how Jesus responded to them.

Even Better

What did Jesus say was even better than the power He gave them to do miracles?

Love Grown Cold

In Revelation 2-3 we learn that unbelievers aren't the only ones who need to repent. Notice what God says to the believers in Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7.

Tolerating False Doctrine

In Revelation 2:12-17 we see more. (Note: We call false doctrines by different names today, but they are just as serious.)

Lukewarm

Consider the call in Revelation 3:14-22.

God's People

What are some of the things that God's people need to repent of?

Prayer

Psalm 66:18 tells us one of the reasons it is so important for God's people not to allow sin to stay in their life.

Fellowship

Isaiah 59:1-2 expands on this.

Confess

But 1 John 1:9 promises that God will forgive the Christian who agrees with God about their sin and turns away from it.

The Problem

Why is it a problem for Christians to have sin in their lives and what does God want them to do about it if they do?

Once More

Read Mark 6:7-13 once more in light of what you've studied.

To You

What stood out to you especially as you studied these verses today?

Application

Repent

Have you repented - turning away from your sin to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation? If not, won't you do that today? If so, is there anything in your life you need to repent of today to restore fellowship with the Lord?

Your Message

Since you know that God will judge everyone, are you urging people to repent and be reconciled to God? How will you do that this week?

Wrapup

Closing

We hope this study plan has helped you understand the importance of repentance and has challenged you to repent and to urge others to repent.

Feedback

Please take a brief moment to provide us some feedback on this lesson. We're always striving to improve, and, with your help, we will.

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