The Disciple’s Multiplication

Disciple Series - Part 13

“And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.  8He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in their belts -  9 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.”

- Mark 6:7-13

“And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

- Matthew 28:18-20

The Disciple’s Love

Disciple Series - Part 12

“And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.”

- Mark 12:28-34

Disciples and the Habit of Fellowship

Disciple Series - Part 11

“And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."  33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.  34 And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch."  35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.  36 And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."  37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?  38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.  40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him.  41 And he came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

- Mark 14:32-41

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is thehabit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

- Hebrews 10:24-25

Disciples and the Word - Part II

Disciple Series - Part 10

“And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that "they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven."  13 And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?  14 The sower sows the word.  15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.  16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.  17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.  18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.  20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold."

- Mark 4:11-20

Disciples and the Word - Part I

Disciple Series - Part 9

“And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that "they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven."  13 And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?  14 The sower sows the word.  15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.  16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.  17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.  18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.  20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold."

- Mark 4:11-20

The Disciple’s Prayer Habit

Disciple Series - Part 8

“On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it.... 20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered." 22 And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received1 it, and it will be yours.”

- Mark 11:12-14, 20-24

The Disciple’s Obedience

Disciple Series - Part 7

“And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.  19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'"  20And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth."  21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."  22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

- Mark 10:17-22

The Disciple’s Imparted Gifts - Part II

Disciple Series - Part 5

“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.  4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.  5 And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."  6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.  7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son;listen to him."  8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.  9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.  10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.”

- Mark 9:2-10