Day of Conflict (3 of 6)
Series: Countdown to Calvary
Dennis Marquardt
Mark 12:1-34
INTRO: The closer the cross, the more the conflict with this world! This is still true! The cross represents conflict, the struggle between life and death, between self preservation and self sacrifice, a sign of being powerless. No wonder the world is uncomfortable with Christianity! No wonder we too are sometimes uncomfortable with being a Christian, it is never easy being willing to die to self.
Jesus said clearly, "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matt. 10:34. What He meant was that His very presence, His very person, His very plan causes conflict with the people, powers, and plans of this world. We are always at conflict with the mindset of this world. The sinner does not want to see the real Christ, for if it they did this would mean altering their lives, no wonder the world has conflict with Christianity, it contradicts their ways of thinking and living! And yet, the world often fails to see its own contradictions!
ILLUS: One day a 6 year old girl was sitting in a classroom. The teacher was going to explain evolution to the children. The teacher asked a little boy:
TEACHER: Tommy do you see the tree outside? TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Tommy, do you see the grass outside? TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you Can see the sky?
TOMMY: Okay. (He returned a few minutes later) Yes, I saw the sky.
TEACHER: Did you see God? TOMMY: No.
TEACHER: That's my point. We can't see God because he isn't there. He doesn't exist!
A little girl spoke up and wanted to ask the boy some questions. The teacher agreed and the little girl asked the boy:
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the tree outside? TOMMY: Yes.
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy do you see the grass outside? TOMMY: Yessssss (getting tired of the questions by this time).
LITTLE GIRL: Did you see the sky? TOMMY: Yessssss!
LITTLE GIRL: ...
Series: Countdown to Calvary
Dennis Marquardt
Mark 12:1-34
INTRO: The closer the cross, the more the conflict with this world! This is still true! The cross represents conflict, the struggle between life and death, between self preservation and self sacrifice, a sign of being powerless. No wonder the world is uncomfortable with Christianity! No wonder we too are sometimes uncomfortable with being a Christian, it is never easy being willing to die to self.
Jesus said clearly, "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matt. 10:34. What He meant was that His very presence, His very person, His very plan causes conflict with the people, powers, and plans of this world. We are always at conflict with the mindset of this world. The sinner does not want to see the real Christ, for if it they did this would mean altering their lives, no wonder the world has conflict with Christianity, it contradicts their ways of thinking and living! And yet, the world often fails to see its own contradictions!
ILLUS: One day a 6 year old girl was sitting in a classroom. The teacher was going to explain evolution to the children. The teacher asked a little boy:
TEACHER: Tommy do you see the tree outside? TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Tommy, do you see the grass outside? TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you Can see the sky?
TOMMY: Okay. (He returned a few minutes later) Yes, I saw the sky.
TEACHER: Did you see God? TOMMY: No.
TEACHER: That's my point. We can't see God because he isn't there. He doesn't exist!
A little girl spoke up and wanted to ask the boy some questions. The teacher agreed and the little girl asked the boy:
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the tree outside? TOMMY: Yes.
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy do you see the grass outside? TOMMY: Yessssss (getting tired of the questions by this time).
LITTLE GIRL: Did you see the sky? TOMMY: Yessssss!
LITTLE GIRL: ...
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