aBeLOG
Welcome to the aBeLOG, a series of (hopefully!) fortnightly posts on all matters homiletical. I intend to touch on whatever grabs my attention regarding preaching—issues contemporary and ancient, ideas hermeneutical and rhetorical, personalities conservative and liberal, publications antiquarian and avant-garde. Essentially, I’m going to follow my own homiletical olfactory instincts up rabbit trails and after red herrings. Comments are always invited and appreciated.
Mark 5:21–6:6
Jesus’ care, and his power over disease and death, evokes disciples’ fearless, efficacious faith.
“Do not be afraid, only believe.”
Mark 5:36:41
Mark 5:21–24 and 5:35–43 form the two halves of an outer story, with 5:25–34 being the inner story. The stories create a single tapestry. Look at the similarities: both protagonists are in hopeless situations; both fall at Jesus’ feet; both come into physical contact with Jesus; both conditions are ritually impure
Mark 4:35–5:20
Disciples’ faith in Jesus’ person and power enables them to fearlessly face natural and supernatural calamities.
“Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
Mark 4:41
When you look at it, the story of the stilling of the storm is impressive in more ways than one. Yes, the miracle is truly awesome, but tempestuous sea and stormy wind are rendered almost demonic by Mark. The censure of the wind is as if it were an animate being, not to mention the
Mark 4:1–34
God’s sovereign action produces fruit in a receptive disciple.
“… the good soil[s], who hear the word and accept [it] and bear fruit—one thirtyfold, and one sixtyfold, and one hundredfold.”
Mark 4:20
Thus far, in Mark, most people, including Jesus’ own family, have failed to recognize Jesus’ person, his authority, and his mission. How may fruit-bearing be ensured in the disciple’s life?
The seed/soil parables are discourse on hearing the word and responding
Privilege the Text!
Yup, that’s my latest, published by Moody in Chicago, and due out later this year.
(Actually, I’m speaking at Moody Bible Institute’s Pastors’ Conference, and Moody Publishers is planning a release to coincide with that event! Fun!)
Yes, I know, I know, the Bible warns against all these book productions.
My son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless,
and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.
Ecclesiastes 12:10–12
But I kinda sorta feel
Mark 3:7–35
Disciples—insiders with Jesus—are those who do the will of God.
For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.
Mark 3:35
This pericope opens with a summary (Mark 3:7–12): crowds are still following him, looking for what Jesus has to offer in terms of healing of disease and alleviation of affliction—they’re following him for the wrong reasons. The reader is beginning to wonder: If everyone is after Jesus for ulterior motives, is there
Mark 2:1–3:6
Following Jesus in discipleship involves facing opposition boldly and persistently, without being deterred from God’s calling.
And looking around at them with anger,
grieved at their hardness of heart,
He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”
And he stretched [it] out and his hand was restored.
Mark 3:5
The plot moves on from Jesus’ increasing popularity (for misguided reasons) in Mark 1:21–45 to escalating opposition in 2:1–3:6 (also for wrong reasons).
That
Mark 1:21–45
Following Jesus is not a self-serving enterprise, but one of selfless service.
And He came and raised her up,
holding her hand; and the fever left her,
and she served them.
Mark 1:31
Jesus has just called disciples to follow. How should they? This pericope provides the first answer.
Mark 1:21–45 is a fast-paced description of the spreading of Jesus’ fame. It is set in and around Capernaum, in the space of two twenty-four hour periods (1:32, 35), and contains all the
Abe Kuruvilla is the Carl E. Bates Professor of Christian Preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY), and a dermatologist in private practice. His passion is to explore, explain, and exemplify preaching. 