Mark 3: Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.

Mark 3: When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.

Mark 3: Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. 10 For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.

Mark 3: Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

Mark 3: Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach

Mark 3: and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter),

Mark 3: James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”),

Mark 3: Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

The Choosy And The Chosen Mark 3:7-19 Larry Cline – Hardin Valley Church of Christ – 9/14/2014

Popularity has some inherent dangers.

1. Misplaced Emphasis  Nobody ever left Jesus because He healed but they did leave because He preached.  When popularity comes the temptation is strong to do whatever it takes to please the crowd and keep them coming.

Jesus rejects the testimony of demons.  Why? 1.They are in Galilee. 2.Their confession is based on fear not faith. Jesus never wants the testimony of those who will not repent. 3.Demons serve the “father of lies”. Jesus doesn’t want people to listen to them even if they speak truth.

Popularity Dangers, (cont.) 1.Misplaced Emphasis 2.Improper Support 3.Shallow Impact  Is the best way to reach people to barely touch thousands or to deeply touch a few who can touch others?

It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12 )

Look at His motive for calling them…

1. Association  And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him. (Mark 3:14 a )  Their classrooms were houses, fields, boats, synagogues, roads and mountain tops.

They were going to learn that you can’t reflect who you don’t know.  I would argue that the most essential qualification for ministry is knowing Jesus.

2. Participation  and that He [could] send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons. (Mark 3:14 b -15 )  It seems natural that the two went together… anytime salvation enters a home the devil has been driven back.

“Chosen” Facts 1. They were teachable. 2. They were diverse. 3. They were chosen as a group.

At the end of the gospel of Mark, Jesus will be led to a hill, He’s going to be put on a cross and they are not going to have to set up bleachers to hold the thousands of people still with Him. But 11 of these men are going to die for Him.

Three ways to distinguish the Choosy from the Chosen. 1.The Choosy prefer to be entertained, the Chosen prefer to be trained. 2.The Choosy prefer to be anonymous, the Chosen prefer to be accountable. 3.The Choosy prefer to be served, the Chosen prefer to be sent.

Choosy or Chosen What’s Your Response?