Mark 6

Have you said your duck prayer lately? Rubel Shelly reminds us to live life expecting it to be an adventure with Jesus in which we are surprised and learn new things again and again.

"Dear Follower, I challenge you to consider two questions about the verses you find below:Why do you think that Mark included this story about the..."

"Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people. And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two,..."

"Herodias's chance [for vengeance against John] finally came on Herod's birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and..."

"So [Herod's daughter] hurried back to the king and told him, "I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!" Then the king deeply..."

As Jesus' family, what are we preventing him from doing among us because of our lack of faith? Phil Ware reminds us of the dangers of limiting what Jesus can do among us and through us because we think we know what we can expect of him.

"For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip's wife, but Herod had married her...."

"Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble,..."

"After [Jesus and the disciples] had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. They brought the boat to shore and climbed out. The people recognized..."

"Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred. Jesus took..."

Isn't it about time your family took a rest break? Rick Brown continues his family unique series and tries to help us understand that we have to stop and let our families rest sometimes along the way.

What do we do when we have way more going on in our lives than we can handle? Phil Ware begins a series of posts on our needing rest with Jesus and focuses on what we do when we have more to do than resources or strength and we don't have a rest time close at hand.

"The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a..."

"Then Jesus told [the townspeople], "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family." And..."

"So [Jesus and the apostles] left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and..."

"[After Jesus blessed the five loaves and two fish and had them distributed, the people] all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples....."

"Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue,..."

"Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about him. Some were saying, "This must be John the Baptist raised from...."

Jesus invites us into a time of rest and quiet with him! Phil Ware shares part 2 in his four part series on learning to rest in Jesus and trust in the Lord's power to bless us and give us grace.

Why in the world would Mark tell this story about what Jesus couldn't do after telling about four powerful miracles Jesus did? Phil Ware challenges us with a hard truth about our low expectations of what we believe Jesus can do with us, for us, and through us -- are we, the church, the Nazareth of today?

Through the years and all the changes, one thing remains true about the heart of God. Phillip Morrison reminds us in the shadow of Independence Day about the many inconsistencies when principles are first applied, yet he also urges us to be patient and gracious and open to the needs of all people.

Will you turn it off for a few days? Sometimes we have to take a break from all the information overload!

Was there something Jesus really couldn't do? Phil Ware continues his series on inviting Jesus to church and focuses on the question, who is Jesus family, the ones who find it so hard to believe and who will not allow him to act because of their unbelief.

"Dear Child of God, When I began My ministry, the folks in My home town of Nazareth were shocked. They didn't expect anything of Me. In their minds, I..."

"Then [Jesus] climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. [The disciples] were totally amazed, for they still didn't understand the significance of..."

"Immediately after [feeding the crowd], Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent....."

"Late in the afternoon [when Jesus was teaching a huge crowd,] his disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting..."

"So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, for Herod respected John; and knowing...."

"So they went out and preached that men should repent [that is, think differently, recognize sin, turn away from it, and live changed lives]. And they...."

"But Jesus said [to the apostles], "You feed [the crowd]." "With what?" they asked. "We'd have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food..."

"But when [Jesus' closest disciples] saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified...."

"So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. And they cast out many demons and healed many sick..."

Inspirational illustration of Mark 6:49-50 -- They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Why did Mark include it in his gospel? After all, his gospel is the shortest and most compact story of Jesus among the four gospels! Phil Ware looks at Mark 6:1-6 and reminds us that this story is for us because we are Jesus' family, relatives, and hometown!

Can you really get more fit by resting? Without rest we cannot restore our bodies and our health, but this is not a new idea, it is God's fitness plan from long ago.

Why do we not take care of ourselves in our service to others? Paul Faulkner reminds us that if we are going to keep being a servant to Christ and others, then we've got to care for ourselves and replenish what we are depleting in our service to others.

Don't you sense this need? Tom Norvell reminds us of our need for rest and to rest in Jesus, in God, and in the Spirit.

How depleted are you? Phil Ware writes on withdrawal and rest with the Savior and our need for his grace and mercy and blessing and power and support and prayer and strength.

"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place..."

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things."

Inspirational illustration of Mark 6:31 -- Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Inspirational illustration of Mark 6:34 -- 34When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.© Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Soc

Inspirational illustration of Mark 6:50 -- Don't be afraid, Jesus said, Take courage, I am.

Is there any way to step off the treadmill a minute? Tom Norvell reminds us of Jesus encouraging his disciples, his followers, to get away from the maddening rush of the crowds and go to a quiet place with him and get some rest.

When's the last time you had a great rest? We must guard and protect our sacred space, our time alone with God.

"Dear Disciple, You are probably aware that I had many disagreements with the Pharisees, scribes, and scholars during My time on earth and that I..."

Where are our greater things? Phil Ware continues his series on greater things focusing on 'the name of the Lord' and the power and presence of Jesus that fed the expectation that God would surprise his people with greater things.

Can you rest and put your hope in God? We all need time for real, genuine, rest.

A hard night leads to a great time of prayer. Tom Norvell talks about a sleepless night that leads to a great time of prayer and some key lessons about prayer.

Maybe we are too familiar with our modern-day, water-downed, version of Jesus and not in awe of great expectations that the Lord has for us? Phil Ware continues his reflections from his gospel readings and uses Mark 5 and Mark 6 to remind us that Jesus has greater expectations of what he can do through us than we do!

Is getting away to a quiet place enough to restore our souls? Phil Ware talks about the weariness of ministry and reminds us that it is not enough to simply get away and rest, we must get away and be with Jesus.

How are you going to get it all done? A plan to help us get things done we need to get done in a world of too much to do.

What was God's plan to help Jesus' broken and flawed followers accomplish his mission? Phil Ware continues his series called Better Broken that focuses on how God used flawed, broken people to change the world by sharing the message of Jesus and this involved Purpose: to be witnesses, Plan: to release God's power through prayer; People: the

Have you stopped longed enough to hear his voice? We must take time to pause and rest in the gracious presence of God.

In his own house a prophet is without honor. "Only in his home town, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." Mark 6:4

I just don't have enough time! God designed us to need a Sabbath rest -- not as Law, but as grace.

What's got you so distracted? Teresa Bell Kindred shares with us her absent-minded follies because she is distracted from all of her hi-tech toys to which she is plugged in and she reminds us to get away and be with God.

Move beyond resolutions to Kingdom living! Phil Ware begins the New Year with an article or post about the book of Acts and the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit to take broken people and use them powerfully to change the world.

Is rest really necessary for holy and whole living? Phil Ware talks about the importance of rest and the Sabbath principle.

Exhausted, bone-weary, and insufficient to meet the task at hand? Ah, you may just be in the place where Jesus can use you most powerfully! Phil Ware looks into Jesus feeding the five thousand and reminds us that he longs to do amazing things through us, too!

Where do you best connect with God? Phil Ware continues his series on experiencing God and focuses on experiencing God through Jesus in community with all of its challenges and opportunities.

Shouldn't you take a little rest at least once per week? We work hard and that is good, but we also need to rest faithfully and easily and enjoy the rest God has called us to keep.

"Dear Precious Brothers and Sisters, So many of My followers struggle in their lives of discipleship because each is trying to do everything by his or..."

Do you think James was really there through all of this mess? Phil Ware shares some insight and background on James the brother of Jesus and how he disbelieved, but came to faith.

How are you going to handle the holiday stress? Holidays can be stressful and hectic, here are some good ways to stay on track and protect your holidays.

Where do we turn when no one believes in us... including us? Max Lucado reminds us that God doesn't give up on us even when everyone us, including us, does.