Jesus' Family Issue

May 30th
Speaker: RJ Dugone

Text: Mark 3:31-35 ​ 31  Then His mother and His brothers *arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him. 32  A crowd was sitting around Him, and they *said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You." 33  Answering them, He *said, "Who are My mother and My brothers?" 34  Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He *said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! 35  "For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother."

Big Idea: Is it true that blood is thicker than water?  (Which means that most people have a higher level of commitment to their blood relatives than they do to anyone else)  Should this be true in the context of the church?  One could make a Biblical case that a Believers first loyalty in life should be to God, and secondly to their family in Christ.  There is no doubt that "we" are called to love everyone; but when it comes to doing good, we start with the household of faith.
Questions to Consider:

1. How can "we" demonstrate (in tangible ways) our love, commitment and loyalty to one another?
2. What is our responsibility towards family members (our blood relatives) who are without Christ, and maybe even antagonistic towards our faith? 
3. Why are the relationships between Believers so crucial to the health and well-being of the church?

Parallel Passages: 

• Luke 14:25-27. Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
• Matthew 19: 16-22.  And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS; HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Questions to Consider:

1. What do you think Jesus meant when He said that we could not be His disciples unless we hate our father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters?  (Is Jesus using of figure of speech called "hyperbole?") 
2. How would you define modern day idolatry?  (Idolatry is generally held to be anything that we allow to come between us and our commitment to God)  
3. How could the following "things" actually become objects of idolatry in our lives?  1) Commitment to family; 2) Riches and material wealth; 3) The desire to "fit-in" and be liked; 4) Our favorite activities such as social media or playing video games.

Theology/Apologetics: When I was the pastor in a region of the country that was dominated by one of the world's most powerful Christian Cult Groups, ("Christian" in the sense that they self-identify themselves as being followers of Christ), it was challenging to anyone who was converted out of that cult to leave said cult and declare their faith in Christ.  As one young man explained to me: "I have come to see the errors in the theology of the "cult group" and no longer believe in what they teach; but to openly walk away and embrace Christ as taught in the Bible would cost me everything.  I would lose my job, my wife, my family, my community and everything that I care about."  That is the cost one must be willing to pay if that is what it takes to follow Christ.  The cross that you pick up in your pursuit of Christ may look different than someone else's cross.  Each of us have a personal price that we must be willing to pay in order to follow Christ.  Important Note: This must not be equated to paying the price for your salvation; Jesus, already paid that price.  However, in the words of Jesus, to be His disciples we must deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him.
Questions to Consider:

1. What do you think Jesus meant when He called on us to "deny ourselves?"
2. What are some of the "works of the flesh" that seem to need a "daily crucifixion?"
3. How would you describe the personal cross that you are carrying as you follow Christ?