The Plowman

What Makes One a True Christian? [ 41:07 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1339)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 19, 2007, and was taken from Mark 8:27-38.

You can’t judge a book by its cover. It is increasingly true that you can’t judge a book by what it says. Often times people who profess to be a Christian don’t live like Christians. So, what’s involved in Christianity. What does it mean to be a true Christian, a genuine follower of Christ? We call it discipleship, and it’s costly. There is a price to pay. But many in our culture today expects so much from Christianity. “God owes me” they say. Is this a biblical view?

The text before us today marks the watershed moment in Mark’s gospel of the earthly ministry of Christ. To this point, Jesus has not disclosed the exact nature of his Messianic mission, his journey to the cross. This passage changes all that, as Jesus tells his disciples exactly what to expect in the near future. From this point on Jesus turns his attention away from the crowds and concentrates on his disciples. What do we learn from this passage about what it means to be a true Christian?

1. A Great Confession: “Who do people say that I am?” Jesus is not taking a poll, he is bringing his disciples along. Then he asks the second question, “But who do you say that I am?” This is the key question. A Christian is one who has been awakened to who Jesus is and boldly professes, confesses and claims the reality of this revelation. This is fundamental, and you cannot be called a Christian apart from this.
2. A Disturbing Proclamation: Jesus plainly announced to his disciples that the son of man must suffer, be rejected, crucified, and be raised. Apart from these four things there is no gospel, no good news, no Christianity. Peter’s response: It seemed impossible to Peter. He wondered how this could serve the purpose of God? A Christian is one who understands and commits himself to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
3. A Sober Revelation: You must deny self, take up the cross (“die”), and follow Jesus. That means you must denounce any right and claim to your own life. The language of Jesus’ words is a daily denial and death. A Christian is one who has chosen to deny self and die to self in order to follow Jesus.

These are costly things. If this is a reality in your life, it will cost you in your job, in your relationships, in your comforts. It will hurt. On the other side, there is nothing in this relationship that will cost you through loss and sacrifice that will even begin to compare with the great gains throughout eternity.

Standard Podcast [ 32:06 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1349)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 12, 2007, and was taken from Mark 8:22-26.

His ways are not my ways and his thoughts are not my thoughts (Isaiah 55:8,9).
Jesus doesn’t always do things the way we expect. Jesus doesn’t fit well in a box, regardless of the shape or size of the box. Maybe a good thing for us to do is stop and stand amazed in his presence. Maybe we should stand in amazement by his wisdom, compassion, and grace. Then maybe we would be in a better position to understand what Jesus would do.

The miracle described in our text today is found only in Mark’s gospel, and is the only account of a “gradual” healing. Even though this account seems insignificant, and similar to other healings, there is still something to be learned from it:

1. Our lord graciously meets the hurting at the point of their need and at the level of their understanding. The faith of this group is exemplary, but somewhat superstitious. The man healed doesn’t appear to have any faith at all.
2. Our lord mercifully draws us from faith to faith. Where was this man’s faith when this all began? He didn’t have any. As Jesus leads him out of the village, the man is learning to trust Jesus.  With Jesus, healing is never the great work. In this gradual healing, Jesus is also building the man’s faith.
3. Our Lord overwhelms us with blessings beyond our expectations. He did more for this man than he, or his friends, ever dreamed of.

Look at the parallels in this passage and in Jesus giving spiritual life to the spiritually dead. Our only response should be “To God be the glory.”

Was that a Sign, or Had the Meat Loaf Gone Bad? [ 32:09 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1379)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church, on Wednesday evening, August 8, 2007.

"Enough With These Miracles. Give Us a Sign. [ 34:29 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1366)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 5, 2007, and was taken from Mark 8:1-21.

This week we turn our attention to the eighth chapter of Mark’s gospel. Because of the things that Jesus has been saying and doing, tensions are beginning to mount. Jesus is loved and adored by the people, hated and despised by the establishment, and increasingly viewed with caution by the Roman empire. Many missed the gospel because of arrogance and unbelief, many because they were focused on the wrong thing. In today’s message we are going to see an amazing miracle, an astonishing response, and a disappointing performance from Jesus’ disciples.

1. An Amazing Miracle: Our Lord graciously reveals himself as the bread of life in the feeding of the 4000. This is not the retelling of the same feeding told in chapter six, but a separate event. We learn three lessons from this miracles:
   1. He is revealing that he is the bread of life. He is the second Moses.
   2. He is the bread of life, not just to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles. This second feeding was among the Gentiles.
   3. He supplies in abundance, and his supply meets and exceeds the demand.
2. An Astonishing Response: Blinded by arrogance and sin, Jesus’ enemies are blinded to the weight of this glorious miracle. In verse 11, the Pharisees ask for a sign, and Jesus turns away from them and leaves. The most terrifying judgment of God is when he turns his back on you.
3. A Disappointing Performance by Jesus’ Disciples: Jesus is disappointed with the response of his disciples. In our desire to understand the present, we fail to grasp the eternal. We often suffer from the tyranny of the lesser things. We are preoccupied with ourselves rather than with God.

Our greatest need is found only in Jesus Christ. Flee to Christ.

Our Loving Savior [ 36:33 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1363)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 29, 2007, and was taken from Mark 7:24-37.

In these two simple stories Mark as a master story teller, and as an inspired author of God’s word, tells these simple stories of Jesus moving beyond the Jews to demonstrate his love and compassion for all people, meeting all needs. Too often we read over simple stories like this, and fail to see the fact that there are great truths revealed in the actions of Jesus.

1. The First Story: The love of Jesus responds to the heart of persistent faith. Setting: these are difficult days for Jesus. The Jews are dogging him looking for something in his words with which to condemn him. Compare this picture with that in last week’s message in which Mark declares at the end of verse 19 “Thus he declared all foods clean.” Jesus is in effect declaring in this act that all people are clean. Before he does this, though, he calls this Gentile woman a “dog.” In the context of a Jewish world this is the worst insult that anyone could pay to someone. How does this square with the love of God? In the whole context, Jesus knew what was going on all along, and he knew what he was going to do. He was using this opportunity to teach the crowd. How do you interpret the way Jesus spoke these words to this woman? We learn here of the love of God responding to a persistent faith, even those outside of the “family” of God, demonstrating his love for all of humanity. This is the kind of faith described in Hebrews 11:6. What ever your need is today, God’s power and grace is sufficient for you today.
2. The Second Story: The love of God far exceeds our greatest expectations: verse 37 states that “they were astonished beyond measure.” These people were hoping for a blessing, we don’t know exactly in what manner, but Jesus far exceeded their greatest expectations. Why did Jesus sigh as he looked to heaven? Maybe it was because he entered into the suffering of this man. Again, the people said “He has done all things well.” If you are here today with needs, needs of the soul as well as mind and body, Jesus does all things well.

Whatever your need, Jesus has grace and power to meet that need.

Putting out a Fleece or Hedging Your Bet [ 33:58 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1373)

This is message number three in the “Knowing God’s Will series. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, July 25, 2007.