Jeff Shelnutt Sermons

The closer Jesus gets to Jerusalem, the more specific His claims about discipleship become. Certain Pharisees approach Jesus, posing a question about divorce. They are not sincere, but testing Him. Jesus takes the opportunity to remind them of God's intention for marriage. Jesus' abbreviated teaching on marriage, divorce, and remarriage is set against the theological backdrop of the Old Te...

The new year is an excellent time to polish our spiritual lenses. Psalm 96 helps us to do just that. The whole world is called to worship. Therefore, the whole world is summoned to enter the church--to become a part of the people of God. Creation, along with Christians, are longing for the Judge to return. For only then will everything will be set right. In the meantime, we have a mission: to make...

Israel faced an Assyrian threat that would eventually bring an end to the northern kingdom. King Ahaz of Judah was spiritually compromised by seeking help from the the Assyrians instead of trusting the LORD. Isaiah promises a child, a son, who will be born not just for Israel and Judah, but for us all. And this Messiah will meet our need for truth, security, belonging, and peace. The shalom sin ha...

Joseph is called by Scripture a "righteous" man. His righteousness was demonstrated in the way he acted toward Mary and her pregnancy. Though we aren't told much about Joseph, his namesake, Joseph in Genesis, informs our understanding of this man chosen to be the earthly father of Jesus. Though both Josephs were righteous men, they still did not possess the righteousness of God. They...

Closing out a conversation with His disciples in a private house in Galilee, Jesus warns of the severity of causing a fellow believer to stumble. He then proceeds to speak of the seriousness of sin, the pervasiveness of sin, the consequences of sin, and the sacrifice for sin. Every disciple is salted with fire. The sacrifice for sin has been made, therefore, we offer ourselves as living sacrifices...

John and the other disciples are troubled about a man who is casting out demons in the name of Jesus without Jesus' authorization. From Jesus' response, we see that there are two extremes to avoid when it comes to evaluating those on the "outside." They are elitism and religious relativism. Jesus offers three reasons to not prevent others from operating by faith in His name.

Jesus passes through Galilee for the last time before His final trip to Jerusalem with His disciples. On the road, Jesus tells the twelve once again what will happen to Him. But all they discuss is who is the greatest among them. In a house in Capernaum, Jesus proceeds to explain to the disciples the true path to greatness: servitude. The kingdom of God does not operate like the kingdoms of men. T...

Descending from the mountain , Jesus finds a large crowd waiting for Him, His disciples arguing with some scribes, and a man whose demon-possessed son Jesus' disciples could not help. True faith is about quality, not quantity. The quality of faith is measured by faith's focus. The disciples could not cast out the evil spirit because they did not maintain a lifeline with God through prayer.

As three of Jesus' disciples descend from their high mountain experience with Him, they discuss what it means for Jesus to rise from the dead. In their inability to grasp the plain explanation, they digress into discussing Elijah, whom they just saw on the mountain top. We see in this passage three things that bring understanding: the resurrection, fulfilled prophecy, and suffering.

Jesus takes three of His disciples onto a high mountain and begins to shine with the brilliance of the glory of God. Moses and Elijah appear and converse with the transfigured Jesus. From this passage we learn about high mountain experiences with God, how they are misunderstood, and how to apply them to our everyday lives.

After confirming to His disciples that He is the promised Messiah of Israel, Jesus calls the crowds to Himself. Speaking to the twelve and and to anyone who desires to come after Him, Jesus declares a three-part condition for discipleship. He then follows this condition with three illustrations. No one follows Jesus to become worthy. Rather, one follows because He is worthy.

This passage is the turning point of Mark's Gospel. Peter declares Jesus to be the Messiah, and immediately turns around and rebukes Him. As Jesus begins His journey toward Jerusalem, He also begins to make clear the implications of discipleship. Man's interests are not only not God's interests, they are actually opposed to God, which sources them in the Adversary.

With the first time in Jesus' ministry that He restores sight to a blind man, Jesus chooses to heal him in a two-stage process. He does this in order to help Peter and the other disciples understand what He is doing in their lives. But there is also a lesson here for every Christian. With the first touch, the cross works for us. With the second touch, the cross works in us.

Jesus is confronted by Galilean Pharisees once again before crossing the lake with His disciples. As He warns the twelve about the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, the disciples struggle to understand and believe His words. The remedy for the hard-heartedness that arises from an unbelieving heart is remembering. Remember what God has done. The very sign from heaven the Pharisees demanded Jesus h...

This is the second mass feeding miracle of Jesus recorded by Mark. It is remarkably similar to the first. But there are a couple differences. And it is these differences that show us why the "feeding of the four thousand" is significant and instructive. There are three questions answered in this passage: 1) What do you have? 2) What does God want? and 3) What do they need?

Before returning to the western side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus takes a very out-of-the way loop from Tyre north to Sidon and then back down to Israel. Though we can know God's character and will, we don't often know God's ways. Entering into the Gentile-dense Decapolis, Jesus is brought a deaf and mute man. After taking him away from the crowd to heal him, Jesus also teaches us a le...

For the first and only time Jesus ventures outside of the borders of ancient Israel. While seeking solitude with His disciples, He is approached by a woman whose daughter has an unclean spirit. In fact, everything about this woman and her situation is "unclean." However, she understands the mission of Jesus in a way that even His own disciples don't grasp. And her faith is rewarded.

Jesus moves from addressing the Pharisees, to the crowds, to His disciples. Whereas our tendency is to always focus on the outside, Jesus makes clear that it is the heart we must recognize as the source of uncleanness. Because what to eat and who to eat with will become such a major point of conflict in the early church, Mark addresses the issue through the teaching of Jesus. If we neglect to allo...

The Pharisees and scribes once again confront Jesus; this time concerning His disciples' failure to follow the "tradition of the elders." Any time we follow man's word to the exclusion of God's, it brings death, not life. We see a digression in this passage. First, there is a going beyond God's Word. Then, there is an elevation of man's word. And finally, God's Word is discarded.

Mark summarizes Jesus' healing ministry in Galilee. Through the disciples stepping off the boat with Jesus at Gennesaret, we see that God takes you where you need to be. Along with this, we also observe that God will put you in a position to trust Him, and will identify you with the Healer.

When Jesus came to His disciples, walking on the sea, they did not recognize Him. But Jesus met them where He so often meets us--in our adversity. Jesus revealed to His disciples three things about God: His will, His glory, and His voice.

When Jesus encountered the huge crowd by the Sea of Galilee, He fed their souls with the Word of God. He then proceeded to nourish their bodies with a miraculous multiplication of bread and fish. As followers of Jesus, we, like the twelve disciples, will sometimes receive an unreasonable demand from God ("You give them something to eat!"). As we step out in faithful obedience, we will re...

Jesus' disciples return from their first preaching mission, and excitedly report to Him all that God has done. Jesus recognizes their need for rest, and together, they go to a secluded place. However, they are interrupted by the needs of the huge crowd who have followed them there. It is in the secluded place with Jesus that we find rest. It is also in interruptions that we often find God at w...

There was no prophet greater than John the Baptist, yet speaking truth got him arrested and beheaded. Mark relates the account of Herod's dealings with John. Far from a digression, this narrative foreshadows the cross. If we are to cooperate with God, we must perceive Jesus correctly, repent of sin quickly, and embrace death daily.

As Jesus begins His third preaching tour around Galilee, He sends out the twelve in pairs to preach repentance. What Jesus instructs them to bring and not to bring along is instructive to the unique ministry God has given to every Christian. Were they ready for such responsibility. No. And that is the point!