The Daily Plunge!

Straight Up Works Righteous (Mark 10:17-31). If only God alone is good, why boast of your keeping the Law? What about loving God alone, honoring His name above all names, and keep Sabbath rest with God? Is keeping the commandments enough? It is impossible. Salvation is only made possible through what God does.

God Joined Marriages (Mark 10:1-16). The experts in the Law measure marriage by the Law, by our demands for our fairness. Then the legal experts look for loopholes to excuse breaking God’s marriage. How would your marriage look if Jesus is Lord of your family? The Kingdom belongs to those who will receive, not take it or demand it as a wage.

Stumble Causing Appendage (Mark 9:42-50).  What would be cut out of your life when you enter heaven? What can’t you imagine giving up rather than believe in Christ? Hell is real. Don’t lead yourself astray trusting in anything other than Christ. Even if you have lost your saltiness, your faith, ask God to restore you to faith.

Last Place Servant (Mark 9:30-41). If Christians are arguing about who is the greatest, they are measuring by the world’s standard, not the standard of the crucified Son of Man. If Jesus checks his ego to go to the cross, will we welcome the small and insignificant? You cannot do a true work in Jesus’ name and speak against His name.

Believing Unbelieving Generation (Mark 9:14-29). Will the Law free us from sin and the demonic? Only faith in God can deliver us from the destructive forces. Yet every generation does not believe. “If I can?” Christ, the Lord of Lord is powerful in your life. He can. Ye we never belief enough, so we cry out help us in our pathetic belief.

Transfigured Rejected Son (Mark 9:2-13). Jesus goes up the mountain to pray for God’s will. He shines with his real eternal self. Where Moses went up to get the tablets of the Law, Jesus goes up the mountain to give himself as the Promised Gospel giver. Now the Father answers who Christ is: My beloved Son who must suffer and be rejected.

Ashamed Of The Rejected Messiah (Mark 8:27-9:1). Who do you say Christ is in your life? Is he only a teacher or model? Jesus cannot be understood as Savior and Lord in your life apart from the cross and resurrection. Peter is ashamed of a crucified messiah. Are you ashamed taking up a cross and following Christ?

Don’t Even Go There (Mark 8:11-26). Every generation is faithless. Every generation demands a sign to appease them. Jesus warns us not to have the Pharisees approach to faith. The disciples are clueless about God’s provision. Jesus takes a blind man outside his village. After healing him, tells him don’t even go back there.

Getting Enough From Jesus (Mark 8:1-10). How long would you stick around to listen to the Word of God? Are you feeding on the Word of God? In the scarcity of this world, do you receive enough in prayer, in scripture? When we come to worship to be fed by the LORD, are you filling up on entertainment or are you filling up on the promise of God in Christ?

Crumbs Of The Promise  (Mark 7:24-37). What do we do that opens the door for the demonic to attack us? Can we deal with the Jesus who confronts us for our rebellion and unbelief? What changes the narrative? Claiming the promise of God! Even though Jesus tells the man not to tell, but they can’t keep from spreading the Good News.

Life Defiling Law (Mark 7:1-23). We can’t live up to expectations of relying on how good we are. The Law itself defiles us because it binds us to the sin of our own efforts. We try to argue there are loopholes which excuse our disobedience to God. Don’t trust your silly and deceitful heart. Trust Jesus alone who washes you clean.

Hard Hearted Incomprehension  (Mark 6:45-56). Jesus goes off again to pray? Do you think you might have the same reasons to pray often like Jesus? After Jesus walks on water and calms the wind, his terrified disciples are still not understanding about the loaves. Rather than judging Christ through our legalistic rational, open yourself to comprehend God’s presence.

Spend That Much? (Mark 6:30-46). Where Herod throws a banquet with beheading, the Prince of peace throws a banquet with compassion and leftovers. When challenged to give the crowd something to eat, the disciples respond “Are we to spend that much?” Jesus takes what they have to provide a miracle.

Word Hating Wickedness (Mark 6:14-29). The World is curious about the Word of God and finds prophets a novelty. But wickedness wins out in unrepentant sinners like Herodias. When confronted with the Word, craven desired filled sinners hate the Law. Rightfully so.  Rather than lose face with the world they turn away from God.

Missing Out On Miracles (Mark 6:1-13). The people in his hometown take offense at Jesus and his preaching. Because of their unbelief Jesus only did a few miracles. How often does our unbelief impede the work of God? Jesus sends out his disciples in pairs. No pew warmers. Are we willing to be sent in Christ’s authority to bring the Word that heals?

Beyond Desperate Shame (Mark 5:21-43). A father desperate for his dead daughter. An ill woman shamed and ostracized is desperate for just a touch of Jesus. When the world says give up hope Jesus says to you: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Trust the Word and promise of God to give life. How can you keep silent about God raising up the dead to new life?

Unfettered Right-mind Disciple (Mark 5:1-20). A crazy every day demon possessed man is living in a cemetery. Again the destructive demons ask not to be destroyed. The unclean swine won’t abide with any. The unfettered Gospel-minded man goes to tell everyone what Christ has done for him. Do you tell how Christ has freed you?

Terrified of Storm Calmer (Mark 4:35-41). The disciples take Jesus with them. Do you take Jesus with you on your adventures? When the furious squall comes upon them they bellow at Jesus, “Do you even care?” In our storms, Jesus asks you, “Why are you so afraid? Do you have no faith?” How do you answer?

Cross Concealed Lamp (Mark 4:21-34). What if the lamp is hidden to be revealed where we don’t expect it? Will we hear this? If you measure the Gospel by the Law you will be unable to receive the Gospel. The seed of the Gospel works in ways we do not perceive. The seed of the Gospel is insignificant and yet will become the biggest thing in life.

Crazy Seed Confusion (Mark 4:1-20). Listen to the Word! The crazy farmer is throwing the seed everywhere. The soils are not any help. Jesus teaches plainly that the parables are not meant to give insight but to further accuse us under the Law. What would your life look like if you accepted the seed?

Out Of Our Minds Jesus (Mark 3:20-35). His skeptical family thinks Jesus is out of his mind. The skeptical teachers thinks he is a lying con man bamboozling people by the power of Beelzebul. Christ operates out beyond our minds, our frameworks. We are the ones with impure spirits if we blaspheme against God’s Spirit.

Unfollowing Following Crowd (Mark 3:7-19). In the crowded chaos of this life, do you withdraw with Jesus to be alone with him? Jesus chooses you to be in community with him. Jesus calls you to be with him, send you out in his purpose, to preach His Word and have the authority to dispel the demonic. Are you just a spectator or a disciple of Jesus?

Hungry Needy Sabbath (Mark 2:23-3:6). Do you think of Sabbath as a LAW you are obligated to do for God? Or do you come to Sabbath worship hungry and in need to be refreshed by God? Worship is not a waste of your time. Come expose your shriveled up hands in worship to see what happens.

Bursting Your Old Skin (Mark 2:13-22).  The preach Word of God’s promise calls only sin-sick sinners. Self-righteous folks have no use for Christ. If the new life of Christ is beyond the ability of your old life to contain it. The new bursts the old works oriented philosophy and patterns. Do you have use of the redeemer? Yes, I made the mistake of saying “The Gospel of Matthew” – not Mark.

Nonchalant Skeptic Paralysis (Mark 2:1-12). Jesus preaches the Word that gives life. Do you seek Jesus’ Word? Are you the paralyzed man lowered before Jesus? Are you the skeptic who doubts Jesus’ authority? Jesus speaks a clear Word: “Your sins are forgiven!” Are you still clinging to your mat?