Healing a Man with a Withered Hand

The Tragedy of Turning Blessings into Burdens (Mark 3:1-6)

Sermon for May 3, 2020 – Lesson 9 in a series on the Miracles of Jesus, where the power of Christ is creating conflict among the Pharisees and scribes of the Law.

I pray that you are safe, healthy and drawing closer to the Lord. Thank you for continuing in this sermon series on the Miracles of Jesus. There are so many spiritual lessons we find in these amazing accounts of the work and ministry of Christ. In this text we see Jesus healing a man in the synagogue with a withered hand on the Sabbath day. A conflict arises, creating a tense situation: Why are the Pharisees angry at Jesus for healing on the Sabbath? Does Jesus break the Sabbath law like the Pharisees accuse Him of doing? What can we learn from the miracle of Jesus and the mistakes of the Pharisees and Scribes of the Law?

Below is the audio and PDF text of the lesson. Also this week’s bulletin article: The Set of Our Sails, about being pro-active in choosing the direction of our life. Don’t forget the Bible Class Lesson on the Apostle Thomas: The Man Who Became Convinced By Doubting. And be sure to check out the info-graphic showing the Fear Zone, Learning Zone, and Growth Zone we commonly experience in trials: Who Do I Want to Be During the Covid Crisis?

Please continue to lift one another up in prayer. May God bless you and keep you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

Your fellow servant in the Lord,
Bill Turner

SERMON FILES: AUDIO | TEXT PDF

The Tragedy of Turning Blessings Into Burdens (Mark 3:1-6)

The Set of Our Sails

“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people answered him not a word” (1 Kings 18:21).

WHEN IT COMES TO GOD, WE WON’T MAKE MUCH PROGRESS IF WE “FALTER BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS.” There is a certain amount of difficulty that has to be overcome in the course of our journey toward God, and that difficulty won’t be overcome if we haven’t made up our minds and committed ourselves to making the journey. The roadside will be littered with the bleached bones of those who wavered — those who weren’t sure what their opinion was as to the importance of God and weren’t sure whether devoting themselves to Him was something they wanted to do.

Less important excursions in life often don’t require any definite goal or decisiveness on our part. For me, one of life’s great joys is the joy of walking, and there are some times when I set out on a walk without any notion of where I want to go. It’s enjoyable just to walk. The destination might change during the walk, and side trips can easily be taken. On such a walk, a little haphazardness doesn’t hurt; it may even enhance the pleasure of the trek.

But haphazard progress won’t get us to heaven. We won’t reach God by casually strolling through life admiring the scenery. God is the God of those who “diligently seeking Him” (Hebrews 11:6), and that implies the necessity of conscious decision. If God is our goal, we won’t move toward Him if we don’t reach for Him.

In the end, there’ll only be two groups of people. The dividing line won’t be between the fortunate and the unfortunate, or between those who had it easy and those who had it hard; it will be between those who decided to go to heaven and those who didn’t. When “every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14) is gusting every which way, it’s the set of our sails that will get us home.

One ship drives east and another west, 
with the self-same winds that blow; 
’tis the set of the sails and not the gales 
that determines where they go. 
Like the winds of the sea are the ways 
of fate, as we voyage along through life; 
’tis the set of a soul that decides its goal 
— and not the calm or the strife. 
(Ella Wheeler Wilcox)

Gary Henry – WordPoints.com

Healing a Paralyzed Man

‘When Jesus Saw Their Faith…’ Four men are determined to bring their hurting friend to Jesus, even if means tearing a hole through the roof!

4/26/2020 Dear brethren, we are in week 5 of the COVID-19 Coronavius quarantine. Thankfully as I write this, no one in our congregation has been sick from the coronavirus, and although everyone’s work has been affected, no one has lost employment due to the state wide lockdown. News reports indicate that restrictions may be scaled back in phases soon, which I pray will allow us to assemble together again for worship and Bible study. May God bless you during this difficult time as we walk with Him through the valleys and mountain peaks of life.

Your fellow servant in the kingdom, Bill Turner

This week’s bulletin article: I Thank You God

Healing a Paralyzed Man

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?

Mark 2:9

This week’s sermon: AUDIO | Text PDF

AUDIO: ‘When Jesus saw their faith…’

I Thank You God

I thank you God that You are eternal and infinite

I thank you God that you are perfect and holy

I thank you God for the intricate beauty of Your creation

I thank you God for the mysteries of Your cosmos

I thank you God for the billions of suns burning in brilliant light

I thank you God that You rule heaven and earth

I thank you God for creating me in Your image

I thank you God for Your patience with me

I thank you God that You the Author entered your own story

I thank you God that You came to earth in human flesh

I thank you God that You are free from space and time

I thank you God for the adventure of life

I thank you God for the hope of each new day

I thank you God for the future because it is in your hands

I thank you God for light and love that emanates from You

I thank you God that You are in control and rule from Your throne

I thank you God for Your love that is eternal

I thank you God that nothing is impossible for You

I thank you God that You answer millions of prayers simultaneously 

I thank you God for Your people

I thank you God that You care for the sparrows

I thank you God that You reveal the secrets of eternity to children

I thank you God that I was dead but now I am alive today

I thank you God that I was blind but now I see

I thank you God that You saved me from my sins and set me free

I thank you God that You redeemed me by your blood on the cross

I thank you God that I could be born again as a child of Yours

I thank you God for the inheritance You give your children

––Bill Turner
April 25, 2020
Grants Pass, Oregon

Healing the Centurion’s Servant

Brothers and Sisters, It is now week four of the COVID-19 Coronavirus quarantine. I pray that you are healthy and growing spiritually (3 John 2) during this rare time when the world seems to be taking a much needed rest. It is also a good time for reflection and prayer (Psalm 46). I hope you receive this lesson in the love in which it is given. The Lord knows all we go through, He knows all we need and He will not allow us to be tempted more than we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). He will supply all our needs.

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Click here for the latest bulletin article: Strength for the Loyal Heart. Please pray for the congregation, for those who are struggling with physical ailments, and also that no one will lose employment due to this present distress. Please pray that we may assemble again soon, worshiping together with a renewed spirit of thankfulness. May God bless you this week!

–Your fellow servant, Bill Turner.

Healing the Centurion’s Servant

The Man Whose Faith Impressed Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13).

“Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

Although this Roman soldier makes only a brief appearance in the gospels, he’s had a lasting impact over the centuries of what true faith looks like.

April 19, 2020 – Sermon 7 of a series on the miracles of Jesus.
AUDIO | PDF TEXT

The man whose faith impressed Jesus

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26