December 1, 2019
Many thanks to Pastor Scott Cushman for bringing God’s word
to Heartland this morning. Scott spoke on:
Who Does Your Christmas Belong To?
Mark 12 (NIV)
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked,
“Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah
is the son of David?
36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet.”’
37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
The large crowd listened to him with delight.
The Greatest Commandment
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating.
Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him,
“Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this:
‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no commandment greater than these.”
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied.
“You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.
33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding
and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more
important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him,
“You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law
38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law.
They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect
in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues
and the places of honor at banquets.
40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers.
These men will be punished most severely.”
The Widow’s Offering
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put
and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.
Many rich people threw in large amounts.
42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,
worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said,
“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury
than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her
poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
