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PASTOR WOOD’S Message notes

Message Notes July 25, 2021
Title: “Overcoming A Hardness of the Heart”
Text: Mark 6:45-56
Goal: that the hearers avoid, overcome, or escape a hardness of the heart through Jesus.
Intro: A callous neighbor worries about his yard more than his neighbor’s well-being. How is it that mowing a yard and maintaining a person’s OCD takes precedence over the condition of his neighbors? It’s a head shaker for sure. But that’s the nature of a hardened heart.

I. The context of a hardened heart disease.
A. Busy schedules had become the norm.
1. Jesus was healing people-they just kept coming.
2. Disciples did not get the rest they wanted.
B. Another contrast.
1. Disciples—looking at their watches
2. Jesus—Compassion, like sheep without a shepherd
3. Began teaching them.
4. The Gambit of emotions.

II. Understanding what Hardness of the Heart is.
A. Example of the Rocks and seeds (Mark 4:1-8)
B. Peporomene.
1. Callous, hard, or even dull in the sense of not understanding.
2. Possible that the disciples were not truly understanding who Jesus is at this point.
3. Vs. 52 clearly says, that they didn’t understand the loaves.
C. Dull-Minded.
1. Matthew 15:16 even Jesus marvels at their “dullness”.
2. After Easter the dullness faded.
3. Culture desensitizes us into dullness—a tool of the devil.
4. The disciples were not going to be effective apostles if they didn’t sharpen up.
5. Example of a dull chainsaw.
6. Dull minds and hearts may lead to a dull faith.
7. Vulnerable to fear, manipulation, irrationality and being dictated by emotion—shallow.
D. Hardness can mean selfishness.
1. Disciples may be impatient even a little bitter with Jesus.
2. Bitter to the point of distraction.
E. The Hardness of the disciples’ hearts may have been a combination of dullness and selfishness.

III. Jesus comes to His people even when they are too dull to see or hear.
A. Just before dawn Jesus goes for a stroll on the water. And was about to pass by them.
B. Exodus 33:18-23. “Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
1. Moses is allowed to see God’s back.
2. This time Jesus was revealed face to face.
3. 1 John 3:2
4. “Take Courage! I Am.”
C. Jesus did not come to us to give up on us so easily.
1. Disciples never stopped rowing—trust.
2. Lord willing do we—keep rowing.
3. Jesus takes our sin seriously—we need Him.
4. When we truly understand our sin, we understand the depth of God’s love in Jesus.
D. Illustration of the tree that doesn’t give up.

Conclusion: Hardness of the heart is a spiritual disease caused by too much exposure to our culture. We all suffer from it. And yet when we look out on that lake with the disciples, we see our Savior and we hear His voice calling to us. Only in Christ are we people of compassion, followers with depth, and ready to trust in Him enough to live like we truly love Him. By His grace we do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Taking it Home
1. Do you struggle to understand the Word? What methods have helped do better? What has not worked?
2. What parts of your spiritual life needs sharpening?
3. Give one moment from this week that you have given thanks for Jesus being with you?
Consider Reading Exodus 33:12-23 1 Kings 19:1-18

PRINTABLE PDF: MNJuly25.PDF