03_What_Binds_the_Unclean.pdf

of the Sermon**

In this sermon, we continued our series on “Awe & Wonder” by exploring the story of Jesus healing the demon-possessed man in the region of the Gerasenes (Mark 5:1-20). We traced the journey from Jesus calming the storm to His encounter with a man who was unclean in every way—spiritually, physically, socially, and economically. The sermon highlighted how Jesus’ authority brings freedom from what binds and cripples us, whether it’s sin, fear, or spiritual oppression. We contrasted the responses to Jesus’ power: some, like the townspeople, recoiled in fear and rejected Him, while the healed man responded with obedience and proclamation. The call was to confront what makes us unclean, receive Christ’s mercy, and then go and share what He has done for us with awe and wonder.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The Nature of Spiritual Bondage and Freedom The story of the demon-possessed man reveals that spiritual bondage is not just about external behaviors but about what binds our hearts and minds. Sin and unclean influences isolate, degrade, and drive us toward despair, much like the man among the tombs. True freedom comes not from our own strength or self-improvement, but from encountering Jesus, who alone has the authority to break every chain. This freedom is not just release from the past, but a restoration to wholeness and dignity.
• 2. Awe and Wonder vs. Anxiety and Worry The miracles of Jesus invite us to trade our anxiety and striving for awe and wonder at His presence and power. When our focus shifts from the storms around us or the uncleanness within us to the One who commands the winds and restores the broken, we find rest and contentment. Awe is not a passive feeling but an active posture of the heart that leads to gratitude, worship, and trust. The loss of awe often signals that we are clinging to control or fear rather than surrendering to Christ.
• 3. The Danger of Familiarity with the Unclean The account challenges us to examine what we have grown comfortable with that is unclean or unholy in our lives. Sometimes, like the townspeople, we would rather keep our familiar patterns—even if they are destructive—than allow Jesus to disrupt them. The unclean spirits preferred pigs to the abyss, and the people preferred their commerce to the presence of Christ. We must ask ourselves whether we are willing to let go of what is unclean, even if it costs us, in order to receive the mercy and transformation Jesus offers.
• 4. Responding to Jesus: Fear or Faith The contrasting responses in the story—fear that drives Jesus away versus faith that follows and proclaims—invite us to consider our own reaction to Christ’s work in our lives. Are we so afraid of what Jesus might change or expose that we push Him away, or do we run to Him, even from a distance, and submit to His authority? The healed man’s obedience, even when it meant staying behind and sharing his story, models a faith that is willing to be sent and to testify, regardless of personal preference.
• 5. The Call to Proclaim God’s Mercy Jesus sends the healed man back to his own people with a simple but profound mission: tell what the Lord has done and how He has had mercy. Our testimony is not about having all the answers or perfect theology, but about bearing witness to the mercy we have received. Awe and wonder are not just private experiences; they propel us outward to share hope with others. The challenge is not just to marvel at what Jesus has done, but to go and report it—to let our lives and words be a living proclamation of His redeeming love.

1. In Mark 5:1-20, what are some ways the demon-possessed man is described as “unclean” (spiritually, physically, socially, and economically)?
2. How do the townspeople react after Jesus heals the man and the pigs are drowned? What do they ask Jesus to do?
3. What does Jesus tell the healed man to do after he asks to go with Him?
4. According to Colossians 1:13-14, what has God done for us through Jesus?

1. Why do you think the townspeople were afraid of Jesus after He healed the man, instead of being amazed or grateful?
2. The sermon says that spiritual bondage is not just about outward actions, but about what binds our hearts and minds. What are some examples of things that can bind us today, even if they aren’t as obvious as demon possession?
3. The healed man wanted to follow Jesus physically, but Jesus sent him back to his own people to share his story. What does this say about the importance of sharing our testimony, even if it’s uncomfortable or not what we expected?
4. The sermon contrasts awe and wonder with anxiety and worry. How does focusing on Jesus’ authority and mercy help us move from worry to awe?

1. The sermon challenges us to confront what makes us “unclean.” Is there a habit, relationship, or thought pattern in your life that you’ve grown comfortable with, even though you know it’s not honoring to God? What would it look like to let Jesus disrupt that area?
2. The townspeople preferred their familiar way of life—even though it was unclean—over the presence of Jesus. Are there things in your life you’re holding onto because they feel safe or familiar, even if they’re not good for you spiritually?
3. The healed man obeyed Jesus by sharing his story, even though it meant staying behind. Is there someone in your life who needs to hear what God has done for you? What’s one step you could take this week to share your story or God’s mercy with them?
4. The sermon says that awe and wonder are not just feelings, but a posture of the heart that leads to gratitude, worship, and trust. When was the last time you felt true awe at what Jesus has done for you? What helps you recapture that sense of wonder?
5. Sometimes we trade awe for anxiety and wonder for worry. What is one specific worry or fear you need to surrender to Jesus this week? How can you remind yourself of His authority and love in that area?
6. The passage in Colossians says we have been “rescued from the domain of darkness.” How does remembering your own rescue story help you face current struggles or temptations?
7. Jesus calls us to go and proclaim what He has done for us. What’s one practical way you can let your life and words be a living proclamation of His redeeming love this month?