Radical Discipleship: Embracing Humility and Rejecting Sin

This morning, we gathered as a people made alive by God’s mercy, reminded that even our faith is a gift from the Holy Spirit. We confessed together that salvation is not earned by our works, but is given by God’s grace alone. As we opened Mark 9:38-50, we encountered Jesus’ sobering words to his disciples, who were caught up in pride, rivalry, and jealousy—arguing over who was the greatest and excluding others who did good in Jesus’ name. Jesus responded by teaching that true discipleship requires a radical seriousness about sin, especially the subtle sins of pride and self-importance that so easily take root in our hearts and communities.

Jesus’ warning is stark: it is better to lose a hand, a foot, or an eye than to let sin rule in our lives and lead us—or others—away from him. He uses graphic language to show the eternal consequences of sin, not to terrify us, but to awaken us to the reality that sin is never harmless. Our pride, our jealousy, our desire to be first—these are not small matters. They can cause others to stumble, fracture the peace of the church, and ultimately separate us from God. Jesus calls us to a decisive war against these sins, not just for our own sake, but for the sake of the whole body of Christ.

Yet, the call to radical self-denial is not a burden we carry alone. The good news is that Jesus himself endured the unquenchable fire of judgment on our behalf. He was “cut off” for us, so that we might be forgiven and set free. Our seriousness about sin is not a desperate attempt to earn God’s favor, but a grateful response to the Savior who took our sin more seriously than we ever could. We are invited to bring our pride, our jealousy, our failures to the cross, trusting that God is faithful to forgive and to empower us by his Spirit to pursue peace, humility, and unity as a church family. In this, we become a living witness to the world of God’s transforming love.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Gift of Faith and the Danger of Pride Faith itself is a gift from God, not something we muster on our own. When we forget this, pride creeps in, tempting us to boast in our own righteousness and to look down on others. True humility begins with recognizing that every good thing—including our ability to believe—comes from God’s mercy, not our merit. This humility is the soil in which genuine discipleship grows. [13:43]
• 2. Sin’s Subtlety and the Call to Radical Surgery Sin rarely appears as dangerous as it truly is; it often masquerades as harmless or even desirable. Jesus’ command to “cut off” whatever causes us to sin is a call to ruthless honesty and decisive action against anything—habits, attitudes, relationships—that feeds our pride or leads us or others astray. This is not about self-mutilation, but about a willingness to lose what feels essential if it keeps us from Christ. [38:43]
• 3. The Eternal Consequences of Our Choices Jesus does not soften the reality of hell or the seriousness of sin’s consequences. The imagery of unquenchable fire and undying worm is meant to awaken us to the stakes of our choices—not to paralyze us with fear, but to fuel a passion for holiness and compassion for others. Our lives and actions have eternal significance, both for ourselves and for those we influence. [41:23]
• 4. The True Test of Discipleship: Peace and Unity Jesus’ command to “have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another” points to the heart of Christian witness. When pride, rivalry, and division are allowed to fester, the church loses its distinctiveness and its power to preserve and bless. The ultimate proof that we are taking sin seriously is not just personal piety, but our ability to pursue peace, humility, and unity in our relationships. [44:09]
• 5. The Cross: Where Judgment and Mercy Meet The radical demands of Jesus are not a new law to crush us, but an invitation to bring our sin to the cross. There, Jesus endured the judgment we deserve, so that we might be forgiven and transformed. Our seriousness about sin is a reflection of our gratitude for a Savior who took our sin upon himself, and our hope is anchored in his finished work, not our own efforts. [51:19]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Announcements and Community Life
• [03:45] - Confession of Faith and Prayer
• [07:30] - Worship in Song
• [13:43] - Introduction to Mark 9:38-50
• [15:00] - The Disciples’ Pride and Exclusion
• [18:30] - Jesus’ Response: Welcoming the “Little Ones”
• [27:10] - The Deceptive Nature of Sin
• [30:48] - The Danger of Jealousy and Rivalry
• [34:42] - What is a True Disciple?
• [37:24] - Jesus’ Warning: Causing Others to Stumble
• [38:43] - Radical Surgery Against Sin
• [41:23] - The Reality of Hell and Divine Judgment
• [44:09] - Salt, Peace, and the Witness of the Church
• [45:35] - Practical Applications: Hands, Feet, and Eyes
• [51:19] - The Cross: Christ’s Sacrifice for Our Sin
• [53:57] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Reading

Mark 9:38-50 (ESV) —
> 38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
>
> 42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Observation Questions

1. What were the disciples doing that showed their pride and jealousy, according to verses 38-41? ([30:48])
2. How does Jesus describe the seriousness of causing “one of these little ones” to stumble? What imagery does he use? ([37:24])
3. What does Jesus say to do if your hand, foot, or eye causes you to sin? What is the point of this graphic language? ([38:43])
4. According to verse 50, what does Jesus say is the connection between “having salt in yourselves” and being at peace with one another? ([44:09])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus responds so strongly to the disciples’ attempt to exclude someone who was doing good in his name? What does this reveal about the heart of true discipleship? ([32:09])
2. Jesus uses very strong language about cutting off parts of the body to avoid sin. What is he really asking his followers to do, and why is he so radical about it? ([38:43])
3. The sermon says that pride, jealousy, and the desire to be first are not “small matters.” Why are these particular sins so dangerous in the life of a church? ([35:58])
4. How does the reality of Jesus enduring judgment on the cross for us change the way we approach our own sin and failures? ([51:19])

Application Questions

1. The sermon pointed out that pride and jealousy can be subtle and often seem harmless. Can you think of a recent situation where you noticed pride or jealousy in your own heart? How did it affect your actions or relationships? ([49:30])
2. Jesus calls us to take radical action against sin, even if it means “cutting off” something that feels essential. Is there a habit, relationship, or attitude in your life that you sense God is asking you to let go of for the sake of following Jesus more closely? What would it look like to take a first step? ([45:35])
3. The sermon gave examples of how pride can show up in church life—like wanting to be recognized, complaining about others, or comparing ourselves. Which of these do you struggle with most, and how can you bring it to the cross this week? ([46:48])
4. Jesus says that our seriousness about sin is not about earning God’s favor, but a grateful response to his mercy. How does this perspective help you when you feel overwhelmed by your own failures? ([52:31])
5. “Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.” What is one practical way you can pursue peace and unity in your relationships at church this week? ([44:09])
6. The sermon mentioned that our actions can cause others to stumble or be encouraged. Is there someone in your life who might be affected by your example—either positively or negatively? How can you be more intentional about encouraging them in faith? ([42:42])
7. The cross is where judgment and mercy meet. When you think about Jesus being “cut off” for you, how does that shape your willingness to confess sin and seek help from others? ([51:19])