Seeing the Extraordinary Beyond the Familiar

Devotional

Day 1: Faith Beyond Familiarity

The people of Nazareth could not see beyond the familiar carpenter to recognize Jesus' divine power. Their lack of faith limited the miracles they could experience. This teaches us that familiarity can breed contempt and hinder our ability to see God's work in our lives. We must strive to see the cosmic beyond the common. [40:14]

Mark 6:1-6 tells the story of Jesus returning to His hometown, where He is met with skepticism and disbelief. Despite His teachings and miracles, the people could not see beyond the common carpenter they knew to recognize His divine power. This lack of faith amazed Jesus and limited the miracles He could perform there. The key lesson here is that to move from the safe to the supernatural, we must see the cosmic beyond the common. Has Jesus become too familiar to you? Does the Gospel still excite you? If not, perhaps Jesus has become too common in your life. We must look beyond the ordinary to expect and experience the extraordinary. When we do, we open ourselves to the goosebumps moments that come from witnessing God’s power in action.

Matthew 13:57-58 (ESV): "And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.' And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief."

Reflection: Think of a time when you may have overlooked God's work in your life because it seemed too familiar or ordinary. How can you begin to see the extraordinary in the everyday moments?

Day 2: God Rewards Faith

Jesus' inability to perform many miracles in Nazareth was not due to a lack of power but a lack of faith among the people. God operates within His character, rewarding those who have faith. This challenges us to examine our own faith and expectations of God's power in our lives. [46:15]

In Mark 6:1-6, Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth, where He is met with skepticism and disbelief. Despite His teachings and miracles, the people could not see beyond the common carpenter they knew to recognize His divine power. This lack of faith amazed Jesus and limited the miracles He could perform there. The key lesson here is that to move from the safe to the supernatural, we must see the cosmic beyond the common. Has Jesus become too familiar to you? Does the Gospel still excite you? If not, perhaps Jesus has become too common in your life. We must look beyond the ordinary to expect and experience the extraordinary. When we do, we open ourselves to the goosebumps moments that come from witnessing God’s power in action.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV): "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you struggle to have faith. What steps can you take today to trust God more in that area and expect His power to work?

Day 3: Rekindling Passion for the Gospel

If the Gospel no longer excites us, it may be a sign that Jesus has become too common in our lives. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus should continually stir our hearts and drive us to share this good news with others. We must rekindle our passion for the Gospel to experience the supernatural. [47:58]

The Gospel of Mark recounts Jesus' return to Nazareth, where He is met with skepticism and disbelief. Despite His teachings and miracles, the people could not see beyond the common carpenter they knew to recognize His divine power. This lack of faith amazed Jesus and limited the miracles He could perform there. The key lesson here is that to move from the safe to the supernatural, we must see the cosmic beyond the common. Has Jesus become too familiar to you? Does the Gospel still excite you? If not, perhaps Jesus has become too common in your life. We must look beyond the ordinary to expect and experience the extraordinary. When we do, we open ourselves to the goosebumps moments that come from witnessing God’s power in action.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (ESV): "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

Reflection: When was the last time you felt genuinely excited about the Gospel? What can you do today to rekindle that passion and share the good news with someone?

Day 4: Risk-Taking for the Kingdom

Goosebumps moments are often reserved for those who take risks for the Kingdom of God. Whether it's sharing the Gospel with a friend or stepping out in faith for a miracle, these moments require us to abandon safety and chase after the supernatural. [38:37]

In Mark 6:1-6, Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth, where He is met with skepticism and disbelief. Despite His teachings and miracles, the people could not see beyond the common carpenter they knew to recognize His divine power. This lack of faith amazed Jesus and limited the miracles He could perform there. The key lesson here is that to move from the safe to the supernatural, we must see the cosmic beyond the common. Has Jesus become too familiar to you? Does the Gospel still excite you? If not, perhaps Jesus has become too common in your life. We must look beyond the ordinary to expect and experience the extraordinary. When we do, we open ourselves to the goosebumps moments that come from witnessing God’s power in action.

Matthew 14:28-29 (ESV): "And Peter answered him, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.' He said, 'Come.' So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus."

Reflection: What is one risk you can take for the Kingdom of God this week? How can you step out in faith and trust God to work through your actions?

Day 5: Expecting the Supernatural

To see God move, we must expect the supernatural. This means looking beyond the ordinary and having faith that God can and will do extraordinary things. When we align our expectations with God's power, we open ourselves to experiencing His miracles. [51:50]

In Mark 6:1-6, Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth, where He is met with skepticism and disbelief. Despite His teachings and miracles, the people could not see beyond the common carpenter they knew to recognize His divine power. This lack of faith amazed Jesus and limited the miracles He could perform there. The key lesson here is that to move from the safe to the supernatural, we must see the cosmic beyond the common. Has Jesus become too familiar to you? Does the Gospel still excite you? If not, perhaps Jesus has become too common in your life. We must look beyond the ordinary to expect and experience the extraordinary. When we do, we open ourselves to the goosebumps moments that come from witnessing God’s power in action.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to raise your expectations of what God can do? How can you start looking for the supernatural in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, church. Today, we embark on a new sermon series in the Gospel of Mark. I want to start by asking you, when was the last time God gave you goosebumps? Not the kind from a great worship song, but the kind that comes from witnessing a profound spiritual moment, like a friend coming to Christ or a miraculous healing. These goosebumps are often reserved for those who take risks for the Kingdom of God. In Mark 6:1-6, we see Jesus returning to His hometown of Nazareth, where He is met with skepticism and disbelief. Despite His teachings and miracles, the people could not see beyond the common carpenter they knew to recognize His divine power. This lack of faith amazed Jesus and limited the miracles He could perform there.

Jesus came to Nazareth with the same mission He had in other towns: to preach the Gospel and perform miracles. However, the people’s familiarity with Jesus led them to doubt His abilities. They were overwhelmed with disbelief, unable to reconcile the miracles with the ordinary man they knew. This skepticism prevented them from experiencing the supernatural. Jesus could not perform many miracles there because God operates within His character, rewarding those who have faith.

The key lesson here is that to move from the safe to the supernatural, we must see the cosmic beyond the common. Has Jesus become too familiar to you? Does the Gospel still excite you? If not, perhaps Jesus has become too common in your life. We must look beyond the ordinary to expect and experience the extraordinary. When we do, we open ourselves to the goosebumps moments that come from witnessing God’s power in action.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Taking for the Kingdom**: Goosebumps moments are often reserved for those who take risks for the Kingdom of God. Whether it's sharing the Gospel with a friend or stepping out in faith for a miracle, these moments require us to abandon safety and chase after the supernatural. [38:37]
5. Expecting the Supernatural: To see God move, we must expect the supernatural. This means looking beyond the ordinary and having faith that God can and will do extraordinary things. When we align our expectations with God's power, we open ourselves to experiencing His miracles.

### [38:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Introduction to the New Series
[01:30] - Question: When Did God Last Give You Goosebumps?
[03:00] - Types of Goosebumps Moments
[04:30] - Goosebumps Reserved for Risk Takers
[05:30] - Reading Mark 6:1-6
[07:00] - Jesus' Mission in Nazareth
[08:30] - The People's Skepticism
[10:00] - The Two Uses of "Amazed"
[11:30] - Overwhelmed with Disbelief
[13:00] - Familiarity Breeds Contempt
[14:30] - Seeing the Cosmic Beyond the Common
[16:00] - Has Jesus Become Too Common?
[17:30] - Rekindling Passion for the Gospel
[19:00] - Expecting the Supernatural
[20:30] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the reaction of the people in Nazareth to Jesus' teachings and miracles? ([40:14])
According to the sermon, what was Jesus' mission when He came to Nazareth? ([41:50])
How did Jesus respond to the lack of faith in Nazareth, and what was the result? ([46:15])
What does the term "familiarity breeds contempt" mean in the context of this sermon? ([44:44])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the people of Nazareth were unable to see beyond Jesus' common background to recognize His divine power? ([44:44])
How does Hebrews 11:6 relate to Jesus' inability to perform many miracles in Nazareth? ([46:15])
What does it mean to "see the cosmic beyond the common," and how can this perspective change our faith? ([47:58])
How can the excitement of the Gospel be rekindled in our lives according to the sermon? ([47:58])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt "goosebumps" from witnessing a profound spiritual moment. What was the situation, and how did it impact your faith? ([38:37])
Have you ever found yourself doubting God's power because of familiarity with the Gospel? How can you overcome this familiarity to see the extraordinary? ([44:44])
In what ways can you take risks for the Kingdom of God this week? Identify one specific action you can take. ([38:37])
How can you cultivate a greater expectation for the supernatural in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to align your expectations with God's power? ([51:50])
Think of a person in your life who needs to hear the Gospel. How can you share the excitement of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection with them this week? ([47:58])
What are some areas in your life where you need to move from "safe" to "supernatural"? How can you start making that shift today? ([38:37])
How can you ensure that Jesus does not become "too common" in your life? What daily practices can help you maintain a fresh and vibrant relationship with Him? ([47:58])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "When is the last time that God gave you goosebumps? And I'm not talking about the goosebumps you get when Jason plays your favorite song during worship service or the goosebumps that you get when Nate is shredding on the guitar, right? Those are valid, but that's not the type of goosebumps I'm talking about this morning. I'm talking about the kind of goosebumps you get when your closest friend finally trusts in Christ after years of talking to them and praying for them." [38:37] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Goosebumps are reserved for the risk takers. Goosebumps are reserved for those who would abandon safety and chase after the supernatural. And today in our passage of Mark, Jesus reveals to us how we can move from safe to supernatural. In other words, how we can become a kingdom risk taker and thus experience the goosebumps of God." [38:37] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "If the gospel is still not riveting and capturing our hearts and stirring up within us, this unsatisfied desire to sit, to share the gospel with others, to share what Christ has done with others, then I would say maybe Jesus has become too common for us. Maybe we're too familiar with him. And listen, church, if we can't look past the common to see the cosmic and expect the supernatural, then we very rarely will see God move." [47:58] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Michael and Katie coming up without any care or concern about what others might think, not any care, about looking dignified or quote, put together without any care, whether or not their clothes would get ruined or their picture opportunity would be forfeited. They moved forward. Why? Because nothing was getting in the way of what God was doing cosmically in their life." [51:50] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Jesus, when he comes to Nazareth, he comes doing the exact same thing, if you're following the book of Mark, that he was doing in every single town. He was preaching the gospel and he was performing or attempting to perform in many cases successfully, not in this case, these miracles, healing people, casting out demons, restoring this sight to the blind. And so Jesus came to perform, to perform what we might call his why, his reason for living. He was on a mission to live out his purpose." [41:50] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "They could not reconcile that the fact that the same hands that were said to be creating these miracles were the calloused hands of their local carpenter they're like it's got to be a sham it to be a mix-up these stories they can't they can't be true right if we if we if what we know from the prophecy of isaiah 53 is true it said that jesus in isaiah 53 2 it says that jesus was likely underwhelming in his appearance which means he he wasn't that attractive okay and that he was not someone who was likely or naturally esteemed that meant he didn't really he didn't really garner respect by his capacity right so couple that with the the fact that Nazareth had a familiarity with Jesus, Jesus was simply too common to have any cosmic power." [44:44] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "He always operates within his character. And part of God's character is that he is a rewarder of those who have faith, right? Hebrews six says, or Hebrews, I'm probably misquoting here in Hebrews. It says that Jesus is a rewarder of those who have faith and that come to him. So, so, so inside of his, his character, he couldn't perform the miracles. And in verse six, again, it says he was amazed at their lack of faith. In other words, he was astounded at how little faith they had. And as a result, he knew he couldn't do miracles there. And then as a result of that, none of the people there could experience the goosebumps of God." [46:15] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "If we want to move from safe to supernatural, we have to be able to see the cosmic beyond the common. We have to see the cosmic beyond the common. Let me ask you this question. Has Jesus become too common to you? Like when the gospel is shared, Jesus' death, his burial, his resurrection from the dead. Does that excite you? Right? Like I'm just being honest and transparent. Sometimes I'm like, oh no, another Easter message, right? Just being real here. It's easy at times to lose the excitement when we hear the gospel." [47:58] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Pastor Kerry, for him to even extend the invitation for people to come up, if he didn't have an expectation that someone would move, maybe he would have looked forward to it. Maybe he would have looked forward to it. Maybe he would have did it. Why? Because he has expectation. And then of course, Michael and Katie coming up without any care or concern about what others might think, not any care, about looking dignified or quote, put together without any care, whether or not their clothes would get ruined or their picture opportunity would be forfeited. They moved forward. Why? Because nothing was getting in the way of what God was doing cosmically in their life." [51:50] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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