These slides accompany the Bible ministry video here: http://youtu.be/DQ1-0no0Ag4

1. Welcome to Grace!
For freedom Christ has set us free.
Stand firm, then,
and do not be subject again
to the yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
“I’ve got nothing
against God
… it’s His fan club I
can’t stand”

2. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction

3. Please notice that Jesus has
already (in Mark 2:21-22) spelled
out that institutional religion
and Christianity are not
compatible.
• Religion is to do with the
codification and
institutionalisation of rules,
regulations and ritual.
• Following the King in the
Kingdom of God is to do with
repentance and restoration to
relationship.
One of those is Christianity.
The other is not.

4. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger 2:23-27
Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his
disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their way.
24 So the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is
against the law on the Sabbath?”
25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he
was in need and he and his companions were hungry— 26 how he
entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the
sacred bread, which is against the law for any but the priests to eat,
and also gave it to his companions?”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for people, not
people for the Sabbath. 28 For this reason the Son of Man is Lord even
of the Sabbath

5. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger 2:23-27
Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his
disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their
way.

6. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger 2:23-27
Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his
disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their
way.
24 So the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what
is against the law on the Sabbath?”

7. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger 2:23-27
Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his
disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their
way.
24 So the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what
is against the law on the Sabbath?”
25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when
he was in need and he and his companions were hungry—
26 how he entered the house of God when Abiathar was high
priest and ate the sacred bread, which is against the law for
any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to his companions?”

8. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger 2:23-27
Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his
disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their way.
24 So the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is
against the law on the Sabbath?”
25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he
was in need and he and his companions were hungry— 26 how he
entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the
sacred bread, which is against the law for any but the priests to eat,
and also gave it to his companions?”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for people, not
people for the Sabbath. 28 For this reason the Son of Man is Lord even
of the Sabbath

9. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6

10. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
Then Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a
withered hand.
2 They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, so
that they could accuse him.
3 So he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Stand up among all these
people.”
4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save
a life or destroy it?” But they were silent.
5 After looking around at them in anger, grieved by the hardness of their
hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his
hand was restored.
6 So the Pharisees went out immediately and began plotting with the
Herodians, as to how they could assassinate him.

11. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
Then Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who
had a withered hand.
2 They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath,
so that they could accuse him.

12. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
Then Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who
had a withered hand.
2 They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath,
so that they could accuse him.
3 So he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Stand up among
all these people.”
4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil,
to save a life or destroy it?” But they were silent.

13. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
Then Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who
had a withered hand.
2 They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath,
so that they could accuse him.
3 So he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Stand up among
all these people.”
4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil,
to save a life or destroy it?” But they were silent.
5 After looking around at them in anger, grieved by the hardness of
their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched
it out, and his hand was restored.

14. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
Then Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a
withered hand.
2 They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, so
that they could accuse him.
3 So he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Stand up among all these
people.”
4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save
a life or destroy it?” But they were silent.
5 After looking around at them in anger, grieved by the hardness of their
hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his
hand was restored.
6 So the Pharisees went out immediately and began plotting with the
Herodians, as to how they could assassinate him.

15. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
• Response to God’s Kingdom meeting need: 3:7-12

16. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
• Response to God’s Kingdom meeting need: 3:7-12
Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from
Galilee followed him.
And from Judea,8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan River, and around Tyre
and Sidon a great multitude came to him when they heard about the things he
had done.
9 Because of the crowd, he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him
so the crowd would not press toward him. 10 For he had healed many, so that
all who were afflicted with diseases pressed toward him in order to touch him.
11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and
cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But he sternly ordered them not to make
him known.

17. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
• Response to God’s Kingdom meeting need: 3:7-12
Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great
multitude from Galilee followed him.

18. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
• Response to God’s Kingdom meeting need: 3:7-12
Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great
multitude from Galilee followed him.
And from Judea,8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan River, and
around Tyre and Sidon a great multitude came to him when they heard
about the things he had done.

19. … from Judea,8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan River,
and around Tyre and Sidon a great multitude came to him

20. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
• Response to God’s Kingdom meeting need: 3:7-12
Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great
multitude from Galilee followed him.
And from Judea,8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan River, and
around Tyre and Sidon a great multitude came to him when they heard
about the things he had done.
9 Because of the crowd, he told his disciples to have a small boat ready
for him so the crowd would not press toward him. 10 For he had healed
many, so that all who were afflicted with diseases pressed toward him
in order to touch him.

21. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
• Response to God’s Kingdom meeting need: 3:7-12
Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from
Galilee followed him.
And from Judea,8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan River, and around Tyre
and Sidon a great multitude came to him when they heard about the things he
had done.
9 Because of the crowd, he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him
so the crowd would not press toward him. 10 For he had healed many, so that
all who were afflicted with diseases pressed toward him in order to touch him.
11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and
cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But he sternly ordered them not to make
him known.

22. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
• Response to God’s Kingdom meeting need: 3:7-12
• Conclusion
 Religion sets you rules: Jesus sets you free.
 Religion is going to gun for you if you’re a follower of Jesus.
 Now let’s be clear on this, that religion which is self-reliant insistence on
rules and ritual can take any number of forms.
 It’s not some particular religion we’re discussing here.
It’s religionS (if you like) over against turning away from sinful self-reliance to
live trusting in Jesus, and we HAVE to stand away from the former to get
clarity on the latter.
 If Jesus needed to do that in first century Palestine,
we DEFINITELY need to do it in 21 st. century Wales!