The Wonders of Willingness - Mark 9:14-39 Part Two - Sermon in Outline Format

The Wonders of Willingness

Mark 9:14-29

Introduction

v If you are willing, you can work miracles in your life.

v Willingness added to honesty, humility, open mindedness, acceptance and patience can result in wonderful changes in your life.

v Actually, willingness is sometimes the most powerful characteristic in our personalities.

v It is equal to that “mustard seed’s worth of faith” about which Jesus speaks in the parable of the sower.

v With a sincere effort to learn, grow, heal and resolve all of life’s challenges on a daily basis, one utilizes willingness to actualize one’s God given talents and natural endowments.

v Willingness empowers us to tap latent gifts.

v It allows us to excel rather than merely achieve and succeed.

v It is amazing what one can accomplish if one is simply willing to try.

v Remember that you have to be willing to fail before you can succeed.

v Success is never promised in advance.

v It comes to those who are willing to believe in themselves, invest in themselves and find the wherewithal to risk.

v Even the innumerable blessings of the Christian are reserved for those who are willing to take the “existential risk of faith.”

v Yet, willingness results I wonders and miracles.

v Willingness is your God-given power to work a miracle in your life.

Body

I.                  Biblical Examples – Lack of Willingness

A. Pharaoh                             Exodus chapters 1-12

B. Absalom                             2 Samuel chapters 13-19

C. King Herod              Acts 12

D. Eli’s sons                  1 Samuel

E. Samson                     Judges 16

F. Saul                           I Samuel 15

G. Miriam                     Exodus

II.               Characteristics of Willfulness

v Pride

v Ego

v Close mindedness

v Refusal to let go of the old way of doing things

v Intellectual laziness

v Self centered fear

v Desire to keep things as they are

v Preference of the familiar even if it is hurtful

v Clinging to one’s comfort zone

v Inflexibility

v Anal-retentive behavior

v Control freak

v Workaholism

v Superstition

v Lack of creativity or imagination

v Faithlessness and hopelessness

v Latent cynicism and skepticism

III.           Biblical Examples – Use of Willingness

1. Naaman the Leper             2 Kings

2. Woman w/Issue Blood       Mark 5

3. Bartimaeus                         Mark

4. Zaccheus                                      Luke

5. Leper                                  Mark 1

6. Hannah                              1 Samuel