And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach – Mark 3:14

CONSIDER
The video above gives a little behind the scenes into this new series, including how the graphics are a nod to the way we’re framing what it looks like to be disrupted. Holy disruptions will reveal how much clarity we have around our mission and the starting point for that is solitude, time in God’s presence. More time spent with God, who is creating and speaking over us, determines our identity. Remove the excuses, carve out the time. You’ll be so glad you did.

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How will I spend more time with God this week?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. – Mark 3:10

GREEK
μάστιγας/mastigas: lit. taken from the word for “whip,” an ailment that comes with debilitating pain

CONSIDER
Of the 73 Psalms attributed to David, few are quoted more often than Psalm 103. In it, David speaks to his soul and tells it to ascribe blessing to the Lord for his many benefits. One of those benefits is that the Lord “heals all your diseases.” The Hebrew word for disease in this verse (tachalu) is translated both disease and pain in the Old Testament. So it’s not surprising that Mark would use a similar Greek word to describe the reason for the crowd pressing around Jesus to touch him. This crowd had heard of Jesus healing many already, and now all who had mastigas (painful disease) were desperate for healing. This was potentially a disruption for Jesus. He was in the midst of calling and preparing his disciples for ministry, for proclaiming the Kingdom of God and announcing his position as Messiah. As we see in other sections of Mark, this required Jesus to seek out time with his Father and focus in solitude. However, rather than dismissing their debilitating pain – mastigas is directly connected to the word for a whip – the compassion of Jesus for the crowd shone through.
We all know what it’s like to be in pain. The desire to do whatever it takes to get relief for our suffering is universal. Many in the crowd that day were in this situation, and the Great Physician chose to have his agenda disrupted so that those who needed it would find that relief. May we never feel as though our pain is either too trivial or too burdensome to bring to Jesus! He sees us in our distressed state and not only does something about it, but he also willingly entered that distressed state so that our mastigas could be fully and eternally taken care of. As we’re reminded in Psalm 103:3, the Lord both forgives our sin and heals our diseases. Bless the Lord, O my soul!

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How will I spend more time with God this week?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach – Mark 3:14

GREEK
ὦσιν/ōsin: they would find their being, they would exist

CONSIDER
When Michaelangelo reluctantly agreed to paint the Sistine Chapel, he knew it would require incredible dedication. He foresaw the painstaking hours lying on scaffolding and incredible concentration to the minute details of his artwork. During the entire duration of his assignment he carried only one book to indulge in on breaks, a book of sermons by a local Florentine Pastor named Girolamo Savonarola. Savonarola would be known to history as a Pre-Reformer of the church, but Michaelangelo found inspiration in his message that Jesus’ presence is available to every believer. It’s been said that many of the panels on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel are essentially illustrated Savonarola sermons.
At first glance the painting of the Sistine Chapel has little to do with this week’s passage in Mark. But upon further review both stories involve the discovery of a simple, but important truth: when Christ calls us to action, he begins by calling us to himself first! Mark states this clearly in verse 14, giving two reasons for Jesus calling his apostles. The first of which is so that ōsin (they would be found with, they would exist with) Jesus. Rather than Mark indicating that Jesus called his apostles to receive instruction from him, or even learn theology from their Rabbi, his use of the primary verb ōsin shows that Jesus just wanted them to live their lives around him. His presence is the catalyst for everything he would then call them to complete! Michelangelo was reading similar ideas in the sermons of Savonarola, but in the time of the Renaissance this counted as heresy. Savonarola was hanged and burned for his teaching that the presence of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit was required for effective ministry, not sacraments, penance or indulgences. And in the solitude of that chapel Michaelangelo used that truth to bask in the presence of God, regain strength and finish the work set before him. Before Jesus holds men and women accountable for the work he calls them to, he first invites them to ōsin him. The results of this truth can still be seen in an Italian work of art, and in our lives today.

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How will I spend more time with God this week?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. – Mark 3:24

CONSIDER
How do you respond when you’re proven wrong? Whether you contest the facts or concede the point, it can be difficult to give in to the reality of being mistaken. However, one of the roles of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to convict us of our sin. In other words, He shows us where we’re wrong and how to respond to that truth. For more insight into what Jesus has to say about the Sprit’s role in our lives, check out the video above!

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How will I deepen my Gospel-centered community?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—  – Mark 3:29

GREEK
βλασφημήσῃ/blasphēmēsē: to vilify or speak impiously

CONSIDER
If you’re reading this, it’s likely you have used the phrase “Great minds think alike” in a way that differs from its originally intended meaning. A full quotation of this modern proverb claims “Great minds think alike, but fools seldom differ.” In its proper context, this famous line is actually doing the opposite of what we typically want it to. Rather than celebrating similar thinking, it is actually warning against thinking too much like other people and not forming independent opinions. Without a full picture, we miss the point.
It’s encouraging to know that this is the case with one of the most difficult teachings of Jesus. He tells us that whoever blasphēmēsē (shall speak impiously) against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness. Without context, we’re left to wonder what this warning could consist of, and whether or not we’ve already committed this insidious act. It is not unpardonable to ask questions, be confused, or even harbor skepticism at God’s work in the world. The problem becomes evident as Jesus is correcting the theology of Jerusalem’s wisest teachers of the Law, and they continue to believe he has an unclean spirit. These Scribes blasphēmēsē by impugning God’s grace and are unwilling to repent and allow the instruction of Jesus to change them. The Spirit wants to work in them, but they refuse. Reading today’s verse without understanding its full context is like quoting “Great minds think alike” without finishing the phrase: it produces the opposite result it was intended to! Jesus’ warning was not meant to instill fear and dread but rather to encourage us to seek the grace that God offers through his Spirit.

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How will I deepen my Gospel-centered community?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! – Mark 3:34

GREEK
καθημένους/kathēmenous: dwelled with, remained with, resided with

CONSIDER
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
– Abide With Me, written by Henry Francis Lyte

This beloved hymn has been sung during some of the most difficult times in life. It was on the lips of nurse Edith Cavell the night she was executed by the Germans for aiding wounded English soldiers during WWI. It was performed in honor of those who had lost their lives at Ground Zero just ten days after the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. The comfort from these lyrics are found in their simplicity: the singer asks Jesus not for his resources but for his presence alone. Merely abiding with him brings us what we need, even in the most tumultuous times.
That criteria is expressed by Jesus in Mark 3:34, when he looked around at those who kathēmenous (dwelled with, resided with) him and declared that they were his true family. This is the only time Mark uses this word, and it indicates how the new family Jesus calls into existence gets formed. Jesus looked at those who were simply living life in proximity to him and reshaped their identity. He doesn’t call them into the family because of their wealth, capability or cultural leverage. However, the following verse shows Jesus telling his audience that “whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” So which is it? Do we belong because we kathēmenous Jesus or because we do his will? The answer is found in each verb tense. Kathēmenous is in the present tense, meaning the disciples were currently and actively found dwelling with Jesus. The phrase “will of God” in verse 35 is written in the aorist tense, meaning it is a future response to a current reality. It’s as if Jesus is telling us that once we understand the identity-shaping grace of dwelling with him, we can’t help but respond by doing the will of God! His presence will provide the tools necessary to do the work he asks of us.

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How will I deepen my Gospel-centered community?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” – Mark 4:9

CONSIDER
While this week is one of giving thanks, it’s also a week of plenty of consuming. And just like the calories we’ll consume need to be acted on for us to remain healthy, the Word we hear – the seeds sown into our lives – need to be acted on to grow spiritually healthy. So how will you allow the soil of your life to be disrupted so that you can go deeper? Take a look at the video and be sure to make time this week to BE with Jesus and act on what you’ve heard!

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How will I act on what I’ve heard?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, – Mark 4:11

GREEK
μυστήριον/mystērion: something mysterious, or previously unknown

CONSIDER
In 2006 a self-help book called The Secret was published to some significant acclaim. Celebrities, sports figures and even businesspeople touted its contents as revolutionary and pivotal to their success. The Secret unpacks the New Age concept of the Law of Attraction, which states that positive thinking is the covert way to improve your health, make you wealthier and enhance your relationships. The problem with the Law of Attraction (among many others) is that since the 19th century only a few people have known the true secret to unlocking its power, but if you figure out who they are and how to hear from them, you too can benefit from it. Thus, the secret remains a secret to the majority of people.
In Mark 4, Jesus told his disciples that they had been given the mystērion (a mystery that had been previously unknown) of the kingdom of God. Without a proper understanding of this Greek word, we run the risk of thinking that Jesus is sharing something private that only a certain few people can figure out and pass along. If this is the case, the kingdom of God and the Law of Attraction would have much in common. However, mystērion carries with it the idea of shedding light on something that had previously been considered a mystery. So in the context of this verse, Jesus is telling his disciples that God has taken a concept once shrouded in mystery (the kingdom of God) and made it plain to them. The emphasis is on God making clear what had previously been hazy. Instead of uncovering a secret that will only be revealed to a few, this mystērion is a mystery that can be universally known by faith! This Kingdom is for anyone and everyone who wants to be included in it. But the entrance to that kingdom, a mystērion for so long, has been revealed in Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Thank God that this truth is not hidden from humanity!

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How will I act on what I’ve heard?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. – Mark 4:17

GREEK
σκανδαλίζονται/skandalizontai: they are enticed to be tripped up

CONSIDER
In Exodus 18, Moses shares the story of a family get-together with his father-in-law Jethro. The Israelites had been through some harrowing experiences escaping Egyptian pursuers, crossing the Red Sea and enduring the wilderness. Verse 8 tells us that Moses shared these experiences with Jethro, and his response after hearing the news was to praise God for delivering them from these difficulties (9-10). The hardships and persecution the Israelites faced were key factors in Jethro’s worship of God.
Tribulations have a way of revealing what is on the inside of us. When Jesus explained his parable of the sower, he revealed that the seed that fell on rocky ground are those people who hear the word and receive it with joy, but when they experience persecution or tribulation because of the word, immediately skandalizontai (they are enticed to be tripped up, or ensnared). These hardships act the way a trap for a small animal or bird does: they capture us in a snare that we don’t see coming. In fact, skandalizontai is derived from the word for the stick that holds up a trap. Once touched, it triggers the snare and catches the prey. Jesus is teaching that if we’re not careful, persecution can uproot the word that we have heard and trap us into thinking that God isn’t fair or doesn’t care. But these hardships don’t have to act like a skandalizontai! Much like Moses and Jethro, a life rooted in the truth of God’s word can take difficulties as they come and leverage them for worship. As we face the troubles of life and the trials that may come from following Jesus, let’s focus on preparing our hearts for the word to be rooted firmly enough to avoid the traps that will inevitably seek to ensnare us.

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How will I act on what I’ve heard?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. – Mark 4:24

CONSIDER
Check out this week’s devotional video to hear our heart behind this Advent season and then keep reading to learn more about some language you can use in your home to frame the opportunities all around us to be generous.

IN·EQUAL MEASURE
Inequal isn’t a modern word. According to Webster’s, inequal is the archaic version of unequal. Inequality, however, is a word that is not only modern but current and in the front of minds and movements across society. Inequality is defined as: the quality of being unequal or uneven; such as social disparity, disparity of distribution or opportunity.
So even though inequal isn’t a modern word, it’s a pivotal concept and particularly pertinent to the Advent season. While we should daily celebrate what Jesus has done for us, in these weeks, we are particularly mindful of the grace, mercy, forgiveness and love extended to us. How should we respond to this gift of “inequal measure”? What if our response to such a gift was to give In Equal Measure? Could we challenge ourselves to give in equal measure (to well-vetted organizations) what we spend on gift-giving this holiday season? This is a significant challenge and shift in mindset, for sure, but one worth considering, and we can’t wait to further explain this concept in next Monday’s video. For now, though, we encourage you to be mindful of the immeasurable (inequal/unequal) gift we’ve been given, and pray it compels you to be generous.

For this week, our singular focus will be the Convoy of Hope One Day to Feed the World offering. In future weeks we will highlight additional organizations, from local to international. If you’ve already given to One Day to Feed the World but want to do more, you can also give to their other programs (Disaster Relief, Women’s Empowerment, and more). Simply choose the same Convoy of Hope dropdown on the Give Page and send us an email at connect@centerwaychurch.com to advise us of the specific designation other than One Day. Click here to give to Convoy of Hope. If you prefer to give by check, make payable to Centerway Church, add designation in memo, and mail to: PO Box 4, Victor, NY 14564

APPLY
What Christ-Centered resources will I use to sharpen my spiritual perception?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. – Mark 4:24

GREEK
Βλέπετε/Blepete: to perceive or examine carefully

CONSIDER
Martin Luther was enjoying dinner at his home when his dog smelled the meal and immediately sat at his master’s side. The dog stared intently at Luther, hoping to get a scrap of food from the hand of the great reformer. Before obliging his pet, Luther commented “Oh, if I could only pray the way this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on that morsel. He thinks, wishes or hopes about nothing else. But my heart fails because it cannot hold to prayer without wandering.” Luther’s experience with prayer likely resonates with all of us who have spent time with God. Our Heavenly Father should be the one object of our focus that can keep our attention no matter what. But like the famous 18th century hymn declares, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.” Is there anything we can do about this fallen condition of ours?
In Mark 4, Jesus warns us to blepete (examine carefully or remain attentive) to what you hear. If we can blepete to Jesus’ words, his promise is that even greater spiritual perception will be ours. Much like Luther’s dog, if we are focused on the words God speaks to us, not much will be able to distract us from what he is saying. And the more we blepete with spiritual perception, the more truth will be revealed. The focus in this passage is on the power of the word of God spoken to us, not on our ability to lean in far enough to earn the approval of God. When we spend time with that word, it does the work of changing us and enlarging our spiritual perception so that as Jesus says, “still more will be added to you.”

ADVENT FOCUS // IN·EQUAL MEASURE
[See Monday’s devotional for an explanation of our “InEqual Measure” challenge.]
For this week, our singular focus will be the Convoy of Hope One Day to Feed the World offering. In future weeks we will highlight additional organizations, from local to international. If you’ve already given to One Day to Feed the World but want to do more, you can also give to their other programs (Disaster Relief, Women’s Empowerment, and more). Simply choose the same Convoy of Hope dropdown on the Give Page and send us an email at connect@centerwaychurch.com to advise us of the specific designation other than One Day. Click here to give to Convoy of Hope. If you prefer to give by check, make payable to Centerway Church, add designation in memo, and mail to: PO Box 4, Victor, NY 14564

APPLY
What Christ-Centered resources will I use to sharpen my spiritual perception?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. – Mark 4:28

GREEK
αὐτομάτη/automatē: of its own accord, self-moved; of itself

CONSIDER
At the turn of the 20th century, inventors all over the world were trying to develop a reliable and effective transmission system for “horseless carriages.” A pair of French engineers named Panhard and Levassor advanced a theory that an automatic transmission system was possible. Although they were unable to prove their theory with a working prototype, these men lectured about their ideas and tried to convince the world that a transmission that shifted on its own was attainable. The world, however, was skeptical. “More hocus-pocus from charlatans!” exclaimed one newspaper. People couldn’t wrap their minds around a vehicle that could move from gear to gear automatically.
With the benefit of hindsight, this story may seem amusing to us. We’re so accustomed to vehicles having automatic transmissions that it doesn’t lead us to marvel anymore. Similarly, the way crops grow from seed to mature plant without our intervention is tough to wrap our minds around. Jesus described this process in Mark 4:28 with the word automatē. You can probably see how the English word automatic was derived from this Greek word, and Jesus is pointing to the hidden power of the seed to germinate of its own accord. As accustomed as we have come to this process, it’s still a miraculous and powerful force of nature. We enjoy shade from trees that no one planted, and when conditions are right we can enjoy fruit that no one sowed. This must have been encouraging news for the disciples to hear, especially on the heels of hearing the Parable of the Sower. These men knew their limitations and are doubtless beginning to understand the weight of their mission. So when Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a seed that grows automatē, the onus of responsibility they likely felt shifted from their capability to God’s miraculous life-giving processes. If the promises of the kingdom were contingent on human resources, we would be tempted to hear them and exclaim “More hocus-pocus from charlatans!” Thank God the Spirit’s power works to grow the kingdom automatē.

ADVENT FOCUS // IN·EQUAL MEASURE
[See Monday’s devotional for an explanation of our “InEqual Measure” challenge.]
For this week, our singular focus will be the Convoy of Hope One Day to Feed the World offering. In future weeks we will highlight additional organizations, from local to international. If you’ve already given to One Day to Feed the World but want to do more, you can also give to their other programs (Disaster Relief, Women’s Empowerment, and more). Simply choose the same Convoy of Hope dropdown on the Give Page and send us an email at connect@centerwaychurch.com to advise us of the specific designation other than One Day. Click here to give to Convoy of Hope. If you prefer to give by check, make payable to Centerway Church, add designation in memo, and mail to: PO Box 4, Victor, NY 14564

APPLY
What Christ-Centered resources will I use to sharpen my spiritual perception?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? – Mark 4:40

CONSIDER
Go behind the scenes of our “In Equal Measure” Advent focus in this week’s devotional video. Watch to the end to see how it connects with this week’s application question. As promised in the video, keep reading for ideas on opportunities to give.

IN EQUAL MEASURE
In considering the possibility of giving to others as much as you spend on your family and friends this holiday season, you’ll of course want to direct your funds to reputable organizations. Below are some great options, but feel free to get creative and think beyond our suggestions. We’ll add to the list each Monday of December.

Open Door Mission Rochester, NY
Compassion International
Convoy of Hope

APPLY
In what area of my life will I allow the peace of Christ to rule?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. – Mark 4:39

GREEK
γαλήνη μεγάλη/galēnē megalē: mega tranquil

CONSIDER
Hurricane Irma set a record in 2017 as the longest-lasting powerful typhoon on record. It maintained 185 mph winds for 37 hours, and was categorized as a hurricane for nearly 12 days. Meteorologists tell us the storm was so fierce for so long because of a phenomenon known as low wind shear. Wind shear, or sharp changes in wind direction in the atmosphere, dissipates storms more quickly because their cross currents fight against the cyclone. These forces blow in a different direction than the hurricane does, stopping the storm from continuing its velocity. Without wind shear, the only thing to slow a storm is the terrain the storm crosses.
When Jesus spoke the word “Peace, be still” to the storm that arose over the Sea of Galilee, Mark uses the aorist tense of the phrase galēnē megalē (mega tranquil or great calm). This means the storm subsided immediately, without winding down or stalling out. While Mark means to show us the total transformation Jesus caused with his rebuke of the wind and waves, he also shows us just how quickly Jesus can change a hopeless circumstance. Two verses earlier, Mark described the storm that arose as a lailaps megalē, or mega storm. By using similar language in each verse, he tells us the situation the disciples faced went from mega stormy to mega calm with just a word from Jesus spoken into it! The whole description defied the odds; a mega storm becoming mega calm in an instant without any terrain to stop it, since they were on water. The only hope that their circumstance would change was something changing supernaturally, and Jesus delivered with the same magnitude of tranquility (megalē) that the storm dished out in chaos. When our situations seem too furious to handle, Jesus can provide peace in equal measure.

IN EQUAL MEASURE
In considering the possibility of giving to others as much as you spend on your family and friends this holiday season, you’ll of course want to direct your funds to reputable organizations. Below are some great options, but feel free to get creative and think beyond our suggestions. We’ll add to the list each Monday of December.

Open Door Mission Rochester, NY
Compassion International
Convoy of Hope

APPLY
In what area of my life will I allow the peace of Christ to rule?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” – Mark 4:41

GREEK
ὑπακούει/hypakouei: to heed a command from authority

CONSIDER
Jesus’ groundbreaking teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount paints a picture of what it looks like to live within the calling to follow him. The poor in Spirit are blessed, enemies are to be served and the way to become greatest is to be a servant to all. When Jesus instructs his listeners in the act of prayer (Matthew 7:7), he tells us to “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” In this verse the verbs ask, seek and knock are all in the present-active tense, meaning that we should actively continue these actions as long as we are found in the present! Jesus wants us to keep on asking, to keep on seeking and to keep on knocking in the context of prayer. Our consistent act of pressing forward in prayer accomplishes something supernaturally.
When studying our verse today, it’s important to notice that Mark uses the same present-active tense to communicate the obedience that the winds and waves had to the voice of Jesus. The disciples were filled with great fear because the storm was forced to hypakouei (heed the command of one in authority over another) his rebuke. The elements didn’t just pay attention in this singular instance; the wind and waves were taking orders from the authority in charge of them! The tense shows that the storm must hypakouei and continue to hypakouei as long as it was in the present. This seemingly minor point in the story has huge implications for our lives. Not only can the thing we fear be diminished with a word from the Lord, that thing is presently under his active authority. Instead of God doing battle against the wind and waves that toss us around, we can wait in peace for a word from him that our storms have to hypakouei.

IN·EQUAL MEASURE
In considering the possibility of giving to others as much as you spend on your family and friends this holiday season, you’ll of course want to direct your funds to reputable organizations. Below are some great options, but feel free to get creative and think beyond our suggestions. We’ll add to the list each Monday of December.

Open Door Mission Rochester, NY
Compassion International
Convoy of Hope

APPLY
In what area of my life will I allow the peace of Christ to rule?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. – Mark 5:2

CONSIDER
The unique thing about disruptions is that our response to them reveals what matters in our lives. Do we look for opportunities to point to Jesus through them, or lament the fact that our plans have been interrupted? Our willingness to leverage the disruptions of our life can be given to God as worship. Click the video above for a deeper dive into the text!

IN EQUAL MEASURE
In considering the possibility of giving to others as much as you spend on your family and friends this holiday season, you’ll of course want to direct your funds to reputable organizations. Below are some great options, but feel free to get creative and think beyond our suggestions. We’ll add to the list each Monday of December. [See last Monday’s devotional video if you missed the explanation of this Advent focus.]

99ONE Central New York
Builders International
Open Door Mission Rochester, NY
Compassion International
Convoy of Hope

APPLY
What disruption will I embrace?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. – Mark 5:2

GREEK
εὐθέως/eutheós: Immediately or directly

CONSIDER
“Disrupted” and “unprepared” don’t have to be synonymous with each other. In Mark 5 we see Jesus and the disciples disembarking from their boat, only to eutheós (immediately, instantly, directly) be met by a man with an unclean spirit. The gospel passage describes this man in less than flattering terms: too wild to live among people, too powerful to be held back from destroying things. Yet Jesus didn’t run in the other direction or even demonstrate his authority by vanquishing a perceived enemy. In the midst of significant disruption, Jesus demonstrated his character and took the time to care for this troubled man. His ability to respond to disruption ultimately led to the light of the kingdom breaking into the darkness of the Decapolis.
Disruptions seldom give you a warning when they are about to arrive on the scene, otherwise they wouldn’t be disruptive! They appear eutheós, and knowing that means we should prepare our hearts and minds for how we will respond when they do. This is why in 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul exhorts his ministry protege to be ready in season and out of season. The opportunity to point people to Jesus probably won’t naturally line up with our preferred timetable: the preparation Paul called us to in 2 Timothy and that Jesus exhibited in Mark 5 is our best weapon for the disruptions that inevitably will come our way.

IN EQUAL MEASURE
In considering the possibility of giving to others as much as you spend on your family and friends this holiday season, you’ll of course want to direct your funds to reputable organizations. Below are some great options, but feel free to get creative and think beyond our suggestions. We’ll add to the list each Monday of December. [See last Monday’s devotional video if you missed the explanation of this Advent focus.]

99ONE Central New York
Builders International
Open Door Mission Rochester, NY
Compassion International
Convoy of Hope

APPLY
What disruption will I embrace?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” – Mark 5:19

GREEK
ἀφῆκεν/aphēken: to release, send out, give permission

CONSIDER
In the 4th chapter of the Book of Matthew, we see Jesus call a pair of fisherman brothers to come follow him and be his disciples. The first pair, Simon and Andrew, were casting nets into the sea when Jesus called them. The second pair, James and John, were on a boat about to do the same thing when Jesus came calling. In both narratives (vs. 20 & 22) Matthew says they left (aphentes) what they were doing to follow Jesus. This story typically evokes certain emotions in its readers, be it excitement that these men walked away from their careers or surprise that they would immediately leave the family business. Whatever emotion you feel, the point is that these fishermen were bold enough to heed the call to aphentes. They walked away from their jobs to brave the unknown and say yes to God’s will.
But what emotion would you feel if God called you to walk away from your dream in order to do his will? Today’s passage reflects such a decision. A demon-possessed man had just been healed by Jesus, and his desire (naturally) was to join him on his mission. In fact, Mark 5:18 says that the man begged Jesus for the chance to come with him! But Jesus did not aphēken(send out or give permission) for him to join. This Greek word is derived from the word Matthew uses in his calling of the fishermen. Imagine having a miraculous encounter with the Messiah – being filled with awe and excitement because of his power – only to have him deny your specific dream and desire. Perhaps this sounds all too familiar. Perhaps accepting God’s call for your life has included the reality that Jesus has not aphēken for the dream you once had. However, once a person agrees to lean in to the will of God, they then have the capacity to experience the blessing of obedience in their life. Mark doesn’t go on to say just how this man’s obedience changed the Decapolis (the hometown where Jesus asked him to give his testimony) but we know from church history that one of the first places the church took root in the Gentile world was right there! It’s true that God’s calling in your life may call you away from your original dream or desire, but saying yes to that call can lead to a journey beyond your wildest dreams.

IN·EQUAL MEASURE
In considering the possibility of giving to others as much as you spend on your family and friends this holiday season, you’ll of course want to direct your funds to reputable organizations. Below are some great options, but feel free to get creative and think beyond our suggestions. We’ll add to the list each Monday of December. [See last Monday’s devotional video if you missed the explanation of this Advent focus.]

99ONE Central New York
Builders International
Open Door Mission Rochester, NY
Compassion International
Convoy of Hope

APPLY
What disruption will I embrace?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” – Mark 5:28

CONSIDER
Others may have just seen another face in the crowd, but Jesus stopped to identify this marginalized woman and made her whole. We never have to worry about whether we are seen and known by Jesus. Check out the video above for a deeper dive into this week’s text!

IN EQUAL MEASURE
In considering the possibility of giving to others as much as you spend on your family and friends this holiday season, you’ll of course want to direct your funds to reputable organizations. Below are some great options, but feel free to get creative and think beyond our suggestions. We’ll add to the list each Monday of December. [See the Monday 12.07 devotional video if you missed the explanation of this Advent focus.]

Family Promise of Ontario County
Project Rescue
99ONE Central New York
Builders International
Open Door Mission Rochester, NY
Compassion International
Convoy of Hope

APPLY
What fearful situation will I commit to trust Jesus in?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” – Mark 5:36

GREEK
παρακούσας/parakousas: to disregard or pay no attention to what is heard

CONSIDER
In 2019, a pair of Nike shoes was sold for $475,500, becoming the most expensive shoes ever auctioned. They were made using traditional materials and display the trademark Nike swoosh. What would make a seemingly typical pair of shoes fetch such an astronomical price? Their story. Twelve pair of a prototype running shoe were developed by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman for the 1972 Olympic Trials. However in order to develop the design of a deep tread on their sole, Bowerman used his wife’s waffle iron, pressed the rubber sole into its heated grid, and a legend was born. Only 12 pairs of these shoes were made using the waffle iron technique, and the shoes that sold at auction were the only pair never to have been worn.
The two characters Jesus encounters in this week’s passage couldn’t have been more different from a societal perspective. Their stories were nearly opposite in regard to gender, class status and standing within the context of the law. However each story mattered to Jesus! He uniquely met both people where they were, and cared for their physical needs and spiritual development in ways that were personal to them. Even when other people tried to convince Jesus of a different narrative, he parakousas (disregarded or paid no attention to what was heard). The God of salvation knows what others declare to be the plot of your life, and He will always get to speak the last word. It was the story behind a pair of Nike sneakers that garnered a high price at auction, but Jesus paid an infinitely greater price for you! Your story is recognized by God, and both the manger and the cross are proof of that. He was willing to spare no expense to include it in the narrative of salvation.

IN EQUAL MEASURE
In considering the possibility of giving to others as much as you spend on your family and friends this holiday season, you’ll of course want to direct your funds to reputable organizations. Below are some great options, but feel free to get creative and think beyond our suggestions. We’ll add to the list each Monday of December. [See the Monday 12.07 devotional video if you missed the explanation of this Advent focus.]

Family Promise of Ontario County
Project Rescue
99ONE Central New York
Builders International
Open Door Mission Rochester, NY
Compassion International
Convoy of Hope

APPLY
What fearful situation will I commit to trust Jesus in?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

and they were immediately overcome with amazement – Mark 5:42b

GREEK
ἀφῆκεν/aphēken: to release, send out, give permission

CONSIDER
Merry Christmas from Centerway Church! Whether you’ve leaned in to familiar traditions or the familiar has been disrupted, our prayer is that this season will remind you that God spared no expense to demonstrate his love for you. Immanuel – God with us – has provided the gift of his presence! May that truth bring us to a place where we are overcome with amazement at who Jesus is and what he has done.
To celebrate the gift of God’s presence in our lives, the creative team has written a song called “Near To Us.” We pray that through it you’ll be reminded of the love and peace of God. Click either of the links below to check it out!
Near to Us – Instagram
Near to Us – FaceBook

IN EQUAL MEASURE
In considering the possibility of giving to others as much as you spend on your family and friends this holiday season, you’ll of course want to direct your funds to reputable organizations. Below are some great options, but feel free to get creative and think beyond our suggestions. We’ll add to the list each Monday of December. [See the Monday 12.07 devotional video if you missed the explanation of this Advent focus.]

Family Promise of Ontario County
Project Rescue
99ONE Central New York
Builders International
Open Door Mission Rochester, NY
Compassion International
Convoy of Hope

APPLY
What fearful situation will I commit to trust Jesus in?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? – Mark 6:2

CONSIDER
When we let ourselves become defined by the labels that people project on us, we tend to lose sight of God’s identity-shaping power. Who are you giving permission to speak a defining word into your life? Check out the video above to go a little deeper into this week’s text!

IN EQUAL MEASURE
We’ve added to the list below on each Monday devotional of December, including today’s devo, and we hope you consider extending generosity to these organizations. [See the Monday 12.07 devotional video if you missed the explanation of this Advent focus.] In considering the possibility of giving to others as much as you spend on your family and friends this holiday season, you’ll of course want to direct your funds to reputable organizations. Below are some great options, but feel free to get creative and think beyond our suggestions.

Mission:Share Outreach Center Rochester, NY
Family Promise of Ontario County
Project Rescue
99ONE Central New York
Builders International
Open Door Mission Rochester, NY
Compassion International
Convoy of Hope

APPLY
How will I be on mission this week?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And he marveled because of their unbelief.  – Mark 6:6a

GREEK
ἐθαύμαζεν/ethaumazen: to be awestruck, or to ponder curiously in amazement

CONSIDER
How would you describe your reaction to seeing a burning bush without it being consumed by the fire? In Acts 7, Stephen used the word ethaumazen (to be awestruck, or to curiously wonder) to describe Moses’ reaction to this situation. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing, and had to process the scene in amazement before reacting. This is a completely appropriate response! We couldn’t imagine Moses feeling anything but awestruck in that moment. Ethaumazen is a unique word; there is only one other time in the entire New Testament that it is used, and that’s in our passage today. However, the verb doesn’t describe our amazement at God, but rather God’s amazement at us! Mark uses this verb to describe Jesus’ reaction to the unbelief of his hometown. They were amazed at the power of Jesus’ teaching and the miracles that resulted from his ministry, but they knew him to be a simple carpenter, and had it in their minds that there was no way a local woodworker could be the Christ. Jesus’ ethaumazen came from their willingness to disregard his obvious impact in order to authenticate their stereotype.
Does God have your permission to disrupt your stereotype of how and where he should move? For example, could he bless people from a different political party than you, or ask you to give up some of your freedoms to point someone else to him? As we seek to know Jesus better, may we become keenly aware of the places where our misguided labels and stereotypes would cause him to be awestruck.

IN EQUAL MEASURE
We’ve added to the list below on each Monday devotional of December, and we hope you consider extending generosity to these organizations. [See the Monday 12.07 devotional video if you missed the explanation of this Advent focus.] In considering the possibility of giving to others as much as you spend on your family and friends this holiday season, you’ll of course want to direct your funds to reputable organizations. Below are some great options, but feel free to get creative and think beyond our suggestions.

Mission:Share Outreach Center Rochester, NY
Family Promise of Ontario County
Project Rescue
99ONE Central New York
Builders International
Open Door Mission Rochester, NY
Compassion International
Convoy of Hope

APPLY
How will I be on mission this week?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!