Message by Josh Mutter – March 15, 2026
Big Idea: Jesus calls us out of lifeless faith and into a faith that truly lives.
Mark 11 (NIV) “As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here…”
The fig tree illustrates the fruitlessness of the Temple.
By closing off the temple courts, they had lost what was supposed to be at the heart of their relationship with God.
Jesus sees a lifeless religious system and declares that its faith is no good to anyone.
Reflection:
-
Is the faith we are practicing bearing the kind of fruit that reflects the heart of God?
-
The heart of God has always been that people would be drawn toward him, not pushed away from him.
Mark 11:22–25 (NIV) “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Lessons About Faith:
- A living faith is open to the impossible.
- A living faith trusts that it is heard.
- A living faith flows outward in grace toward others.
The purpose of the Gospel of Mark, is to not just tell us facts about Jesus, but to invite us to place our faith in him.
You can listen to the sermon on YouTube here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | RSS