Stories and Signs: "The Gospel that Breaks Chains"

Stories and Signs: “The Gospel that Breaks Chains”      

Mark 5:1-20

John 17:2 - “For You granted Him authority over all humanity, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.”

 1 John 3:8 - “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”

I. Satan’s gospel isolates people and fractures society. (Mark 5:1-5)

II. Jesus overthrows Satan’s control with the Gospel. (Mark 5:6-13)

~ Demonic possession– Control

~ Demonic oppression– Attack

 1. Steals, kills and destroys

John 10:10 - “Jesus said, ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.’”

2. Deceives

Revelation 12:9 - “And the great dragon…who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world...”

3. Accuses

Revelation 12:10 - “…the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.”

4. Blinds

2 Corinthians 4:4 - “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

5. Seeks to devour

1 Peter 5:8 - “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

6. Stimulates Disobedience

Ephesians 2:2 - “…you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.”

7. Works through false teachers

1 Timothy 4:1 - “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.”

Comes as an Angel of Light

2 Corinthians 11:13-14 - “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light…”

1 John 4:4 - “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

III. Jesus changes our lives in order to gospelize others.            Mark 5:14-20

1. Radical

2. Obvious

3. Missional

Faith sheet

1. What are some reasons we tend to shy away from serving people who may be labeled “hard cases”?

2. How are you doing as a family or C group ministering to the group you have chosen? What are your biggest struggles? What is working well in praying for and serving them?

3. How can we as a group/church and as individuals make ourselves more readily available to help one another and other people who might be suffering in isolation or private sins?

4. Christians cannot be possessed by demons, though they can be troubled by them. Read some scriptures and discuss how to resist Satan’s schemes. Psalm 34:8 & 37:44, James 4:7, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 John 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, Ephesians 6:11 and John 8:31-32.

5. The man in Mark 5 had a story to tell. Share your Gospel story with this simple testimony: My life before Christ, How I came to Christ, My life after Christ. Pray to share the gospel this week.