Session 7: The Church

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

We prize the family as a bedrock of faith formation,
we cherish marriage as a most holy and most sacred union,
we value parents as frontline shepherds to disciple their children,
we treasure friends as our own souls,
we engage society as godly citizens with redemptive purpose, and
we embrace our lifework with a God-centered focus.

We confess the church as Christ’s family, a family called to:
treat other members with genuine care,
steward our possessions for the common good,
honor appointed leaders and participate in Christ’s worldwide body,
engage the domains of the world with the truth of the gospel, and
represent Christ to all those who are far and near.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Mark 3:7–35
• Scripture Memory - For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. Hebrews 2:11
• Catechism - Q: Into what does Jesus form his community of followers? A: Family.

Introduction

Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

I will begin with the Church, into whose bosom God is pleased to collect his children, not only that by her aid and ministry they may be nourished so long as they are babes and children, but may also be guided by her maternal care until they grow up to manhood, and, finally, attain to the perfection of faith. What God has thus joined, let not man put asunder … to those to whom he is a Father, the Church must also be a mother.

Growth in the Christian faith is not an individual endeavor. Christians reconciled to God in Christ not only experience a restored relationship with God but also enjoy meaningful community with other believers. While many people grapple with what to believe about Jesus (his identity, mission, and saving work on the cross), fewer consider what it means to belong to the redeemed community of Christ followers. As much as faith in Christ grants us forgiveness of sin and freedom from the oppression of evil, it also incorporates us into a community of faith. Christians were never meant to progress in the faith on their own. Beyond an optional addition to the Christian life, God’s great plan of redemption includes (and requires) our active involvement in a community of believers called the church.

Although the Christian community is an essential component of our faith formation, many Christians struggle to find a meaningful connection to the church. In some contexts, many resist participation in the church because it appears to be nothing more than impersonal, formalized religion. Others lack trust in the organized church community because of painful experiences in their past. Still others view the church as a place where division, fragmentation, and splintering abound. Some have no experience in the faith community of the church. In frontier areas of the mission field, groups of new believers struggle to embody the church for the first time in their cultural context. In areas where Christianity has a long history, believers seek to renew the church from threats of stagnation and cultural compromise. At a societal and individual level, all kinds of pressures work against Christian community. However, to be mature in the Christian faith, we must recover Jesus’ vision for his church.

In Mark 3:7–35, we view Jesus forming a community of his followers into a faith family. The church community—being assembled and prepared by Jesus in this episode—is an alternative community for those who have dedicated their lives to Christ. Through healing and exorcism, Jesus formed his community of followers from those who had surrendered their lives to Christ’s authority. Having appointed and commissioned twelve disciples to an apostolic ministry, Jesus called his followers to an outward-focused ministry that would anticipate the missional character of the church. When Jesus’ family and the religious scribes misunderstood and mischaracterized him, we learn that the community of Christ followers was made up of those who had been liberated from the power of evil, coming to know forgiveness and freedom by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the end, Jesus offered a radical redefinition of community when he characterized his followers—those who do God’s will—as his family.

While we attend to many relationships in our immediate spheres of influence (family, marriage, children, friends, public, and work), our submission to Christ initiates us into a special faith community called the church. The church is the family of God, composed of those who have become Jesus’ followers. The community is diverse but centered around Jesus. It is outwardly and missionally focused but attentive to the needs of its members. It testifies to the freedom and forgiveness found in Christ and heralds this message to the surrounding world. While the church is not officially established in this biblical narrative, we see Jesus beginning the work of forming an alternative community: a new family composed of his faithful followers. Our maturity in the faith depends upon our connection to and participation in this faith family. As we explore this story, may we be attentive to how the bond between fellow Christians is a vital component of our formation in the faith.

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

Jesus forms his community of followers into a faith family, knit together by a shared relationship with Christ, forgiveness of sin, freedom from evil, and missional purpose.

Passage Overview

For Christians, the life of faith is to be enjoyed with other believers as part of a faith family. Although the church was officially established after Jesus’ ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit, we see Jesus forming his community of followers early on in his ministry. While he ministered compassionately to the crowd, Jesus was calling out from the crowd faithful followers who would yield their lives to him in surrender and service. The community of the church is centralized around unreserved faith in Christ. Jesus’ commissioning of his disciples expressed the missional character of Christian community: the church has been sent into the world as an extension of Jesus’ presence and ministry. While many misunderstand Jesus, the community of followers comes to know Jesus as supreme and sovereign: the only Savior who can forgive their sins, free them from oppression, and endow them with the Holy Spirit. In creating his community of followers to be a faith family, Jesus radically redefined family and offered an alternative community in which to belong. For followers of Christ, we are called to grow in our faith in the context of loving community. As you investigate this important biblical text, use the following commentary to help you understand key teachings of this passage and essential characteristics of the church as the family of God.

Passage Outline

The Family of God

For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility.

Give yourself to the Church … Imperfect as it is, it is the dearest place on earth to us …The Church is the nursery for God’s weak children where they are nourished and grow strong. It is the fold for Christ’s sheep—the home for Christ’s family.

Introduction

Christian community is vital for our faith formation. Sadly, many people are skeptical about becoming involved in a faith community because they have been disillusioned by past church experiences, reared in fragmented family situations, or raised in disconnected community contexts. People can often be guarded in relationships, especially when those relationships deal with deeply personal matters such as faith and religious devotion. There are countless motivations why people might resist the close relational ties in a church setting: to protect themselves from pain, to avoid potential disappointment, to escape relational hardship, or to isolate themselves from personal accountability. While such reasons behind these inhibitions may be understandable, we cannot afford to neglect (or dismiss) the vital importance that Christian community plays in our Christian maturity. Part of our inhibitions about Christian community may also come from a misunderstanding of what the church was intended to be. To address this concern, we must return to Jesus’ vision for the church.

We understand the nature of the Christian community from a key episode in Jesus’ ministry found in Mark 3:7–35. What we see from this episode is Jesus forming an alternative community where his followers could belong because of their shared allegiance to Christ. After a season of teaching and healing, Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea and ministered to a large crowd. After this, Jesus went up on a mountain with his chosen disciples and appointed them as apostles. When he returned home, the crowd gathered around Jesus again. His family thought he was insane and tried to seize him. Religious leaders came from Jerusalem and said Jesus was possessed by a demon. Jesus confronted their blasphemy and clarified that only those superior to demons can drive out demons. When Jesus’ family sought him, Jesus redefined the essence of family and Christian community. He said that his family involved those who do the will of God. In this narrative, several episodes are stitched together to show Jesus forming a community of followers that functions as his family.

Although the church was not formally established in this story, Jesus intentionally formed his community of followers at this early stage of his ministry. This insight helps us understand what it means to be a member of the church. The community formation that took place early in Jesus’ ministry gave shape to what the church would become (and is intended to be) after Jesus’ ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Knowing that the church is a family reshapes the way we approach our faith formation and our participation in the Christian community. Beyond an optional or suggested part of the Christian faith, our maturity depends upon our connectedness to meaningful Christian fellowship. As you consider your relationship with Jesus, you must also evaluate whether you have a healthy engagement (or unhealthy disengagement) with the church. Toward this end, the Scriptures present the current narrative as an introduction to the Christian community—the church—as a family of faith.

A Great Crowd Followed: Encountering Jesus’ Compassionate Ministry to the Masses

Biblical Narrative (Mark 3:7–12)

After a season of preaching, teaching, and healing, Jesus “withdrew with His disciples to the sea” (3:7). Noteworthy is the fact that Jesus took this particular retreat “with His disciples” (3:7). Bearing a heavy load of ministry concerns and needy crowds, Jesus often took time for respite and rest. At this specific time, however, Jesus had recently faced opposition and persecution from Jewish religious leaders (cf. 3:1–6). His withdrawal could signify an attempt to avoid the plots against his life. Alternatively, it could also represent a strategic and missional move to expand his ministry into other regions. Regardless of the specific intentions, when Jesus and his disciples withdrew to the sea, they were “accompanied by a large crowd” (3:7). So popular was Jesus that people came from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, Tyre, Sidon, and from the land beyond the Jordan (3:7–8). News of Jesus’ ministry had certainly spread. People had “heard what great things [Jesus] was doing” and “the large crowd came to Him” (3:8). The widespread fame of and extensive interest in Jesus were evidence of his growing popularity with the people. This is a stark contrast to the hostile rejection by many of the Jewish religious leaders. Specifically, this passage recounts a shared interest in Jesus from a diverse, multiethnic, and eager crowd of people.

Jesus’ withdrawal to the sea resulted in a time of ministry to a needy crowd. The vivid description of this scene highlights the desperate earnestness of the people and the compassionate care of Jesus. The pressure of the crowd grew feverish as Jesus ministered to the needs of the people. The crowd that followed Jesus now came in on him with a dangerous force. At this time, Jesus “healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him” (3:10). Jesus not only healed people of diseases but also set them free from unclean spirits. Jesus’ power to heal diseases was accentuated by his authority to drive out and silence oppressive spirits. Unable to contend with the authority and power of Christ, “when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him” (3:11). When these spirits fell down, they cried out, “You are the Son of God” (3:11). Although they were speaking the truth of his identity, Jesus “warned them sternly not to make Him known” (3:12). Jesus did not want evil spirits representing him or his ministry. The crowd was so insistent and determined to see Jesus that he asked his disciples to “have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush Him” (3:9). Evident from this brief introduction is that Jesus had a compassionate and caring ministry to the masses.

Biblical Principles

Jesus at the Center. Jesus was building his people into a community of faith. Clearly, Jesus is the center of this biblical narrative and the key focus of the people. In this opening scene, we witness Jesus withdraw with his disciples (3:7), minister to the needs of a large crowd (3:7), and later withdraw to a boat to escape the crowd’s crushing approach (3:9). The details of this introductory scene emphasize the quantity of people and the intensity of activity. A “large crowd” (3:7; cf. 3:8–9) followed Jesus to the sea. This crowd—a great multitude—was fixated on Jesus. They “pressed forward” (3:10) to touch Jesus with such intensity that it appeared that they might “crush Him” (3:9). Even the unclean spirits knew who Jesus was (3:10). In this account, Jesus masterfully demonstrated the ability to lovingly care for his disciples and compassionately minister to the masses. Jesus’ availability to the crowd and close relationship with his disciples highlight the fact that Jesus is accessible to all who would genuinely seek him in faith. The core of Christian community is an earnest and unreserved concentration on Jesus Christ. He is the center around which the church community forms and functions.

Multicultural Community. This narrative also highlights Jesus as the unifying center of a multicultural community. That Jesus’ fame drew people from such a wide geography (3:7–8) suggests that Jesus was available to all who would come to him in genuine faith. Among the crowd that followed Jesus were people who came from all throughout Israel—Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea—and even outside of Israel—Tyre, Sidon, and beyond the Jordan. This brief narrative emphasizes an important aspect of Jesus’ ministry and a crucial element to Christian community: Jesus came for both Jews and Gentiles. In his ministry on earth and continued ministry today, Jesus is forming a community of followers from all peoples, a multicultural community that is not defined primarily by ethnicity or language. As a diverse community, the unique and undeniable bond that unites such Christ followers together is Jesus. He is the focal point of the Christian community, and as such, a common belief in Jesus enables a diverse group to experience uncommon unity.

Discipleship as Sincerely Following Christ. As the unifying center of his multicultural people, Jesus invited people to become his followers. In this ministry account, the large crowd “heard” (3:8), “came” (3:8), and “accompanied” (3:7; lit. “followed”). These actions hint at the basics of Christian discipleship. In this narrative, Christ’s disciples journeyed with Jesus to the sea as his followers (3:7). A large crowd also followed Jesus. They followed him to the sea when they had heard about what he had been doing in his ministry. Ironically, the crowd that earlier followed and came to Jesus became so eager for his healing that it nearly crushed him (3:9). One wonders if the initial “followers” of Christ were only interested in his miraculous power to heal, or if, like the disciples (3:7, 9), they wanted to fully devote their lives to his service. The narrative does not record whether many from the crowd maintained a genuine faith in Christ. It is unclear whether some from this crowd continued to follow Jesus after they were healed. Nevertheless, the activity of the crowd signals key aspects of genuine followers of Christ: hearing about Jesus, coming to Jesus, and following Jesus with ongoing commitment. Even if the crowd did not completely follow Jesus after their healing, their partial commitment and Jesus-centered attention act as a narrative foil to teach us about the essence of real Christian discipleship.

Jesus’ ministry of compassion to the masses was a work of calling sincere followers to himself. Those who would follow Christ (and enter into Jesus’ community) must fully surrender their lives to Jesus’ authority. In addition to Jesus’ compassionate healing of diseases was his powerful and authoritative deliverance of those afflicted by unclean spirits. In this story, spirits only needed to see Jesus and they “fell down before Him” and confessed rightly Jesus as “the Son of God” (3:11). Although these unclean spirits had no intention of serving Christ, they had to yield to Jesus’ authority. The forced submission and accurate admission by the unclean spirits is an appeal to humans to voluntarily surrender their lives to Christ in accurate and adoring confession that he is the Son of God. What the spirits (must) acknowledge as fact, Christ followers embrace in faith. Although their responses were mixed, the crowd and the unclean spirits give us a clue to Christian discipleship and Christian community. Commencement of the life of discipleship (and by this, entrance into the community of faith) involves earnest following of, faithful submission to, and truthful belief in Jesus. Jesus calls out of the masses a multicultural group of followers who become part of a community because they share common faith in Christ.

Sending Them Out: Observing Jesus’ Missional Appointment of His Apostolic Band

Biblical Narrative (Mark 3:13–19)

After ministering to the crowd, Jesus “went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted” (3:13). Similar to Jesus’ earlier retreat to the sea (3:7), Jesus again withdrew himself with his disciples. This time, Jesus and his disciples were apparently removed from the commotion of the crowd, allowing for focused time between Jesus and his disciples. As one would expect of faithful disciples, when Jesus called them, “they came to Him” (3:13; cf. 3:8). Consequently, the group that met with Jesus on the mountaintop was a cadre of disciples that Jesus “wanted” (3:13).

This group of disciples (cf. 3:7, 9) had an established relationship with Jesus. Now, Jesus deployed them to a particular work. At this moment, Jesus commissioned his twelve disciples to an apostolic ministry. After calling his disciples on the mountain, Jesus “appointed twelve of them” (3:14). The appointed twelve were those “whom He designated as apostles” (3:14). Jesus appointed them “to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons” (3:14–15). There was a threefold function of their appointment: to be with Jesus, to preach, and to cast out demons. Their mountaintop commission was a vocational call to commune with Jesus, proclaim Jesus, and minister in the power of Jesus.

The twelve disciples Jesus appointed were Simon, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (the son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot (3:16–19). This group formed the core apostolic band that would minister on Jesus’ behalf. While Jesus continued to minister to many (and others followed him beyond this twelve), the group of twelve was a particular group in whom Jesus invested. Eleven of these twelve would become foundational leaders in the church, the community of Jesus’ followers that would continue after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Although not every disciple was commissioned in the same way as these twelve, their commission represents the missional character of Jesus’ community of followers.

Biblical Principles

Missional Community. While the previous scene of Jesus’ healing ministry shows that Jesus was building a multicultural community that shared a common faith in Christ as the Son of God, the present mountaintop scene highlights that Christ is forming a missional community that he sends out into the world. On the mountain, Jesus called “those He wanted” (3:13). This suggests that becoming a Christ follower is at Jesus’ invitation. Genuine disciples only come to follow Christ as he allows. Although disciples must come to a place of willing surrender, discipleship begins not with a human interest in Christ but with Christ calling his people to himself. In this story, disciples (3:7, 9) become apostles (3:14)—followers of Christ become emissaries of Christ. Specifically, these apostles were a group of “twelve” (3:14, 16). Although their unique role in Christ’s mission was unique, they signify the essential missional character of discipleship and church. The twelve disciples chosen to be apostles represented a key function of Christ’s community: extending the ministry and message of Christ throughout the world. While this missional impulse would be clarified in the days after Jesus’ resurrection, it is described here in basic, embryonic form. Not only is the church formed around a common faith in Christ, but the church also embraces God’s mission in the world as ambassadors of Christ.

Holistic Ministry. Even if all disciples are not sent out in the same way as the apostles, the apostolic function represents the nature of the Christian community: a people called out to be with Jesus and sent into the world. In the short narrative presented before us, we see important dynamics of Christian community highlighted in Christ’s interaction with his disciples. Christ called those he chose (3:13) and appointed twelve (3:14) that they would be with Jesus (3:14), be sent into the world to preach (3:14), and demonstrate authority over evil by casting out demons (3:15). The apostolic work was holistic: communion with Christ, proclamation of the gospel, and triumph over evil oppression. The church community—built on the foundation of the apostles and infused with an apostolic character—must embrace the holistic nature of ministry service. The church is a community of Christ followers called by Jesus Christ, commissioned to his purpose, enjoying his presence, sent to preach his message, and serving others in his authoritative power.

Community of Disciples on Mission. Jesus called his apostles as a group of twelve (3:14, 16). Notably, God does not invite believers to approach his mission individually. Jesus called his disciples and apostles as a community of disciples on mission. What Jesus did to his first followers, he continues to do today. Jesus calls a community of believers to employ themselves with Christ’s purposes in the world. In doing this, the church becomes an extension of Jesus’ presence in the world. His people carry on his ministry as his representatives and in his power. As his followers faithfully commune with Christ, preach Christ, and serve in Christ’s power, the world comes to encounter the truth about Jesus. While the church is centered upon faith in Christ, the body of Christ followers also demonstrates its commitment to Christ by following his missional imperative in the world.

Church as a Mixed Community. The eagerness to celebrate the faith commitment of disciples (let alone apostolic leaders) is cautioned as we remember that one of the twelve, Judas Iscariot, eventually “betrayed” Jesus (3:19). The church is a community of genuine followers of Christ. Nevertheless, some who do not ultimately have allegiance to Christ will participate in the communion and fellowship of Christian community. The community of Christ followers will include those who appear to be full-fledged members of his community, but in the end, they will prove to have never possessed legitimate faith. The mixed response of the large crowds (3:7–11) and the unclean spirits (3:12) hints at the mixed community of apostles (3:16–19). The example of Judas is a warning that proximity to Jesus and association with other believers do not make one a genuine follower of Jesus or a legitimate member of his church. As a community of disciples on mission, the church is ultimately formed by allegiance to Christ. Importantly, the next scene of the story cautions us about misrepresentations of Christ that breed false expectations and insincere faith.

A House Divided: Hearing Jesus’ Direct Confrontation of False Expectations

Biblical Narrative (Mark 3:20–30)

After the mountaintop commission of his apostolic band, Jesus “went home” (3:20). With Jesus’ popularity undiminished, “a crowd gathered” to the point that “He and His disciples could not even eat” (3:20). Jesus’ family heard about this, and “went out to take custody of Him” (3:21). Jesus’ family was concerned that his ministry was out of control and Jesus was not acting appropriately. The attempt of Jesus’ family to forcefully seize him resembled the crowd’s earlier pressure for Jesus’ healing (cf. 3:9). Such aggressive and insistent actions were rooted in a misguided assessment of Jesus. His family went to seize him because they thought, “He is out of His mind” (3:21).

Jesus was misperceived on two fronts: his family thought he was insane, and the religious leaders thought he was demon-possessed. At this time, “scribes who had come down from Jerusalem” made misguided and incorrect claims about Jesus: “He is possessed by Beelzebul” (3:22), “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons” (3:22), and “He has an unclean spirit” (3:30). Different from how he called and commissioned his disciples on the mountaintop (cf. 3:13), Jesus “called [the scribes] together and began to speak to them in parables” (3:23). His message confronted their erroneous claims of his identity, authority, and power. They claimed Jesus was empowered by satanic and evil forces. Jesus explained to them that it was not possible for “Satan [to] drive out Satan” (3:23). Jesus informed them that “if a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand” (3:24). He reiterated this similar point: “if a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand” (3:25). To (wrongly) claim that Jesus was empowered by evil forces was nonsensical because he was working against the forces of evil.

Their logic would not hold. If Satan empowered victory over evil spirits, he would essentially bring about his own destruction: “his end has come” (3:26). Like binding a strong man and plundering his house, Jesus demonstrated his authority over evil and his opposition to evil in his exorcisms (3:27). Having exposed the error of their claim, Jesus spoke in a parabolic way to confront their misguided understanding of him and of spirituality. Jesus had clearly driven out unclean spirits from people (cf. 3:11–12) and commissioned his disciples to do the same (cf. 3:15). The fact that Jesus had driven out demons meant that he was stronger and more powerful than Satan. It was by a greater (and more righteous) power that he cast out demons. The admission that Jesus drove out demons not only debunked their false claims but affirmed (even if the scribes had not realized it) Jesus’ supreme power.

Jesus not only confronted their empty allegations but also exposed their egregious sin. He asserted that “the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter” (3:28). Jesus continued his instruction with a warning: “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin” (3:29). While these sayings are challenging to understand, they reveals much about the nature of forgiveness, salvation, and the community of faith. True disciples are those who have experienced God’s forgiveness and have been cleansed from their slander and blasphemies. Genuine disciples of Christ have been liberated from the power of the “strong man” and set free by Jesus’ power. On the contrary, those who continually credit the works of the Holy Spirit to Satan are by nature not true believers. Such a sin cannot be forgiven and is a sin of an eternal sort because it denies the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Biblical Principles

Misunderstanding and Misalignment. The misunderstandings of Jesus by his family and scribes reveal the nature of Christian community. Jesus’ disciples were called to follow his command (cf. 3:9) and accept his call and commission (cf. 3:13–19). This is contrasted with his family’s attempt to seize him from the crowded gathering (3:20–21). The forceful attempt to seize Jesus (3:21) recalls the crowd’s pressurized approach to Jesus (3:9). In addition to this forceful approach to Jesus is the misunderstanding that Jesus was not in his right mind (3:21). As long as we entertain misunderstandings of Jesus, we will approach him in mistaken ways. The community of Christ is comprised of those who have fully surrendered their lives to Jesus in full conviction that he is the true wisdom of God. Rather than seizing Jesus and directing him where we want him to go, true believers yield their lives to the authority of Christ. Rather than diminishing and demeaning Jesus as “out of his mind,” genuine disciples confess that Jesus is the revelation of divine truth. Rather than accusing Jesus of consorting with evil, faithful Christian disciples embrace Jesus in faith because of his powerful and victorious triumph over evil. An accurate understanding of Jesus enables secure alignment with Jesus.

Triumph Over Evil and Sin. When the scribes confronted Jesus, he also had to confront their misperceptions. Jesus used parabolic language to teach that the community of Christ followers was composed of those who had overcome evil and celebrated freedom from bondage. In his superior and righteous power, Christ has bound the enemy and liberated his people from evil oppression (3:23–27). Christ’s followers are his freed people. As a freed people, the church is to be a liberating presence in the world (cf. 3:15). Jesus also asserted another characteristic of his faith community: forgiveness of sin (3:28). The possibility and availability of forgiveness is offered to those who will surrender their lives to Christ’s liberating work. Jesus also explained that those who follow Christ must acknowledge that the Holy Spirit overcomes the power of all evil spirits (3:29). That is, Christians attribute the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit to God, not Satan. The “eternal sin” (3:29) in this passage is not so much a one-time sin that can never be forgiven (see the affirmation of 3:28), but an ongoing and stubborn resistance to acknowledging and attributing God’s work appropriately. In this way, the Christian community is made up of Christ followers who have yielded their lives to the control of a new spirit, the Holy Spirit. In such surrender, Christ followers live their lives under the command of a new authority, following the will of a new sovereign, and belonging to a new family.

Whoever Does God’s Will: Discovering Jesus’ Purposeful Formation of His Faith Family

Biblical Narrative (Mark 3:31–35)

After Jesus’ confrontation with the religious leaders, " mother and brothers came and stood outside" (3:31). Because Jesus was inside and his family was outside, his family “sent someone in to summon Him” (3:31). At this time, “a crowd was sitting around [Jesus]” (3:32). Jesus’ family wanted to get access to Jesus (and perhaps expected Jesus to give them special attention). Word reached Jesus that his family was “asking for [Him]” (3:32; lit. “seeking”). Jesus answered the form of a question: “Who are My mother and My brothers?” (3:33). Then, Jesus looked “at those seated in a circle around Him” (3:34) and, in an amazing and unexpected statement, Jesus said that they were “My mother and My brothers” (3:34). Offering a radical and surprising redefinition of family, Jesus explained that “whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother” (3:35).

Biblical Principles

Faith Family. Amazingly, Jesus offers a definition of Christian community that challenges all people and all cultures. Throughout the story, many people “come” to Jesus: the large crowd (3:8), the disciples (3:13), the scribes (3:22), and his family (3:31). Although many people obtain proximity to Jesus, not everyone who comes to Jesus belongs to Jesus. People have various motives and interests in their exploration of Christianity. Nevertheless, those who truly come to Jesus are those who do “the will of God” (3:35). Those who follow Christ in this way—faith and obedience—become members of Christ’s family (3:34–35). At the beginning of the narrative, Jesus challenged the group identity formed around ethnicity. He ministered to people from all different areas (3:7–10). At the end of this narrative, Jesus radically confronted the priority of the biological family. Jesus certainly considered one’s biological family an important sphere of social belonging. However important the biological family, Jesus taught that the most important community to which humans can belong is the family of God. As Jesus’ biological family remained on the outside, Jesus affirmed his encircling followers on the inside as his family because of their allegiance to him. At her core, the church is the family of God constituted by faith in Christ.

Genuine Discipleship. Throughout this narrative, Jesus interacted with various audiences: disciples (3:7, 13–19), crowd (3:7–11, 20, 33–35), demons (3:11–12), family (3:21, 31–32), and scribes (3:22-30). In the formation of his faith community, he engaged the spiritual realm, the family domain, the large crowd, and the religious leaders. Only as disciples (followers of Christ) can one be a part of God’s family. The fact that the crowd is interspersed throughout the narrative (3:7–11, 20, 33–35) shows that Jesus is calling his own—the people whom he desired (3:13)—to follow him out of a larger group of people. Not all who are curious or intrigued with Jesus end up following him. Faith in Christ must overcome casual interest (as in the crowd), personal entitlement (as in his family), and ignorant disbelief (as in his family and the scribes) to come to a place of genuine faith and commitment (like the group of faithful followers gathered around him on the inside). In sum, the call of discipleship is an invitation to participate in the faith family of the church; the invitation to Christian community is a summons to express genuine faith in and commitment to Christ.

Conclusion

Early in Jesus’ ministry, he called people to be his followers and formed them into a community of faith. Jesus’ healing and exorcism ministry with the crowds showed that joining the Christian community involves a surrender to Christ’s authority. Christ was forming a multicultural community of followers, diverse in ethnicity yet sharing a common faith in him. His appointment of twelve disciples as apostles highlights that Christian community has a missional character, extending the ministry and message of Jesus throughout the world. Those who belong to this community have encountered the life-transforming power of Christ to forgive their sin and set them free from oppression. Through faith in Christ and submission to God’s will, Christ is forming his committed band of followers into a family of faith.

Practicing authentic and meaningful Christian community involves many challenges. It was not an easy endeavor for Jesus’ first followers, and it is no less challenging today. Christian community is not like other human associations. Sharing a common belief in Christ, experiencing forgiveness and freedom, enjoying the deep bond of loving relationships, and embracing a missional purpose, the church functions as a family of faith. While we do not abandon our biological families to become a Christian or a member of the church, faith in Christ radically reprioritizes our main community of belonging. As we seek to grow in our faith, we neglect Christian community to our peril and advocate for its viability to our great blessing.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 7 SYNOPSIS
Church	In this passage, we learn about the nature of the church as God’s people. Jesus ministered to large crowds of people while he maintained a close relationship with his disciples. Jesus healed people of their diseases and drove out evil spirits. People came from all over to be healed by Jesus. Jesus went to a mountaintop with twelve selected disciples and appointed them as apostles. He commissioned them to be with him, to preach the gospel, and to drive out demons. Jesus’ family thought he was insane when large crowds continued to form around Jesus. When Jewish scribes accused Jesus of evil, Jesus spoke in parables and explained his power over evil. At the end of the narrative, Jesus’ family was trying to get to him when Jesus radically redefined that being a member of the Christian community means being a member of a family of faith. This shows Jesus forming his community of followers early in his ministry and offers helpful insights into the nature of the church community. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
Church Community	The church is a multiethnic community of those Jesus calls to himself (3:13) out of the crowds (3:7–11, 20, 33–35). Common faith in Christ unites a diverse group of believers into a relationship with one another (3:7–12). God forms individual disciples into a community of Christ followers (3:7, 9, 13–19).
Missional Community	The church has an apostolic vocation (3:13–16). The Christian community is missional, serving God’s purposes in the world. The church is called to follow Jesus (3:7, 13), commune with Jesus (3:14), preach about Jesus (3:14), and serve others in the power of Jesus (3:15) in a holistic way of life and ministry.
Community of Forgiveness and Freedom	The church is a community of Christ followers who have found forgiveness of sins (3:28) and freedom from evil (3:23–27). They renounce Satan and his evil ways (3:11–12, 15, 23–26) and embrace Jesus as most holy and most powerful (3:27). Although the church is made up of those who have genuine faith in Christ, some participate in the church who (in the end) will prove to not be genuine believers (3:7–12, 16–19).
Discipleship and Christian Community	Discipleship and community are misunderstood by misperceptions about Jesus’ identity, person, and work (3:7–11, 20–22, 30).
Church as Faith Family	The church is God’s family (3:31–35). Those who follow Christ in full surrender (3:35) become a part of Jesus’ family (3:33–35).

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Church Covenant

Understanding the church as a family radically reshapes what it means to follow Christ and belong to the church community. Take time to consider what kind of community Jesus desires and write out a covenant that would describe what it means to be a member of the church viewed as a faith family.

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.