Our name | Mission | Vision | Leaders Ministries | Schedule | Directions | Contact Home   Gateway Church gathers for worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd. (Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia. For directions, click here. Ministry of the Word: Recent sermons Our quarterly e-magazine Gateway Today For the Gateway family Pastor Jerry's Weekly E-Mail A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY AUDIO Ignoring Jesus? Jerry Varnado, pastor Gateway Church, Athens GA July 9, 2006 Main Scripture text: Mark 6:1-6 In his own hometown, the proclamation and ministry of Jesus was not received. The local folks had a prejudice against Him. We tend to think of prejudice in terms of race or nationality, but it simply means: "An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand." They knew Jesus. They knew his mother and brothers. He was a carpenter. He may have even made some of their furniture. They could not accept the radical things Jesus was saying and doing. because they not only had pre-formed opinions about him, but also about the Messiah that God was to send. Jesus just didn't fit the mold they had constructed in their minds. The story of Jesus' rejection at Nazareth, recorded in three of the four gospels, isn't in the Bible to point an accusing finger at the Jewish people. It is here to warn us of the danger of guarding our pre-formed opinions too closely. The story of rejection, of ignoring Jesus, is really a warning to us. We run the same risk of pre-formed opinions that could cause us to reject or ignore Jesus -- and thus miss what God is doing in our world. Is Jesus -- the true Jesus of the gospels -- welcome in His church? If He wants to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, or cast out demons in middle of a church service is that OK with us? What about when Jesus says, "Love God above anyone or anything else," do we reject Him. Do we ignore Him? If He says sell everything you own, give to poor, and come follow me, do we do it -- or do we ignore Him? If He says, "Love your neighbor as yourself," do we do listen -- or do we ignore Him? Do we really want and seek a Lord who has all authority and power in heaven and on earth? Or are we content with a dead savior whose death has opened up heaven for us when we die, but has little to do with the realties of the life we live now? Jesus said a prophet is not without honor except in his home town and among his relatives. Today, the church is his hometown. We are his relatives. Are we honoring Him, or ignoring Him? We honor Jesus believing Him, trusting Him, obeying Him. Let's honor Jesus, here in His hometown. Supporting texts: Mark 3:20-21 | John 1:11 | 1 Peter 2:9 | Matthew 18:21-22 | 1 Samuel 15:22 | Luke 11:28 | Luke 6:46 A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here (21 min.). (Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.) An audio tape of the sermon summarized above is available free of charge (U.S. requests only). Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office. Please specify tape number 060709a: Ignoring Jesus? © 2006 Gerald R. Varnado To the Gateway Church home page How to contact us