GOD’S PLAN IN A CRISIS
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Sunday, October 13, 2024
(Mark 12:13-17, NLT) “Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?”
Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin,* and I’ll tell you.” When they handed it to him, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
“Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
His reply completely amazed them.”
1. A DECEPTIVE QUESTION
(Mark 12:14, Message) “Teacher, we know you have integrity, that you are indifferent to public opinion, don’t pander to your students, and teach the way of God accurately. Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
Application – Live with holiness and sincerity
(2 Corinthians 1:12, NLT) “We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings.”
2. AN HONEST AND WISE ANSWER
(Mark 12:15–17, Message) “He knew it was a trick question, and said, “Why are you playing these games with me? Bring me a coin and let me look at it.” They handed him one. “This engraving—who does it look like? And whose name is on it?” “Caesar,” they said. Jesus said, “Give Caesar what is his, and give God what is his.” Their mouths hung open, speechless.”
- Render to Caesar a coin
- Give to God myself
- I have dual citizenship
(1 Peter 2:17, NLT) “Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.”
Application – Love and serve in the Church
(Ephesians 1:23, Message) “The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”
3. WHEN CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF MY LIFE, I WILL BE WHOLE
(Colossians 1:22, GN) “But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence.”
GROWTHWORK
1. TRUST GOD
(Psalm 146:3, GN) “Don’t put your trust in human leaders; no human being can save you.”
2. PRIORITIZE UNITY NOT UNANIMITY
(Ephesians 4:3–4, NLT) “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.”
(1 Corinthians 1:10, NLT) “I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”
3. CHARACTER MATTERS
(Ecclesiastes 10:2, NCV) “The heart of the wise leads to right, but the heart of a fool leads to wrong.”