Ripple Makers Part 2: An Unreasonable Ripple

Micaiah Irmler

Mark 14:1-9 NKJV

Every church is in one of three stages: Risk Taking, Caretaking, Undertaking

This morning we are going to continue a teaching series called, Ripple Makers. Last week we said…

You are responsible for the release God is responsible for the ripple.

Remember: You can count the rocks but only God can count the ripples. Release the rock and watch God do the rest.

Remember: We are becoming ripple makers.

It only takes one action to create a ripple effect.

Mark 14:1-9 NKJV

1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.” 3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Question: What will you be remembered for?

Question: What do you want to be remembered for?

Illustration: In 1888 a man read his own obituary. A paper had mistakenly said that Alfred Nobel’s the Swedish inventor of dynamite died. The paper called Alfred Nobel the Merchant of Death is Dead. The paper said that he amassed a great fortune by the creation of devastating inventions. He was so devastated that he willed most of his fortune to the creation of the Nobel peace prize.

How will your ripple be remembered?

This morning I want to talk about the Unreasonable Ripple…

1. She Gave What She Could vs. 8 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.

She gave what she could give.

Question: What can you do?

God measures your contribution against your .

Note: I love the tithe because it forces me to budget.

Note: It’s not about equal its about equal sacrifice.

Note: People that say they can’t afford to tithe but then you talk to people who tithe they will tell you they feel financially blessed by God.

1. The Worship is more than songs that we sing its also a sacrifice that we bring.

Remember: When you are truly grateful saying thank you falls short but sacrificing closes the gap on gratitude.

2. You have not sacrificed unless it costs you somethin Illustration: What does a pound of oil look like.

Remember: It’s not the amount but the attitude.

2. She Gave Even When Criticized vs. 4-5

4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.

**Note: I get it when the world and non-Christians are critical and don’t understand sacrifice butwhat takes me back is when Christians beat the world and non-Christians to it.

Remember: and Sacrifice Don’t Go Together.

Note: Wherever there is sacrifice there will always be the voice that says this doesn’t make sense.

Quote: Someone has said the only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing. ~Unknown

Note: Guard against spiritualizing your .

1. She didn’t allow people to determine what is worthy of worship
2. Critics come out when you are contributing.

Remember: Don’t complain when you didn’t contribute.

3. He’s stealing, she’s sacrificing, and the rest are siding with the wrong person.

John 12:1-8 NKJV

1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

Remember: A Judas spirit is a critical, consuming, and corrupted spirit. Remember: Critics are noisy, they want to be noticed but they never change the world. Remember: If your life is marked by critical, contempt, cold, and callousness then you are on the wrong side.

Stats: Only 5% of Christians give 10%. Tithe Offering - Free will offer Extravagant Offering. Tithing in the Old Testament was more than 10% it was actually closer to 23%.Tithing pre-dates the law. So we don’t give under the law you are correct.

Note: The NT does not call us to tithe but to radical generosity. Note: People like to argue and debate about 10% when that was the floor not the ceiling. Note: Discover how there's nothing we could give that would be too much for a God who gave everything.

Remember: You can serve the poor and not be devoted to Jesus however you will not be devoted to Jesus and not serve the poor.

Note: Money can be in your hand but never let it get into your heart. Note: If God has not answered your prayer its because he intends to give you what you don’t even have faith to believe for.

As much as you might be extravagant is more extravagant.

What is extravagant to you is not extravagant to God.

3. She Gave While She Could vs. 1 & 6-9

1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death.

6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Note: It is interesting that the word translated ‘waste’ in Mark 14:4 is translated ‘perdition’ in John 17:12 and applied to Judas! Judas criticized Mary for ‘wasting money,’ but he wasted his entire life!

1. She Prioritized People Over Possessions.
2. When you know their story you understand their sacrific.

Note: The ripple is not unreasonable but very .

3. You never regret sacrificing when you see the ripple.

Remember: We don’t give to get but we always get when we give. Remember: We give because we already got.

Note: This story is in all four gospels.

Note: People that don’t believe the Bible because of prophecies but this is a biblical prophecy becoming true right here and now.

Note: She released her rock and Jesus made it ripple.

How is Judas remembered? How is Mary remembered? How will you be remembered?

Note: She was giving a legacy that was born out of extravagant generosity.

Question: What will be your legacy?

Give never take the last.

Note: My dream is to give away 6-figure checks to churches, missionaries, kingdom minded non-profits, building projects, would like to give away a cars to people in need of a car, there is a housing crisis what if the church was buying land to build houses that people could buy at a reasonable price?

is Never a Waste.

Note: People will judge your actions.

Note: Go get your own alabaster box and give something away to God or not. Critics can’t stand watching someone else worship.

The only people that are offended are the ones not doing the thing your talking about Whose side are you on?

The Side of Sacrifice.

Misunderstood. Which Side of Sacrifice Are You On.

Note: Judas. Note: The Scent of Sacrifice.

Unreasonable Ripple.

Doesn’t Make Sense.

When the Ripple Seems Unreasonable.

Mary didn’t set out to make a ripple she focused on the .

The makes the sacrifice make sense.

Worship is your to God.

Remember: There are three phases of every church, Risk Taking, Caretaking, or Undertaking.

Don’t sacrifice a generation at the alter of our own preferences.

Which Side of Sacrifice Are You On? God wants to do more through you than you think He can but there will be times when it will hurt more than you think it will.

Ripples don’t happen without . Legacy doesn’t happen without .

Question: When was the last time that saying thank you to God is not enough?

Note: Today I hear too many Christians that want their gift to be seen and not sacrificed.

Which group would you rather be in?

She While She Could.