August 31, 2025
Faith Failure
Pastor Ricky Smith

Sermon Notes

Mark 9:14-29
14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

1. The Limits of Self-Reliance

Stop trying to fight spiritual battles in your own strength.

2. The Honesty of Weak Faith

The Lord is not limited by imperfect faith

3. The Power of Prayerful Dependence

Commit to prayer as the first response, not the last resort.

Next Steps

• I confess my sin and turn to Jesus as King for the first time.
• I commit to fast and pray this week to trust God for His power.
• I choose to learn from failure and ask God to teach me.

Deep Dive

1. How does Ephesians 6:18 connect to Jesus’ statement in Mark 9:29?
2. Share a time when prayer made a difference in a difficult situation.
3. What are strongholds in your life that we need to pray and fast over?

Springboards

1. Who do you view as a great servant leader? Why?
2. How does Philippians 2:5–7 deepen our understanding of servanthood?
3. Read Mark 9:30-50 and discuss what Jesus says about “greatness.”