August 3, 2025
Kingdom Expansion
Pastor Ricky Smith

Sermon Notes

Mark 7:24-37
And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

I. Jesus Crosses Boundaries to Extend His Kingdom

The mission of Jesus matters—from Columbus to the ends of the earth.

II. Jesus Honors Humble, Persistent Faith

III. Jesus Hears and Heals the Broken

Isaiah 35:5-6
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert

Next Steps

• I turn to Jesus as King for the first time.
• I choose to be persistent in prayer and trust God for His answer and timing.
• I commit to engaging in missions from Columbus to the nations.

Deep Dive

1. In Mark 7:24-31, how does the Syrophoenician woman’s faith challenge or encourage you?
2. Read Romans 1:16 and 2:9-10. How does Paul reflect the same priority seen in Jesus’ ministry?
3. Where is Jesus calling you to cross a boundary to advance His Kingdom?

Springboard

1. Read Mark 8:1-10. How does Jesus’ compassion shape your view of His mission to the Gentiles?
2. What does the repetition of miracles and moments in Mark teach us about Jesus’ method of discipleship?
3. Read Joshua 3:10 and reflect on the symbolic use of numbers in the feeding of the 4,000. How does it point to the Gentiles?