2026-08-16 Help My Unbelief
by Pastor Chris Berg
Scripture: Mark 9:14-29
14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
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by Pastor Chris Berg
Scripture: Mark 9:14-29
14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
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Notes, outline and a summary from this sermon are made by Pocket AI and found here:
This teaching explores Mark 9:14-29, focusing on the transition from the glory of the Transfiguration back to the reality of human suffering and the necessity of faith-driven dependence on God.
The Return from Glory
The narrative begins with Jesus, Peter, James, and John descending from the Mount of Transfiguration. The transition is likened to a college student returning home or an employee returning from vacation: the "high" of the experience is met with a world that remains unchanged and often chaotic. While the three disciples witnessed Christ's eternal majesty, they returned to a valley where the religious establishment remained dismissive and the remaining disciples were struggling.
The Perceived vs. Real Problem
Upon returning, Jesus finds the disciples arguing with scribes over their inability to heal a demon-possessed boy.
The Perceived Problem: The disciples' failure to cast out the spirit and the boy's physical suffering (seizures, foaming at the mouth, and being mute).
The Real Problem: Jesus identifies the root issue as a "faithless generation." He rebukes the lack of belief that permeated the crowd, the scribes, and even his own followers.
The Nature of Faith and Obedience
The interaction with the boy's father highlights the struggle between belief and doubt. When the father asks, "If you can do anything, have compassion," Jesus challenges the "if," stating that all things are possible for one who believes.
Honest Faith: The father’s response—"I believe; help my unbelief"—is presented as the model for the believer. It acknowledges both a core trust in Christ and the reality of human doubt.
Faith as Action: Faith is not defined as mere intellectual assent or "faith in faith." Instead, it is a transition from knowledge to reckoning—putting biblical truth into practice. True faith inevitably leads to obedient action rather than inaction.
The Sovereignty of God: Drawing from the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah), the teaching emphasizes that while God is able to deliver, faith does not presume he must act in a specific way. The commitment is to remain obedient regardless of the outcome.
The Necessity of Prayer
The disciples later ask why they were unable to cast out the demon despite having done so previously. Jesus responds that "this kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer."
Prayer as Dependence: The failure of the disciples was a failure of dependence. By not praying, they were relying on their own past successes or inherent power rather than God.
The Lesson of Ai: The sermon parallels this with the Israelites' defeat at Ai (Joshua 7). After the miraculous victory at Jericho, they moved against Ai without seeking God, leading to a humiliating defeat because they were no longer operating in total dependence.
Conclusion: A disciple who prays is a disciple who depends. Prayer is the natural inclination of one who recognizes they can do nothing apart from Christ.
This teaching explores Mark 9:14-29, focusing on the transition from the glory of the Transfiguration back to the reality of human suffering and the necessity of faith-driven dependence on God.
The Return from Glory
The narrative begins with Jesus, Peter, James, and John descending from the Mount of Transfiguration. The transition is likened to a college student returning home or an employee returning from vacation: the "high" of the experience is met with a world that remains unchanged and often chaotic. While the three disciples witnessed Christ's eternal majesty, they returned to a valley where the religious establishment remained dismissive and the remaining disciples were struggling.
The Perceived vs. Real Problem
Upon returning, Jesus finds the disciples arguing with scribes over their inability to heal a demon-possessed boy.
The Perceived Problem: The disciples' failure to cast out the spirit and the boy's physical suffering (seizures, foaming at the mouth, and being mute).
The Real Problem: Jesus identifies the root issue as a "faithless generation." He rebukes the lack of belief that permeated the crowd, the scribes, and even his own followers.
The Nature of Faith and Obedience
The interaction with the boy's father highlights the struggle between belief and doubt. When the father asks, "If you can do anything, have compassion," Jesus challenges the "if," stating that all things are possible for one who believes.
Honest Faith: The father’s response—"I believe; help my unbelief"—is presented as the model for the believer. It acknowledges both a core trust in Christ and the reality of human doubt.
Faith as Action: Faith is not defined as mere intellectual assent or "faith in faith." Instead, it is a transition from knowledge to reckoning—putting biblical truth into practice. True faith inevitably leads to obedient action rather than inaction.
The Sovereignty of God: Drawing from the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah), the teaching emphasizes that while God is able to deliver, faith does not presume he must act in a specific way. The commitment is to remain obedient regardless of the outcome.
The Necessity of Prayer
The disciples later ask why they were unable to cast out the demon despite having done so previously. Jesus responds that "this kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer."
Prayer as Dependence: The failure of the disciples was a failure of dependence. By not praying, they were relying on their own past successes or inherent power rather than God.
The Lesson of Ai: The sermon parallels this with the Israelites' defeat at Ai (Joshua 7). After the miraculous victory at Jericho, they moved against Ai without seeking God, leading to a humiliating defeat because they were no longer operating in total dependence.
Conclusion: A disciple who prays is a disciple who depends. Prayer is the natural inclination of one who recognizes they can do nothing apart from Christ.
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Mandeville Bible Church "Where God's Word is Our Foundation"
https://www.mandevillebiblechurch.org/
Come and see that God's Word is alive and at work right here in Mandeville.. and throughout the world!
All are welcome.
217 Carroll Street, Mandeville, LA 70448
Church Office: (985) 626-3114
Sunday Service: 9:30AM
Adult Sunday School: 10:45-11:30AM
Nursery and Children's church available.
https://www.mandevillebiblechurch.org/
Come and see that God's Word is alive and at work right here in Mandeville.. and throughout the world!
All are welcome.
217 Carroll Street, Mandeville, LA 70448
Church Office: (985) 626-3114
Sunday Service: 9:30AM
Adult Sunday School: 10:45-11:30AM
Nursery and Children's church available.
