Whose Voice Has Authority in Your Life? | Mark 12:13-27 | Austin Glenn

We live in a culture saturated with voices and expert opinions readily at our fingertips, but the question is whether we regard Jesus as the most authoritative voice in our lives.

This week, Pastor Austin took us through Mark 12, where we find Jesus in the final week of His life, facing off against some of the sharpest religious and political minds of His day. The Pharisees and Herodians, two groups who could not stand each other, unite in an attempt to trap Him with a loaded question about paying taxes to Rome. What unfolds is one of the most brilliantly layered responses in all of Scripture.

Jesus exposes their hypocrisy by asking them to produce a coin: "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" Using their own logic against them, He responds, "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God the things that are God's"—subtly revealing that while Caesar could have his cheap metal back, our very souls belong entirely to God.

The sermon draws a parallel between the image of Caesar on the coin and humanity being made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Over and over in Scripture, we see that we are made in His likeness and belong to Him. What does it practically mean for you to live as someone who belongs fully to God rather than to any earthly system, identity, or authority?

Saul's partial obedience in 1 Samuel 15 cost him God's anointing. Is there an area of your life where you're surrendering 99% to God but quietly holding back the remaining 1%? What might that partial surrender be costing you spiritually?

Dallas Willard described Jesus as "the smartest person who ever lived." How does viewing Jesus as supremely intelligent and competent—not merely morally good—change the way you approach Him for guidance in everyday decisions? And if Jesus truly has authority over every corner of our lives—including our work, finances, relationships, and decisions—where might there be a gap between what we say we believe and how we actually live?

The sermon says, "The voices that inform us become the voices that form us." What voices are shaping you right now—and is the voice of Jesus truly the one carrying the most authority?

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Mark 12:13-27

Paying Taxes to Caesar 13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances,but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes