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16. Follow Me (2)

16. Follow Me (2). Mark 8:27 – 9:1 p. 931. Taking Stock of our Lives . A busy but blessed week: Budgeting and Finances Have a surplus of $3,000 for 2012 New Year: A Good time to take stock of our Lives Distractions and frustrations – my new PC The suffering Jesus talks about here

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16. Follow Me (2)

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  1. 16. Follow Me (2) Mark 8:27 – 9:1 p. 931

  2. Taking Stock of our Lives ... • A busy but blessed week: • Budgeting and Finances • Have a surplus of $3,000 for 2012 • New Year: A Good time to take stock of our Lives • Distractions and frustrations – my new PC • The suffering Jesus talks about here • Some sort of character development program? • The contemplative exercises from last week ...

  3. 1. Being a Disciple • Jesus must suffer, be rejected, killed ... • “Must”: It is intended. Part of the plan. • Religious Elite will do it. • His disciples: deny themselves, take up cross, follow. • Says this also to the “crowd” (v 34) • It is something we each must do. • Les Miserables – Jean Valjean.

  4. 1. Being a Disciple . . . • Les Miserables – Jean Valjean. • Hand himself over to save another innocent man’s life: • He is Mayor – the town needs him • He is a big employer – his workers need him • He is a Father – his adopted daughter needs him. • He cannot face another stint in prison.

  5. 2. Saving our Lives • Is struggle good for us, part of spiritual zeal? • 1 Pe 4:1 – “those who have suffered ... Are done with sin” • It purges sin from our lives (e.g. Mark 9:43) • We must deny ourselves ... No other way to be saved. • Following Jesus makes us outsiders, foreigners • Puts us at war with our own sinful desires (1 Pe 2:11)

  6. 2. Saving our Lives . . . • The stark Reality (v 35) • Whoever wants to save their life will lose it • Whoever loses their life for Jesus and the Gospel will save it • Pastor Babu in India.

  7. 3. Shame and Honour • We live in an “adulterous and sinful generation” (v 38) • Prophetic Language: “Adultery” = “unfaithful to God” • (e.g. Jer. 3:6; Ezek. 23:37) • If we are ashamed of him, he will be ashamed of us • Because we are his voice • OT theme of false prophets (e.g. Jer. 6:13-14; 23:22) • They rob people of the opportunity to repent. • We speak truth so that people have a chance to repent.

  8. Faithfulness • Suffering is part of faithfulness in a sinful world. • Above our own self interest and desires (deny ourselves • Above our own safety & comfort (take up cross) • BUT – Faithfulness will bring us and others to salvation • Lenten Experiment – Journey of drawing closer to God

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