Matthew 16:21-28
Mark 8:31-9:1
Luke 9:21-27
https://youtu.be/e_tnPE5sn2k#Humility
What Happened to the Disciples of Jesus?
=============
Series Questions Jesus Asked
Title: What Good Is It?
Bookmark: Click Here
Opening Thoughts:
v
Who
should as the question?
o
Crowd
& Disciples
v
Oxymorons
and Paradox
v
Jesus'
question forces us to think about our priorities and pursuits in life. What does your life say about what you are
truly gaining and what you are truly losing?
Text: Mark 8:34-38
The Way of
the Cross
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples
and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take
up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to
save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me
and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone
to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone
give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed
of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of
Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory
with the holy angels.”
Summarize main story: Describe the events of the story in your own words.
·
Review and retell
the story.
Reflections
for applications:
v
Matthew
4:8-10 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high
mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All
this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from
me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him
only.’”
v
Someone who had it all. Steve
Jobs died at 56 years old.
o
“…maybe
it’s just like an on/off switch and click – and you’re gone. Maybe that’s why I
don’t like putting on/off switches on Apple devices.” (Steve Jobs in Biography
by Walter Isaacson)
Digging
Questions:
·
How will
you respond to this question Jesus asked?
·
What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
·
What is God calling us to do?
Take Away
Challenges
·
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will
you apply it to your life this week?
·
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
·
What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What
beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?
Hash tags #Reward #Jesus #enemies
Sunday
sermon link https://youtu.be/CYlAMMW2VX8
Kevin’s
Blog Link to more resources: Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes
Comments and resources with some more details:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+4%3A35-41&version=NIV
=============
Open Arms
Finding Your Way Back
“At What Cost?” By Randy Roper
Bible Study & Discussion Guide
Use this study guide on Sunday evening or at another time as a supplement to the Sunday sermon on May 3. After viewing the sermon entitled “At What Cost?” on the Edmond Church of Christ Youtube channel, use this discussion guide for a small group Bible study or devotional with family members in your house or friends in a video conference.
Main Idea: If we choose to live apart from God, we need to understand that decision has repercussions in this life and in the next life. So much in life seems to come down to a cost-benefit analysis. Do you understand the cost of living and dying without Christ?
Open
• Can you think of a time when a warranty or guarantee benefited you? Explain.
• What guarantees do we have when it comes to living the Christian life?
• When do you feel the tension between the world’s values and the values of God’s kingdom?
People often feel the tension of choosing between the values of the world and the values of the kingdom of God. What we pursue in life reveals what we value, or view as most important. When we choose to pursue the things of this world, we do so with no guarantee of getting what we want or what we need most.
Dig
Read Matthew 16:21-27
• What event had just occurred which prompted Jesus’s validation of Peter?
After Peter’s celebrated confession of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and Son of God, everything in the gospel story seems to move toward Jerusalem and Jesus’ destiny at the cross. Peter’s confession serves as the hinge point in the narrative. From that point on, Jesus openly spoke of his approaching death and resurrection.
• How did Peter respond to Jesus’ statement about his impending suffering and crucifixion?
• Where did Peter’s response come from? How is it understandable? How is it surprising?
Nothing had prepared Jesus’ disciples for the prediction of his coming death. As Jesus’ notoriety was mounting and momentum for an uprising against Rome was increasing, surely many of the Jews who followed Jesus expected him to storm into Jerusalem and lead a holy war against the Roman regime. Such a revolution would be impossible if Jesus were dead.
• How did Jesus respond to Peter?
• Compare and contrast Jesus’ response to Peter’s earlier remarks (i.e., his confession
of Jesus as Messiah) and his response to Peter’s later remarks (i.e., his rebuke of Jesus for announcing his death).
• Does Jesus’ response to Peter seem excessive? Why or why not?
• What does Jesus mean by the “concerns of God” and “human concerns”?
• How does Jesus describe the nature of discipleship?
• How does Jesus’ example in Philippians 2:5-8 help us understand the nature of discipleship?
• Can a person “gain the world” without forfeiting his/her soul? Explain.
Read Philippians 3:4b-11
• Explain the significance of Paul’s credentials.
Paul’s resume may not be impressive in today’s terms, but many people in Paul’s day would have given their very lives to achieve the successes and acquire the accomplishments of Paul. He had it all—everything the world offered in that day to guarantee success, social standing and respect. But as the Spirit of God aligned the heart of Paul with the will of God, the truth was revealed.
• What was Paul’s perspective on all his worldly accomplishments? What specifically did he call them?
• What did Paul claim was far better than his worldly accomplishments?
• What does it mean to “know Christ, know the power of his resurrection and to participate in his sufferings” in our current-day context?
When it comes to material things we buy, dreams we chase and accomplishments we pursue, there is always a cost-benefit analysis. Is it worth it? What a tragedy to get to the end of our lives and realize everything we valued and everything we worked for turned out to be momentary and meaningless.
Is it worth it?
Everything in life comes with a price tag,
but not everything comes with a guarantee.
Reflect & Apply
• Do you agree with the statement above, that “everything in life comes with a price tag, but not everything comes with a guarantee”? Give an example.
• What guarantee do we have for eternal salvation?
• When do you most feel the tension between choosing to adopt the world’s
values or aligning with Kingdom values? How do you deal with the tension?
• What is your reaction to Jesus’ statement, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
• What is the appeal of “gaining the world”?
• What would you tell someone who is choosing to live their life apart from Christ?
Prayer Starter
“Dear God,
Your ways are not my ways.
Your thoughts are not my thoughts.
Your wisdom exceeds my understanding.
Your will transcends my ways.
Help me submit to your wisdom and align with
your will in every area of my life, including…”
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