Hey guys... I'm really excited about this message, but also pretty nervous. This is our big week to pitch small groups to the kids. I think a lot of them are already interested, but I want those who are unsure to see the importance of being in a small group, and I want those who are interested to see the purpose. I really want this message to bring those points home.
It's been tough to make this point while keeping our NT study consistent. Mark isn't a great text for community, and I didn't want to just force a point that wasn't there. So I'm really focusing on the idea of discipleship in Mark, and how it was never meant to be done alone. I'm not in love with it, but I think it works. If you have better ideas though, I'm all ears. Anyways...
The big idea is: a life of following Jesus is not mean to be easy. The journey is virtually impossible to make alone - but it can be filled with grace and joy when done with others.
Main text: Mark 8:31-38. The key part of this text is verse 34: if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
1. Discipleship is hard. Following Jesus wasn't meant to be a joyride. I might spend some time talking about Mark's conception of discipleship - that the disciples constantly fall short. Mark wants us to see and understand the struggle.
Three points about discipleship are made. We must:
a. Deny the self - We are called to give up our own self-interest, our own worldly desires, and surrender our lives to God. This is a "radical abandonment of one's own identity and self determination." This is a heavy call, to be willing to say that my life is not my own, but God's.
b. Take up one's cross - This is a clear call to a life of suffering and sacrifice. We must be willing to folow Jesus even in the face of suffering and shame. These parts of life are not an exception, but an expectation. We all struggle to accept that we might suffer at times for our faith.
c. Follow Jesus - Lastly, we are called to be like Jesus. Here, the emphasis is following him to the cross, but a basic principle of discipleship is to live a life like Christ. Most of the kids will already understand how hard this is.
2. Despite the struggle, discipleship is possible with help. I may look at some other texts to support this section, but I think the principles are self-evident. Success in all three aspects of discipleship require people to take the journey with us. No one can follow Jesus alone.
You need people in your life to provide you with:
a. Truth: Sometimes it's hard to know which way to go. We might think we're following Jesus, but we need brothers and sisters to guide us back when we stray from the path. Denying oneself is hard - we're naturally self interested and other people can help us see things in our lives that we need to let go of and give to God. WE need to be reminded of times when we need to follow Jesus.
b. Grace: We're going to fall. Period. We need people to pick us up and love us and care for us when we do. When we encounter those times of struggle and sacrifice, we need people with us to suffer alonside us and carry us when we need it.
c. Joy: Jesus didn't mean for faith to be a burden, a struggle. People are what make a life of discipleship worth living. A life alone, trying to be like Jesus, is almost not worth it. Going through it together can bring so much joy.
The controlling metaphor that I really want to emphasize is the idea of faith as a journey. Others make the journey easier and more enjoyable. They make the journey worth going on. Small groups provide people who may be lifelong companions.
I'm interested to hear all your thoughts.... thanks!
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Hey Brandon,
ReplyDeleteI think it may be stretching a bit, but if you use a different scripture passage to show the joy of others and the help of others I think it could work better.
Mark does a good job as you pointed out of showing the failures of the disciples (just they never get it!) so that does a good job of illustrating that point. And they did go on a journey too. So yeah, if you can sum up all that you wrote about the misadventures of the disciples well that will work. But then you'll need to talk about small groups in the time remaining.. can it all fit?
hey brandon,
ReplyDeletesorry for the late response.
i think the passage you're using is great. really emphasizing and going through the characteristics for discipleship is so important. by going through those points i think you'll really drive home the point that discipleship is so hard.
but i agree with brett in that you should bring in another passage(s) to show how discipleship is so much better with others. don't feel like you have to blend your two points together to work with your main text. while the principles are evident, i think its important to always draw from Scripture to make the point.
you do have a lot to cover, so just be clear and concise in what you say. i really like the idea of small groups making lifelong companions. that could be a good selling point for those that might still be unsure about things.