February 15, 2015
Sacrifice for Christ
Lent
Mark 8:31-38
An Authentic Christian
•
Lent
•
– Choosing to set aside sole pursuit of personal pleasure for
the greater good
40 day period of time from Ash Wednesday until Easter
– The counted “40 days” do not include Sundays
•
40 days represent the time Christ was in the wilderness preparing
for His ministry
•
It is a time of reflection, repentance, and renewal for
spiritual growth
•
It is often accompanied by fasting, prayer, and self-denial
•
We recognize life as a precious gift from God, and turn our lives
towards Jesus Christ
•
Ash Wednesday
– Its name comes from the ancient practice of placing ashes
as a sign of humility before God, a symbol of mourning
and sorrow at the death that sin brings into the world
Denies Himself
•
Takes Up his cross
– It is obedience to God’s will as revealed in His Word,
accepting the consequences without reservations
for Jesus’ sake
•
Follows Jesus
– Saying no to self and yes to God
“Some people find God in church. Some people find God in nature.
Some people find God in love. I found God in suffering. I’ve known for
some time what my life’s work is: using my hands as tools to relieve
suffering.”
Kayla Mueller
– It places the worshipper in a position to realize the
consequences of sin
What does this mean for me?
The Father’s Plan for Jesus
1. Suffer many things
•
Call a time out with God
2. Be rejected by the religious leaders
•
Consider fasting for a time during Lent
•
Devote increased time to prayer
•
Commit to serve someone or some group
3. To be killed
4. To rise again from the dead
Suffering
•
God is not a masochist (a person who finds pleasure in pain)
•
I might choose to suffer so that someone else does not need to
•
I choose to serve God and if suffering is required as part of that
service, then I sacrifice for the greater good
February 15, 2015
Sacrifice for Christ
Lent
Mark 8:31-38
Lent
February 15, 2015
Sacrifice for Christ
Lent
Mark 8:31-38
Lent
•
40 day period of time from Ash Wednesday until Easter
•
40 day period of time from Ash Wednesday until Easter
•
40 days represent the time Christ was in the wilderness preparing
for His ministry
•
40 days represent the time Christ was in the wilderness preparing
for His ministry
•
It is a time of reflection, repentance, and renewal for
________________________________________________
•
It is a time of reflection, repentance, and renewal for
_________________________________________________
•
It is often accompanied by __________________,
_________________, and ___________________
•
It is often accompanied by __________________,
_________________, and ___________________
•
We recognize life as a precious gift from God, and turn our lives
towards Jesus Christ
•
We recognize life as a precious gift from God, and turn our lives
towards Jesus Christ
•
Ash Wednesday
•
Ash Wednesday
– Its name comes from the ancient practice of placing ashes
as a sign of humility before God, a symbol of mourning
and sorrow at the death that sin brings into the world
– Its name comes from the ancient practice of placing ashes
as a sign of humility before God, a symbol of mourning
and sorrow at the death that sin brings into the world
– It places the worshipper in a position to realize the
consequences of sin
– It places the worshipper in a position to realize the
consequences of sin
The Father’s Plan for Jesus
The Father’s Plan for Jesus
1. Suffer many things
1. Suffer many things
2. Be rejected by the religious leaders
2. Be rejected by the religious leaders
3. To be killed
3. To be killed
4. To rise again from the dead
4. To rise again from the dead
Suffering
Suffering
•
God is not a masochist (a person who finds pleasure in pain)
•
God is not a masochist (a person who finds pleasure in pain)
•
I might ______________ so that someone else does not need to
•
I might ______________ so that someone else does not need to
•
I choose to serve God and if suffering is required as part of that
service, then I sacrifice for the greater good
•
I choose to serve God and if suffering is required as part of that
service, then I sacrifice for the greater good
An Authentic Christian
•
Denies Himself
An Authentic Christian
•
– Choosing to set aside sole pursuit of personal pleasure for
the _______________________________
•
Takes Up his cross
– Choosing to set aside sole pursuit of personal pleasure for
the _______________________________
•
– It is obedience to God’s will as revealed in His Word,
accepting the consequences _______________________
for Jesus’ sake
•
Follows Jesus
Kayla Mueller
Takes Up his cross
– It is obedience to God’s will as revealed in His Word,
accepting the consequences _______________________
for Jesus’ sake
•
– Saying ________________________ and yes to God
“Some people find God in church. Some people find God in nature.
Some people find God in love. I found God in suffering. I’ve known for
some time what my life’s work is: using my hands as tools to relieve
suffering.”
Denies Himself
Follows Jesus
– Saying ________________________ and yes to God
“Some people find God in church. Some people find God in nature.
Some people find God in love. I found God in suffering. I’ve known for
some time what my life’s work is: using my hands as tools to relieve
suffering.”
Kayla Mueller
What does this mean for me?
What does this mean for me?
•
Call a ____________________ with God
•
Call a ____________________ with God
•
Consider ______________ for a time during Lent
•
Consider ______________ for a time during Lent
•
Devote increased time to __________________
•
Devote increased time to __________________
•
Commit to _________________ someone or some group
•
Commit to _________________ someone or some group