Sunday School Lesson 2009 09 27

September 27, 2009

Grow Team News

growteam@nuthalapaty.net

Serve Team News

serveteam@nuthalapaty.net

F - FirstI - ImpressionsT - Team

Serve Team NewsNovember 20th - Practices Begin

January 9th – First Game

Needs:• Evaluations• Coaches (Lead and Assistant)• Referee • Post-Game Clean-up • Devotions Leaders• Prayer Team members• Greeters• Year-end Celebration

Rescue Team News

Team MeetingTuesday

Oct 13th, 2009

Announcements

EI Bible School Men’s Fall Retreat

Class Name

Faith Seekers

Prayer Requests &

Praise Reports

Know Jesus

• 09/06 : The Jesus People Should Know– Mark 1

• 09/13 : The People Jesus Knows– Mark 2

• 09/20 : The Challenges of Knowing Jesus– Mark 6

• 09/27 : The Results of Knowing Jesus– Mark 8

Are you a disciple of

Jesus?

What does it mean to be a disciple?

• Follow His teaching• Being a guide to others• Being an example• Mimics someone else (actions,

character, in every way)• Promoting what you believe• Desires to learn and act upon that

knowledge

Can you be a Christian and

not be a Disciple?

The Gospel of Mark

Mark 8

MessiahSon of GodAuthority

Power

The Wayof theCross

Focal Passage

Mark 8:34-38

Mark 8:34-38

34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would

come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross

and follow me.

Mark 8:34-38

35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever

loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or

what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:34-38

38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful

generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when

he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

The Process of Discipleship

If anyone would come after me, he must...

1. Deny himself

2. Take up his cross

3. Follow me

To deny yourself means to….

• Not getting what you want, but what you can do for God

• Giving up control• Sacrifice• Getting rid of your pride and

arrogance• Putting others before yourself

What does it mean to deny yourself?

Denying Our….

• Self-trust

• Self-sufficiency

• Right to run our own lives

• Love of ourselves

“People will be lovers of themselves”2 Timothy 3:2

Denying Yourself

It is my pride that makes me independent of God. It's appealing to me to feel that I am the master of my fate, that I run my own life, call my own shots, go it alone. But, that feeling is my basic dishonesty. I can't go it alone. I have to get help from other people, and I can't ultimately rely on myself. I'm dependent on God for my very next breath. It is dishonest of me to pretend that I'm anything but a man -- small, weak, and limited.

Denying Yourself

So, living independent of God is self-delusion. It is not just a matter of pride being an unfortunate little trait, and humility being an attractive little virtue; it's my inner psychological integrity that's at stake. When I am conceited, I am lying to myself about what I am. I am pretending to be God, and not man. My pride is the idolatrous worship of myself. And that is the national religion of Hell!

The Art of Being a Big Shot – Howard Butt

The Process of Discipleship

If anyone would come after me, he must……

1. Deny himself

2. Take up his cross

3. Follow me

To “take up his cross” means to…

• To die to yourself – doing God’s will rather than your own – putting action to words

• Not an easy task – going against the current

• Doing something out of devotion rather than duty

• To become like Jesus – bring others like Christ

What does “take up his cross” mean?

1 Corinthians 13PatientKind

Does not EnvyDoes not Boast

Is not proudIs not rude

Is not self-seekingIs not easily angered

Keeps no record of wrongsDoes not delight in evilRejoices with the truth

Always protectsAlways trustsAlways hopes

Always perseveresNever fails

Mark 7:21-22“What comes outof a man is what

makes him unclean.For from within,

out of men's hearts,come evil thoughts,sexual immorality,

theft, murder, adultery,greed, malice, deceit,

lewdness, envy, slander,arrogance and folly. ”

1 John 5:8“God is Love”

Our Character God’s CharacterCharacter of Love

Willinglyseeking death

to oneself

The Process of Discipleship

If anyone would come after me, he must……

1. Deny himself

2. Take up his cross

3. Follow me

“Follow me” means to…

• Living every day as he lived• A daily commitment• Be willing to leave everything you

have• Being willing to be led• A call to action – so others in turn

will follow also

“Follow me” means to…

• To submit to His authority• To adopt His world view

– “Love your enemy” - Matthew 5:44– “Pray for those who hurt you” - Matthew 5:44– “Forgive those who offend you” - Matthew 6:14-15– “Be kind to the ungrateful and selfish” - Luke 6:35– “Bear one another’s burdens” - Galatians 6:2– “Freely you have received, freely give” - Matthew 10:8

• To participate in what He did…An ongoing, daily commitment

Mark 8:34-38

35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever

loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or

what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Your Life Purpose Determines your Treasure

DissatisfactionEmptinessWorthless

Give it awayfor Christ

and the Gospel

Gainthe

World

ContentmentSatisfaction

Worth

To Save it To Lose it

Eternity separatedfrom God

Eternity with God

Mark 8:34-38

38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful

generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when

he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

What does it mean to be “ashamed” of Jesus?

What does it mean to be “ashamed” of Jesus?

Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive

out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away

from me, you evildoers!'

Matthew 7:22-23

Can you be a Christian and

not be a Disciple?

Being a Disciple

• Deny Yourself:–Make Jesus your Lord and not just your

Savior.• Take up your Cross:–Willfully seek and use every opportunity

to be transformed into His image.• Follow Him:– Jesus promises us a life of abundance

only through discipleship

Homework

1. Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ?

2. What in your life have you not submitted to Jesus’ Lordship ?

3. Are you willfully carrying your cross of sanctification, or are you just bearing undesired burdens?

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