Snapshots Series: Be Faithful

Snapshot30 Mark 10:32-45 "Be Faithful" 1. Do you find that when you serve you are looking for others to notice? 2. When you pray do you find that it is all about you? 3. Talk about a time in which you wanted God to do something for you and He did not and the results were actually better. 4. It what areas of life do you feel you are a servant? 5. What areas do you need to improve our service? Today we are going to look at the concept of faithfulness... Vrs 32-34- What Jesus must go through. This is Jesus' third prediction on the gospel of Mark and gives the most detail. -Delivered over -Condemned to death -Mock Him -Spit on Him -Flog Him -Kill Him. That fact that Jesus predicts His death in this way is also a foreshadowing of His faithfulness. GOSPEL James and John want A God who is faithful. Vrs 35-37 Vrs 35 A familiar phrase that a mom might hear from her child. Mom can you do something for me. This week I was doing some yard work on my day off and Silah must have said Mom 25 times in 30 minutes so I said "hey Silah can you not say mom for one hour?" she said ok a minute later she said "dad". James and John were acting like children "Jesus we want" Vrs 36 like any faithful parent responds to their child "what do you want?" As Christians we can take comfort in that fact that when we are asking the Lord is faithful to listen Vrs 37 The request: We want to sit on your right and left in the kingdom. This is almost laughable. Have you ever made a ridicules request? "God help me to know the answers even though I did not study" "God help this situation I am in to not be happening" "God if you do this for me, I will do that for you". Or maybe we start to barter with God and say "if you do this for me I will be faithful to you" The question then becomes...would we be faithful Christians if God always gave us our own way? If a mom (or dad) gave a little child everything they asked for what would it look like? Dr Bryan Caplan from George Mason University in Virginia, U.S., said parents should ‘cut themselves some slack’ and stop trying to control every aspect of their children’s lives. He called for a relaxed and fun style of bringing up children — dubbed ‘serenity parenting’ — which involves us taking a backseat role. Say yes to everything. I read a brief article about a mom who tried this and the results were interesting to say the least. Some of the highlights were kids able to eat whatever they want and go to bed whenever they wanted to. The mom said her one child said "why are you being so nice to us" By the end of the week the kids were fatigued and in meltdown mode. Many times in life we think we know what we want or need but we do not count the cost and the toll it will take on us. James and John did not really realize what they were asking. They knew what they wanted but didn't realize the price tag. The cost of being faithful vrs 38-41 The cup and the baptism and the Fathers prerogative. Jesus was willing to drink the cup of God's judgment and be baptized by bearing the burden of the cross. In Old Testament tradition being underwater was symbolic of calamity. Jesus was taking God's wrath upon himself and the result was sitting at the right hand of the Father. It is the Fathers prerogative who He elevates. I will make note that James and John did eventually realize the cost of faithfulness. James Acts 12:1-2 James was killed with sword under Herod Agrippa John authored 5 books of the NT, legend has it that he was boiled in oil and lived. Under Emperor Domitian was exiled to the Island of Patmos where we wrote the book of Revelation. How we can be faithful to Jesus Don't self promote Vrs 41 The other disciples were upset about this. Probably because they didn't think of it first. But if we spend time self promoting who are we not promoting? Jesus Think about your prayer life is it always "me, me, me". Do you spend time praying on behalf of others? Don't lead like the world leads. Vrs 42 Lording it over. A follower of Christ is marked with humility in service. Don't look to be served look to serve. Vrs 43-44 Moms are a good example of this. Look to the example of Jesus Vrs 45 Jesus is the ultimate example. the God of this universe came in human form to serve us. A Mother…
When you’re a child she walks before you,
To set an example.
 When you’re a teenager she walks behind you
To be there should you need her.
 When you’re an adult she walks beside you
So that as two friends you can enjoy life together..

Snapshots Series: "Jesus Centered Living"

Snapshot29 Mark 10:17-31 "Jesus Centered Living" By looking at the account of Jesus and the rich young man (ruler) we learn what Jesus sees as necessary to live a life centered around Jesus. Have the Desire Vrs 17-20 1. To receive Eternal Life. vrs 17 The fact that this wealthy man knelt before Jesus was a very uncommon stature for a wealthy person. His desire for this knowledge outweighed his pride and he saw that Jesus was the one who could answer this question. 2. To be righteous. Vrs 18-20 Jesus challenges the idea of what is good by pointing out that only God is good Often times we meet people that are "good" people and their sin is not evident but that is where we and they have to understand that the Bible tells us that no one is righteous or good except God. But Jesus sees this mans desire is good. Having a Willingness Vrs 21-22 1. To let go of everything for Jesus: Jesus said "sell and give to the poor" He said this because He knew this man was trusting in his wealth. The Jedi Master Yoda said Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose. It was too much for this man to give up. In the Luke account of this he is called the "Rich Young Ruler" Now from people who are not rich we look and say yeah rich people... all they care about is money. Lets dissect this for a minute. Rich-Would you rather be rich or poor? Young-would you rather be old or young? Ruler-would you rather be powerful or powerless? This man had a huge conflict here. Young-this is not going to last. Rich-if I give these possessions up I will not have the comfort of life that I am used to. Ruler- If I give my wealth up I may lose my power. BKC commentary puts it like this. "The one necessary thing he lacked was unrivaled allegiance to God, since wealth was his god (v. 22). He was devoted to it rather than God, thereby breaking the first commandment (Ex. 20:3)." Jesus called out his idols. This mans idols was his wealth and power. Idols are anything that stands in the way of having full allegiance to Jesus. These are things that we believe will make us happy, provide security, make us important or feel important or provide fulfillment. To Follow Jesus: Jesus said "follow me" vrs 21b What is distracting you from following Jesus? Common idols 1. Wealth/possessions 2. Success 3. Appearance 4. Relationships 5. Pleasure 6. Hobbies (pets, travel, sports) 7. Work/school

Making a good thing the ultimate thing. Idolatry test. questions based off questions by John Ortberg 1. Which one of these do I think about the most? Does it consume my mind? 2. Which of these do I feel like life is not worth living if I lost it? 3. Which one of these gives me my sense of identity? 4. Which of these do I look to for a sense of security? 5. Which of these engages the most emotions? makes me happy when it is going good and sad or angry when it is not? 6. Which of these does much of my time, talent and treasure go toward? 7. Which one would those closest to me say has a potential to be an idol for me from this list? If you feel you have done pretty well on this "test" take heed to the words of John Calvin “Man's mind is like a store of idolatry; so much so that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain” There is always something that can be made an idol these were just some common ones. So what do we do if we are struggling with an idol in our life? Realize the idol does not or did not provide salvation- Verses 23-26 The disciples were astonished because in Jewish traditions the wealth was considered a high blessing from God and rich people were loved by God and poor people were cursed by God. So if the blessed (rich) in this world were not accepted by God then "who can be saved" Jesus is saying that no attempt of man can bring men salvation. In fact it would be easier for a camel to fit through an eye of a needle. GOSPEL Realize the possibilities in life when it is centered on Jesus . Vrs 27 Our main problem is when we are caught up in idolatry we could not imagine life without a focus on that specific idol. We became worried or scared of what that would look like. For whatever reason we are clinging to that idol we need to understand that what we are looking for Jesus can provide and it is possible with Him. Self worth, security, fulfillment, pleasure, importance etc. When those needs are being met by Jesus in a healthy way the possibilities of what life could be like are endless. Realize the comfort in living a Christ centered life. Vrs 28-31 Peter's concern When a person trusts in Jesus and lives a life following after Him. Jesus takes care of that people in this life and the next. Jesus is saying if you let go of something for me and my work I will take care of you. Jesus is greater then anything our idols can offer and we need to find comfort in that. Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not then also graciously give us all things. Communion is a reminder of the reassurance we have in God's promises because it points us to the cross.