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TEXT: Mark 10:32-45

Christ is the Suffering, Servant, Savior!

I. ONE FINAL REMINDER

God planned, prophesied, and preformed the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

II. AN UNBELIEVABLE REQUEST

Jesus didn’t come to give us special seats in the coming Kingdom but to pay the ransom for our sin debt!

III. THE REALITY OF SERVANTHOOD

Jesus has not called us to be in the center of the mainstream of anything!

We are never going to impact the world by trying to get special seats of power or becoming mainstream but by demonstrating what it means to live as humble and loving servants.

The wonder of our salvation is not about if we get a seat on a throne of glory but that we get a seat at the table of His grace!

TEXT: Psalm 127

When life is frustrating remember that apart from the faithfulness of God life seems futile.

I. AVOID THE VANITIES OF LIFE

There is no abundant life apart from the Author of Life.
A. Working

Proverbs 16:3
“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

Hebrews 3:4
“For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.”

In day when people are obsessed with being first God has called us to be faithful!
B. Watching
C. Worrying

Psalm 4:8
“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”

Quote:
“Worry is not believing God will get it right, and bitterness is believing God got it wrong.” Tim Keller

The ability to rest is a result of receiving the love of God.

II. ACKNOWLEDGE THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD

Quote:
"People who do not like children are swine, dunces, and blockheads, not worthy to be called men and women, because they despise the blessing of God, the Creator and Author of marriage." Martin Luther

The priority of worship and raising a family is often sacrificed on the altar of success in the work place.

When we devalue what God says is valuable we end up empty.

II Corinthians 1:20-22
“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”

We can rest in God because all that we need doesn’t depend on us but God and He has promised His blessing to us through Jesus.

TEXT: Mark 10:1-12

Proverbs 4:20-23
“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

The heart not only needs protected, it needs permeated with the truths of God’s Word.

God knows what it means to deal with the heartbreak of divorce.

Dysfunction, differences and disagreements are a part of marriage. But, that does not mean they are grounds for divorce.

The whole concept of marriage is rooted in a permanent covenant.

I. A PUBLIC CHALLENGE ISSUED

II. THE PROBLEM REVEALED

The most common reason for divorce is a hard heart.

When problems come in your marriage, look to the Creator of the marriage covenant.

The whole concept of marriage is rooted in a permanent covenant.

III. A PRIVATE QUESTION ANSWERED

In all of our unfaithfulness to God, He has remained faithful to us!

TEXT: Mark 9:42-50

The words of Jesus are not a collection of soundbites to randomly quote when it suites us, but serious statements that disciples are to live their life by.

Quote:
“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” Charles Spurgeon

Quote:
“The strongest and most striking statements concerning hell came from the lips of one who died in order that we wouldn’t have to go there!” Alistair Begg

I. RECOGNIZE THE RISK OF CAUSING OTHERS TO STUMBLE

Being a believer is more about faithful obedience to Jesus and not about being sophisticated and “puffed up” with knowledge.

We need to be concerned not only with the eyes of a watching world but for the lives of those we are seeking to lead.

II. PRACTICE THE PRINCIPLE OF RADICAL AMPUTATION

I Corinthians 6:20
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

Breaking Free From Life Dominating Sin
1. Take immediate action.
2. Admit your sin.
3. Seek accountability.

A heart that has been truly changed by Jesus will ultimately choose the path of holiness, no matter how hard it is, because the alternative is to take the highway to hell.

III. EMBRACE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF REMAINING SALTY

Our lives will be refined and one day what we have done will be revealed.

Romans 12:1
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

The purity and potency of the Gospel is lost when the very people who are proclaiming the peace that the Gospel promises are feuding with each other over who is first and fighting about who is right.

Jesus came to serve and he demonstrated what servanthood looks like with his life.

I. __(Insert Your Name)__ UNDERSTANDS THE MISSION OF JESUS

Daniel 7:13, 14
“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

Any servant who only sticks with Jesus as long as things are going good has no understanding of the cross.

I Corinthians 2:9
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Servants understand that life is never going to be easy but in the eternal rule and reign of Jesus we will experience all the indescribable joys God has planned for us.

II. __(Insert Your Name)__ KNOWS THAT LIFE IS NOT ABOUT HIM/HER

When you’re consumed with your own righteousness you will have very little room for other people in your life.

It’s good to know that being a servant is not a platform for greatness it’s a position of humble service.

Quote:
Service to others is the primary way in which believers imitate and fulfill the mission of Jesus. J.R. Edwards

III. __(Insert Your Name)__ ACKNOWLEDGES THERE ARE MANY OTHER SERVANTS

Quote:
“Churches that are filled with self-righteous, exclusive, insecure, angry, moralistic people are extremely unattractive.” Tim Keller

If your brand of Christianity and study of the Scriptures is not ultimately leading you to love Jesus, receive and reach out to others, and serve joyfully in the local church; you’re doing it wrong!

In essentials, Unity!
In non-essentials, Liberty!
In all things, Charity!

TEXT: Mark 9:14-29

The crisis moments in our life do not create faith they reveal where our faith rests.

I. THE CONFRONTATION OF JESUS

Living out our faith is not some formula or following some process; faith is putting all our hope and trust in the Lord and then living a life of full obedience to him.

Proverbs 3:5-7

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”

Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

How you live out your faith will directly impact your family!

II. THE CRY OF A DESPERATE FATHER

Ephesians 6:12
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

The Satanic Agenda

1. The Distortion of God’s Word
2. The Destruction of God’s Creation
3. The Death of Godly Influence

I Peter 5:8
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

I Corinthians 15:34
“Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”

Until we are willing to humbly bow down and be honest with Christ, we will never be able to rise up or help anyone!

III. THE CASTING OUT OF THE DEMON

Your home may well be gripped by the forces of hell but Jesus Christ has conquered death and hell; he has broken the power of sin and Satan!

John 5:24
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

Only Jesus has the power to restore life and give back what the enemy had taken.

IV. THE CURE TO THE PROBLEM

Psalm 90:10
“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

Psalm 90:12
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Love Jesus, live your life in humble dependence on Him and lead your family well.

TEXT: Mark 8:27-38

I. A QUESTION THAT DEMANDS AN ANSWER

Jesus wasn’t concerned about the opinions of people but about the confession of individuals.

Matthew 16:17
“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.”

It is the work of the Spirit of God that reveals to us who Jesus is!

Until you are convinced about Jesus, you will have a very hard time trying to convince anyone else about Jesus.

II. A DOUBLE REBUKE

Jesus didn’t come to lead a rebellion or start a revolution; He came to ransom and redeem the souls of men, to rise victoriously over death and the grave, and to one day return and reign as King of King and Lord of Lords.

Trying to pursue the American dream, as a Christian, will make following Jesus appear like a nightmare.

John 6:67-69
“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

III. A DEFINITION OF DISCIPLESHIP

Quote:
“Taking up your cross means for you to die to self-determination, die to control of your own life, die to using Jesus for your agenda.” Tim Keller

Discipleship is a question of whether you see following Jesus as an eternal investment or a waste of your current living.

No praise we ever receive in this life is worth the eternal disapproval of God. No possession gained in this life is worth destroying your own soul.

TEXT: Mark 8:27-38

I. A QUESTION THAT DEMANDS AN ANSWER

Jesus wasn’t concerned about the opinions of people but about the confession of individuals.

Matthew 16:17
“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.”

It is the work of the Spirit of God that reveals to us who Jesus is!

Until you are convinced about Jesus, you will have a very hard time trying to convince anyone else about Jesus.

II. A DOUBLE REBUKE

Jesus didn’t come to lead a rebellion or start a revolution; He came to ransom and redeem the souls of men, to rise victoriously over death and the grave, and to one day return and reign as King of King and Lord of Lords.

Trying to pursue the American dream, as a Christian, will make following Jesus appear like a nightmare.

John 6:67-69
“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

III. A DEFINITION OF DISCIPLESHIP

Quote:
“Taking up your cross means for you to die to self-determination, die to control of your own life, die to using Jesus for your agenda.” Tim Keller

Discipleship is a question of whether you see following Jesus as an eternal investment or a waste of your current living.

No praise we ever receive in this life is worth the eternal disapproval of God. No possession gained in this life is worth destroying your own soul.

TEXT: Psalm 126

One of the dangers we face as believers is to grow accustomed to the greatness of our God!

James 1:17
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

I Timothy 6:17
“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;”

The obsession to obtain more will not only obstruct our view of God’s greatness in will lead us to overthrow God from the throne of our heart.

God can bring you from a place of captivity to a place of celebration.

I. REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN THE PAST

The more you realize how lost you really were the greater God will continue to become in your life!

In a world filled with sorrow and struggle the song of the Saints should be heard!

Gladness is a discipline.

Hebrews 12:11
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

Gladness is a decision.

Gladness is a delight.

II. RELY ON GOD FOR THE FUTURE

Our future is filled with hope!

Refuse to allow what you see and feel now, to deter you from your work or redefine the great things God has promised he will do in the future.

TEXT: Mark 8:1-26

There is no lack of evidence to prove who Jesus is but there is a lack of understanding by so many people.

I. A REMINDER THAT JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE

The greater compassion of Christ is seen not just because the people had nothing to eat but that their souls were starving for truth.

John 6:48-51
“I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

II. A WARNING ON BEING RELIGIOUS

If you’re looking to find fault and a reason not to believe in Jesus you surely will find one. Your big head will lead to a hard heart.

Come to Jesus in humility and he will never turn you way. Come in arrogance and Jesus will walk away.

A little unbelief can lead to a very hard heart.

Galatians 5:9
“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”

Truth learned and not lived out leads to a life of hypocrisy and arrogance.

Ephesians 4:18
“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”

III. A LESSON IN SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS

Without divine intervention and divine illumination we are doomed to a life of darkness.

I Corinthians 2:14
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Only Jesus can turn our blindness into brightness!