Sermon Notes: Mark 8:31-9:1
This is the video we watched to start the sermon off…
Socialization: a continuing process whereby an individual acquires a personal identity and learns the norms, values, behavior, and social skills appropriate to his or her social position.
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Discipleship: A continuing process whereby an individual learns what it means to deny self, die to self and live for Christ within the context of their culture’s identity, norms, values, behavior and social positions.
The work of Jesus…
To providing the ways and means of oneness with God.
Ill: William Tyndale invented the word Atonement (at onement) To better explain the teaching and meaning of Christ’s sacrifice, and how it accomplished two things the remission of sin and the reconciliation of man to God.
The work of the disciple…
Deny, Die, Live
The work of the church…Is not to socialize people.
- Church is not my personal identity. My personal identity is forged within the work of discipleship.
- Church is not “the norm”. Church is people and if you are a person you are the norm.
- Church is not a place where you acquire values. Church is a collection of the people (some lost & some found) learning what it means to have their values shaped within the context of being a disciple.
- Church is not a place to “behave”. Church is a people who behave.
- Church is not a school of church social skills for church social positions. Our social position is found in the messy, dirty, humiliating work of disciple being and disciple making.
Able – I enjoyed this a lot. When I was younger I thought of discipleship as “Learning Theology.” As I grew and matured (heh), I thought of discipleship as “Mastering Spiritual Disciplines” (e.g. – learning to witness, read my bible, pray, give, serve in church, etc.). Of course, these definitions were all reinforced by the idea of a “Discipleship Class.” Over the past few years I have thrown all that out and opted for a simpler definition of discipleship: “Following Jesus.” This will be very connected to self-denial, submission to the Lordship of Jesus in very practical ways, and carrying my cross daily. There will be learning, but it won’t be primarily academic. It will be more like learning to be human in the world toward God and others (and myself) in the “Jesus way.” This cannot be accomplished through mastery of spiritual disciplines or learning theological systems. I enjoyed the read and look forward to listening to you unpack it live!
“Following Jesus.” Hey thank you Kenny! It is amazing how simple and difficult that statement is all at the same time! haha