Date: April 6-7, 2013
Series: Christian?
Message: Great Expectations
Passage: Mark 8:34-38
INTRODUCTION – 5 MINUTES
IF YOU WERE TO ASK RANDOM PEOPLE ON THE STREET, HOW DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD DEFINE A “CHRISTIAN”?
Leader note: Look at both the positive and negative terms you think people would use. How would your group members have described a Christian before they became one?
OBSERVATION – 20 MINUTES
READ MARK 8:34-38. WHAT DO YOU LEARN ABOUT BEING A FOLLOWER OF JESUS?
Leader note: The NLT version was used in this weekend’s message.
Important leader note: The people listening to Jesus speak would have attached meaning to the cross that makes what Jesus said absolutely startling. The cross represented a place that criminals died a public, humiliating, gruesome and painful death, it was a complete surrender as they carried their own cross to their death, it represented the end of their life, total submission. It was the end of their life spiritually, physically, relationally and emotionally. This is important as you consider the thought of “taking up your cross”.
Commentary: Some of the answers your group should get-
- Jesus calls people to join
- Turn from selfish ways
- Stop clinging to the things of this life – don’t hold on to tight to stuff, things
- Be willing to give up your life
- It is a daily sacrifice
- Don’t be ashamed of Jesus or the message of the gospel
- Don’t care about this world and the things of it
- Don’t be looking for worldly gain
- It is an “all in” proposition
- It is a lifestyle, not just a one-time thing
- Hold lightly what God has given
- Don’t love this life
- Be willing to give everything up
- If you hang on to life you will lose it
- To give up everything you “hold onto” will mean you will gain life
- It is surrendering anything you value most of this world
- Being ashamed of Jesus today results in Him being ashamed of them in the end
UNDERSTANDING – 20 MINUTES
WHAT ARE THINGS PEOPLE HOLD ONTO TODAY (REFUSE TO DIE TO)?
Leader note: Consider all the things people rely on , depend on, hold onto in this life – stuff, things, relationships, attitudes, beliefs, etc.
Commentary:
Some of the things people hold onto would be –
- Money
- Houses
- Control
- Guilt
- Status, power, position, success
- Dreams, goals
- Ambition
- Career
- Possessions
- Acceptance
- Kids
- Security
- Family
WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF WHERE YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, HAVE HELD ONTO SOMETHING IN LIFE – AND LOST IT?
Commentary: Use the list you just created and think of people (even if it is you) that have held onto something in the list. Think of people who have poured so much of themselves into their job or career – thinking they were providing for their family, and never spending time with their family and ending up losing them altogether. Maybe it is someone who is working so hard to get enough so they can start a family and then they wake up and find themselves beyond the years where they can have a family. Maybe you know someone who was so wrapped up in their status, and then lost their job and felt as though they had nothing left. Maybe you know someone who invested everything in the sports career of their kid and then the kid got injured and ended their athletic career – the parents are left feeling they have nothing left – they lost it.
WHAT ARE EXAMPLES WHERE YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, HAVE LET GO? WHAT WAS GAINED?
Leader note: Look at the list again, is there someone you know who has given up the hold on something? Think of people who have given up the need to control everything – think of the freedom they gained. Think of those who have lived with guilt from a divorce or past act – think of the peace they have gained. You may know someone who had spent years clinging to a dream of doing something they never were able to do, and then they gave up on that dream – think of the contentment they now have because they aren’t constantly living the “if only” lifestyle.
APPLICATION – 20 MINUTES
WHAT IN YOUR LIFE NEEDS TO DIE TO FOLLOW JESUS?
Commentary: Look at your lifestyle now, what are things you are clinging too? What is something you need to completely surrender so that you are able to gain your life back?
Pray: Thank God for the perfect example of Jesus, who gave up His life to gain everything. Pray for the Holy Spirit to convict you in those areas where you are clinging to worldly things and need to die in order to gain life in Christ. Pray that you will create a new lifestyle and not just a temporary fix, that you will daily “take up your cross” and live a cling free life.
LIVE IT OUT
WHAT WOULD THE WORD “CHRISTIAN” MEAN TO PEOPLE IN OUR WORLD IF WE WERE TRUE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS?