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Purpose
To engage you with the message of Mark
so that as you read it
the message will engage you in return.
Mark in a Month Pt.2
Who wrote Mark and why?
The Shape of Mark—how it fits together
“The Kingdom of God”—what it means and how it challenges us
1. Who wrote Mark and why?
Who: John Mark wrote it on behalf of Peter
Widespread external evidence in early church writings
Good internal evidence that it is Peter’s eyewitness account
Why: Written in Rome for Gentiles
Doesn’t assume you know the O.T.
Shortest, fast paced
Just the “beginning of the good news” (1:1)
Message: Call to discipleship
Following a person, not simply a code of conduct
Fellowship with Jesus is at the heart
Trusting him
Confessing him to others
Taking note of his conduct
Following his teaching
Being shaped by a relationship with him
Being prepared to face rejection (ESVSB)
2. The Shape of Mark —how it fits together
Starts with a bang
Expands to another level
Seeing the real Jesus
The Kingdom extends beyond Israel and Jesus replaces the Temple
Truly, this man is the Son of God
Mark 4:21-34
Mark 4:21–34
(Title) Kingdom Parables
(Summary points)
Lamps should be put on a lampstand
Those who “hear” will get more
The Kingdom is like mysteriously growing seed
The Kingdom is like a tiny mustard seed growing to a large tree
Only those who followed got a full explanation of parables
Notes
Context: The parable of the sower
Message: We can only really understand Jesus’s teaching if we are actually his disciples
Me: I want this! How can I be following him better right now?
A. No more Lukewarm
“You were made to live with something to die for” (Edwards)
We are living in an age that is screaming out for something real.
Buried in the human heart is a desire to devote ourselves totally to something that we believe in
Paradoxicaly we live in a comfort culture, dedicated to insulating us from the slightest discomfort
The words of Jesus are a culture-shock to us:
Matthew 10:32-40
The Kingdom
No more Lukewarm
What does “the Kingdom of God” actually mean?
How do we express a passion for the Kingdom?
Mark 8:34–38
Then Jesus called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.
For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life?
What can a person give in exchange for his life?
For if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
B. What does “the Kingdom of God” actually mean?
not = Church
It primarily means God’s rule
What does the Kingdom look like right now?
a POWER and a PEOPLE
C. How do we express a passion for the Kingdom?
No compartments in our lives
God is involved in everything and prayer pervades everything
But most of all it has to do with what our priorities are
Edwards says: “Write eternity on our hearts that we would live by the age to come.”
Kingdom means warfare
Most spiritual warfare is not very glamorous
saying no to temptation
saying no to the flesh
fighting against what Paul calls “the old man”
actually habits, reaction, old ways of behaving
saying no to fear and unbelief
believing we can trust Jesus, and acting on it
Mark 8:34–38
Then Jesus called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.
For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life?
What can a person give in exchange for his life?
For if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”