Bulletin 09/16/2018
Mark 8:27–38 (Proper 19) Why Take the Road Less Travelled
  • Blessed Assurance
      • Blessed Assurance

          • Psalm 19NRSV

            • Mark 8:27–38NRSV

        • Introduction

          If you were one of the disciples, like Peter, and you are able to identify your boss as the Messiah, the savior of humanity, the hope of the world, would you be surprised when Jesus “sternly” order you not to tell anyone about him? Isn’t it strange that God came on earth to save the world but doesn’t want the world know? Don’t you think that’s totally counter intuitive?
          Then, your boss says to you that he would undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed. That sounds like another counter intuitive statement from the savior of the humanity, doesn’t it?
          So you take you boss aside and rebuke your boss for saying those ominous things. You say, “Boss, you are crazy. First, you told us not to tell anyone about your divine identity, now you are telling others about your suffering. That’s unbecoming of a Messiah. Suffering doesn’t belong to the Messiah! If you suffer, how can you save the world? I can’t stand your insane statements.”
          Now, it gets worse. Your boss turns around and scold you, “Get behind me, Satan!” He calls you Satan. It hurts. If you are like an average American, you might just get up and leave. “Why should I serve a boss that calls me Satan. Am I that evil for trying to keep him proper?”
          Then, you boss says your problem is “setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Now, it begins to make a little bit of sense, if you are humble enough to accept the fact that God thinks differently from human beings.
          So the subject of this sermon is to think the way God thinks, so that we won’t feel embarrassed by God’s seemingly illogical or intuitive statements. After all, according to Paul, a mature Christian should have the mind of Christ.

          The Benefit of Having a Divine Mindset

          You will be able to discern all things.

          1 Cor. 2:15-16
          In other words, a person with the mind of christ will see the world differently and will be able to see the world through God’s eyes. All the bickering you see in the news become menial and you don’t participate in the dog-eat-dog society.

          You will be able to maintain happiness even during suffering

          Romans 5:3–5 ESV
          Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
          In here we have the mind of Christ because the Holy Spirit fills our hearts and reveals to us the meaning behind suffering.

          You’ll be fruitful

          John 15:5 NRSV
          I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
          In here, the abiding in Christ is to be one with Christ, and naturally we have the mind of Christ. That allows us to bear fruit, the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That’s the prescription for true happiness.

          How do we develop divine mindset

          Get Behind Christ

          Mark 8:33 NRSV
          But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
          Jesus rebuke Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!” Sometimes, we want to serve God by getting in front of God, meaning we want to serve God our own way. “God, I love you, just sit tight and I’ll take care of you.” God doesn’t need us to take care of him. Serving God is not about doing things for God; it’s about being obedient. Let me say it again, “Serving God is not about doing things for God, but about being obedient.” A lot of times, we thing we serve God by doing things for him our own way. We don’t serve God by leading the way; we serve God by getting behind.
          Peter did it many times. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, he took out his sword and cut the ear off the soldier. Jesus asked him to put his weapon away. Peter is everyone of us. We think we know better than God. There are other instances you can read in the scripture.
          God has a plan for you and for this world. Even if that plan doesn’t sound logical or intuitive, you need to get behind God. You will find yourself accomplishing more by getting behind Christ than in front of him.

          Crucify Your Ego

          Mark 8:34–35 NRSV
          He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.
          Jesus said, “for those who want to save their life will lose it.” The word life here is translated from Greek word “psyche”, which means soul or spirit. The meaning is vague, but by researching the context of the entire teaching of Jesus Christ, I conclude that it’s equivalent to our modern term for ego.
          So, Jesus is saying by losing your ego, you gain life. Just as we like to get in front of Jesus, our ego tend to get in front of us. We can put it behind us by crucifying it on the cross. Don’t let our ego stand in front of us between Jesus and us. We follow Jesus, let our ego follow us. We can’t get rid of it anyway, we can only put it on the cross. This is part of life, we have to dance with the devil on our back.

          Set your mind on divine things

          Mark 8:33 NRSV
          But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
          That means immerse yourself with God’s mind. How? Study the Bible deeper and deeper. The more you study the Bible, the more you learn the mind of Christ. How do we do that when we live in a busy society. I have made it possible for you to study the Bible anytime anywhere.
          Join the Fruitful Life Community. It can be access through, your cellphone, tablets, or computer. It can’t be easier. You can take Trinity with you in your pocket.
          As a member of the Fruitful Life Community, you have free access to the 7000 plus seminary level video courses on the Bible, Theology, and Church History. All in your pocket. No matter what level you are at, there’s a course for you. It’s exclusive for members only.
          We have small groups for Bible Study, but not everyone can join. Our small group is getting smaller and smaller, but now, you have no excuse because I put the entire church and a seminary in your pocket. If you don’t grow, it’s your fault! (Smile)
          You also have access to Faithlife TV for free, where there are thousands of Christian movies and videos for adults and kids alike. You can entertain your kids with these videos for free and give them Christian education at home.
          Trinity is no longer behind the walls now. It’s now in your pocket, on your Kindle, on your tablet, on your computer, and on your smart TV. It’s ubiquitous.
          There’s only one reason, I want to feed Jesus sheep. I want you help you cultivate a fruitful life. I want everyone of you to have the mind of Christ, so you will have complete joy living in this world of suffering.
          ​

          Conclusion

          Get behind Christ
          Crucify Your Ego
          Set Your Mind on the Divine Thing
          Do this thing for me please, I have put the divine thing in your pocket. All you have to do is join the Fruitful Life Community by logging on to FruitfulLife.com or ask me to help you set it up, or email me at SamStone@FruitfulLife.org. It will take some time to get used to it, but you must get started.
          Even though Trinity doesn’t have the manpower to hold classes for every member at every level of spiritual maturity, we are blessed with the technology power to educate everyone at every level. So take advantage of it to foster a fruitful life and thrive! Amen!
          ​
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            • 1 Corinthians 2:15–16NRSV

            • Romans 5:3–5NRSV

            • John 15:5NRSV

            • Mark 8:33NRSV

            • Mark 8:34–35NRSV

            • Mark 8:33NRSV

            • The church of Christ in Every Age
            • Here I am, Lord
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