Think
It Over:
For further reflection personally, with a friend or with your
Community Group. If you are leading a group through this guide, don’t feel
like you have to answer every question. Pick out those questions that will stir
up conversation and action among your group.
___________________________________________________________________
ØWhich of the five senses would you be most afraid to lose? Why? How
would your life change if you couldn’t see?
ØRead Mark 8:22-25. What strikes you most about Jesus’s interaction with
the blind man? How does this real life story illustrate the ability to see
spiritually? Can you think of a time where you needed a touch from Jesus
to see more clearly? What is reassuring about 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 (Msg)
and Philippians 1:6 (Msg)
ØHow does Mark 8:27-31 clearly illustrate Jesus’ identity? What does His
revealed identity mean to you personally?
ØWhy is it such a process of going from Blurred Sight to Focused Sight? How
does Peter reveal the conflict between a Consuming Faith and a Following
Faith (see Mark 8:32-34)? Which questions in the Consumer Faith section
have you or do you wrestle with the most? Has your faith ever cost you
anything? What happened?
ØRead Mark 8:34-38. What motivates you to grow away from a Consuming
Faith towards a Following Faith? Explain in context of your life, how the
Bottom Line can be lived out?
Re mark able
29a
identity(2)
par t 8
Mark 8:27-39 (NIV) page 703
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”…
Mark 8:29a (NIV) page 705
Ü
Seeing Clearly Jesus’
Identity Illustrated
Mark 8:22-25 (NIV) page 705
Ø Personal Touch-Guiding Carefully
Making It Real: If you're a consumer Christian, looking to Jesus for what
he can do for you, that's okay. That's where most Christian faith begins. But
Jesus calls you to follow him. Doing so will cost you—in career, money, status,
or relationships. The thing is, whatever it costs you is something you're going to
lose anyway. How will you begin to embrace following Jesus more fully in your
life? What can you do to grow more in this area? Remember Mark 8:34 (Msg)!
Changing Your Mind: 34 …“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny
35
themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save
their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Mark 8:34–35 (NIV) page 705
To prepare for part 9 read Mark 9.
We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog,
peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather
clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all
as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he
knows us!
1 Corinthians 13:12 (Msg)
Ø Personal Touch- Focused Sight
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three
things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust
steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And
the best of the three is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 (Msg)
12
13
Ø Personal Touch-Blurred Sight
If you missed a message, visit our website: www.scc.website
Also, CDs are available at the sound booth.
6
Ü
There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the
God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it
to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
Philippians 1:6 (Msg)
q Do I come to Jesus to get something from
him, or offer myself to him?
Seeing Clearly Jesus’
Identity Demonstrated
q Do I want something from Jesus, or do I just
want Jesus?
Ø Embracing who He is
Why Following Faith?
Mark 8:27-30 (NIV) page 705
Ø Embracing what He did
Mark 8:31 (NIV) page 705
Seeing Clearly Jesus’
Identity Lived
Ü
Mark 8:32-34 (NIV) page 705
Do I Have Consumer Faith?
q God brings life through obedience
Mark 8:35 (NIV) page 705
q You can’t hold on to it anyway
36
What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you,
37
the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?
Mark 8:36–37 (Msg)
q Jesus was not ashamed of you
38
q Yes, if you expect Christ to remove all
hardships from your life
q Yes, if you think of discipleship in terms of
self-fulfillment instead of sacrifice
“If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m
leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused
friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to
the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God…
Mark 8:38 (Msg)
Bottom Line:
q Yes, if your obedience to Christ has limits
34
Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone
who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in
the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it.
Follow me and I’ll show you how.
Mark 8:34 (Msg)
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to
gain that which he cannot lose.
Jim Elliot
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