Marks of the Messiah
Going All In
Pastor Eric, March 10, 2019
Scripture: Mark 8:27-33
Summary: Jesus asked the disciples who they believe he is and in doing this he is inviting them to make an all or nothing commitment to him. An all or nothing commitment means that what we think and how we act are aligned.
Main Thought: The identity of Jesus changes everything
Getting to Know Each Other (Start Here):
- Have you ever made an all or nothing decision? Share your story.
Going Deeper:
- Out of all the events in Jesus’ life, why do you think Mark records this event? What is he trying to teach us about Jesus?
- This account is the first time Peter clearly declared who Jesus is to him. Think back to when you first declared Jesus as the Messiah of your life. Did anything change? What happened?
- When Jesus asks the disciples who people say that he is, the disciples say that some people see Jesus a prophet, like Elijah or John the Baptist. In the Bible, a name declares the character, power and purpose of a person. What are the names the people around you use refer to Jesus? Who do the people around you say that Jesus is (character, nature, purpose)?
- Like Peter, we have all experienced moments in life where we have declared Jesus as Lord but then struggled to bring our actions into alignment with that statement. What area(s) of life are most difficult to declare and accept the lordship of Christ over?
- Jesus invites us to not just confess him as Lord, but to practice our confession by making him the functional Lord of our lives. Does Living Hope’s confession of who Jesus is match our practice(is Jesus our functional Lord)? Why or why not? Does this community group’s confession match its practice? Why or why not? Does your confession match your practice? Why or why not? What needs to change to bring our confession and practice into alignment?
Apply it:
- What is the Holy Spirit saying to you? How do you need to respond to Jesus today?
