Connect:

1. Open in prayer
2. Share a story of a time you thought you might die.

Discussion:

1. Have you ever given up something? What was it? How did it go? If you were able to give it up, how were you able to do that? What was Jesus part in helping you do that?
2. Re-read Mark 8:21-9:1. Peter states that Jesus is the Messiah, but clearly misses it. Have someone summarize what it was that Peter did not understand about Jesus. (Hint: he wanted him to be like Caesar.)
3. Pastor Tim couched this conversation in the idea of worldy power vs. godly power. In thinking about what Jesus just said to his disciples, what’s the difference? Why does it matter?
4. Jesus tells Peter that he is only thinking about human concerns and not godly concerns. What is a good godly concern that you have? What is a worldly concern that you have? (Hint: often our worldly concerns are wrapped up in Christian looking things, but our motivation is not in the right place.)
5. Jesus offers 3 commands for followers of Christ: 1. Self-denial, 2. Self-sacrifice (take up your cross), and 3. Obedience (follow Jesus). Which of these 3 is the hardest for you? Why?
6. Take some time to do listening prayer. What might the Holy Spirit want to say to you?

Application:

1. What step do you need to take this week in order to grow in your apprenticeship to Jesus?

Prayer:

1. Ask for specific prayer requests, but also pray for what comes out of the application conversation.

Community Involvement – Thanks to those who provided some home-cooked meals for our freezer. We have enough for now and I’ll keep you posted if we need more.

During this month of Ramadan, let’s pray for the mosque communities in our city as the people fast from sunrise to sunset, seeking the good will of Allah. Pray that these people would find the ritual fasting to be hollow, shallow, providing no assurance of their salvation. Ask Jesus to show Himself to them in powerful ways so many will come to saving faith during this month. As you drive past a mosque, breath the name of Jesus over it!

Global Request – Pray for our work in a creative access nation in South Asia. Visa breakthroughs are needed for our International Workers there as one person has not been able to renew her visa, a family has been waiting months for their return visas, and another has a very unique visa situation that authorities are not sure how to handle. All of these workers long to labour for God’s Kingdom in this hard and difficult place so pray that these details, big in our human eyes, are taken care quickly and easily by our big God!