Main resource used outside the biblical references:
Hedman, Tom. A Life of Impact: Leadership Principles of Jesus. New Life Publications. Toronto, ON: 1993.
Introduction-
Along the lines of helping one another connect more with God through our bible study time together, I'd like to go through the book of Mark.
We will go through Mark, tying it all into the character of leadership we see in Jesus, who lived a life with the most possible impact!
One of the greatest points of impact is that He brings us into a life of impact!
After all, who wants to live a menial life?
Mark 1
Mark's introduction (vs.1)
Mark begins his gospel with a succinct introduction.
This book contains the gospel (good news) about Jesus...
The Christ (Messiah)
Illustration: Imagine you're the son or daughter of the most powerful, wealthy, influential person to ever live. What kind of life would you live?
Although Jesus was born into humble circumstances, He came from the most noble birth!
Jesus wasn't born to be some nice moral teacher, nor just a great carpenter, or even having the most worldly fame—He knew He was born to save the world from its sins!
Do you believe that the expectations we have for our lives will dramatically affect how we live our lives?
The Son of God
Jesus had high expectations of Himself because He knew He was the only Holy Spirit conceived Son of God!
Similarly, we have all the rights and privileges of a son or daughter in Christ!
Ephesians 2:19
19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
1John 3:1
What are we saying if we don't expect more of ourselves?
John the Baptist's introduction (vss2-8)
Do you know the significance of John the Baptist?
God chose to use him to announce Jesus' coming.
Jesus did not need this introduction, but what kind of impact did it have?
Someone who gained a lot of influence spoke extremely high of Jesus, urging everyone to listen to Him.
Similar for us, it inspires us when someone respected speaks well of us
Also, we can implement this principle by talking one another up in our circles of influence.
God, the Father's introduction (vss9-11)
So much can be said from this passage, so what kind of impact do you think this expression from the Father had on Jesus?
Surely He probably felt like He could conqueror the world!
Galatians 3:26-27
26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
John 17:23, 26
23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me...26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
Quote 1John 4:10
Do you hear God expressing His love to you like a Father to His son? Yes or no, and how does that impact the way we live?
To have eternal impact, first Jesus was prepared (vss12-13)
Lets take a quick stab, why did Jesus go through these trials?
Look ahead to the next couple of verses: it was right before His ministry began.
Also read a parallel passage to show the bigger picture: Hebrews 2:14-18
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
God saw it necessary that Jesus first suffer 40 days of extreme trial—like going to boot camp before the war
Here we see the process God has for developing His leaders, starting with the top leader—Jesus, the One we do all things through!
So, what is the benefit of going through trials and temptations?
Jesus went through intense and focused self-denial.
We can't overcome anything till we overcome ourselves.
Jesus first overcame self in order that He could overcome the world!
How many of us rejoice when we go through trials?
But that is exactly what God calls us to do: James 1:2-4
We should rejoice in preparation, but why don't we?
Illustration: How much sense would it make for an athlete to make a significant contribution to the team without practicing with the team? Similarly, or how useful would a soldier be to his commanding officer if he never went through boot camp? Wouldn't you be insecure about visiting a doctor who never went through a rigorous and reputable training institution?
With these kinds of things we understand the need for preparation for a person to have impact in those areas.
Why then do we set off to accomplish great feats without the training it takes to prepare?
If Jesus needed to prepare for His great feats through intense focus and self-denial, can we expect to reach our goals without preparation?
I know the temptation to think highly of ourselves, but we got to think sober—we may think we're standing strong (I'm proud of you who have gone after your physical and academic training), but are you taking seriously your spiritual training.
Juma Ikanga, a long-distance runner whose weekly regimen includes 140 miles of high-altitude training: "The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare."
Jesus went through this intense trial, and as we'll see, it developed a tough attitude in Him toward the spiritual battle
The spiritual war is waging, and all of us must get a tougher attitude—so we too might need to fast a pray.
The person of impact has a message of good news (vss14-15)
Is there any greater message than the one Jesus brought?
Here is the good news of Jesus' message: "The opportunity of entering God's kingdom is laid before you...change your minds and believe this good news!"
What an attractive message that an intimate relationship with God is within everyone's reach!
What if Jesus came saying, "Now listen to me! None of you are going to heaven because of your sins. The kingdom of God is close, but none of you are in it yet because of the sin in your life!"
Instead Jesus speaks what was clearly on the positive side, an opportunity
Although He is upfront that it will come at a cost—what two things are needed from us?
Repentance—literally to change one's mind ("be transformed in the renewing of your minds" -- Romans 12:3)
Belief—holding on to the unseen promises with actions of obedience (James 2)
From what He says, and how He said it, what do you think are Jesus' expectations?
Jesus expected people to would respond positively and immediately!
God wants us to inspire people to follow Him the same way Jesus did.
Not forcefully jamming the message down people's throats—being forcefully insensitive!
But being forcefully urgent is good—people are inspired to take the first step because they see the way we're going after God. How can we inspire people to be urgent if we ourselves are not urgent?
I don't think God wants any one of us feeling overburdened or else He wouldn't of said "cast all your anxieties on me...My burden is easy and My Yoke is light" (Matthew 10:28-30).
Here we do see Jesus' urgency—I don't gather that Jesus was so laid back about people being saved.
He knew "life was like a mist" and "seek God while you have the chance" because the truth is that it may be their last chance or only opportunity!
However, we must also be like Jesus and give people an attainable vision, where they see His kingdom within reach.
So many people feel too guilty and weighed down to see God's good news—they don't see anything good about themselves and so it is hard to believe the gospel.
We need to help those kinds of people—like we see Jesus does—becoming weak to the weak!
Others just don't have direction—not knowing the steps to take in order to have the relationship with God that He desires.
Also like Jesus, we need to show it with our lives and with God's word!
No comments:
Post a Comment