October 4 AM
"THE GOSPEL OF MARK"
The Cost Of Discipleship (8:34-35)
INTRODUCTION
1. At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus called people to become His
disciples...
a. Such as Simon and Andrew - Mk 1:16-18
b. Also James and John - Mk 1:19-20
2. At the conclusion of His ministry, Jesus sent His apostles to make
more disciples...
a. To make disciples of all the nations - Mt 28:19
b. Teaching them to observe all that He commanded - Mt 28:20
3. In the text for this lesson, we find Jesus discussing the issue of
discipleship...
a. Having just predicted His own suffering, death, and resurrection
- Mk 8:31
b. Telling His disciples and others what is the cost of discipleship
- Mk 8:34-35
I. ONE MUST DENY SELF
A. WHAT IT MEANS...
1. To deny sinful self, ungodliness, and worldly lusts; and part
with them, and his former sinful companions, which were as a
part of himself - Gill
2. To deny righteous self, and renounce all his own works of
righteousness, in the business of justification and salvation
- ibid.
To deny self with its self-righteous pride and sinful lust from
dominating you
B. HOW IT'S MANIFESTED...
1. Denying sinful self, expounded by Peter
a. Abstaining from fleshly lusts - 1Pe 2:11-12
b. No longer living like the rest of the world - 1Pe 4:1-4
2. Denying righteous self, exemplified by Paul
a. Who had much about which he could have boasted - Php 3:4-6
b. But chose to put all his trust in Christ - Php 3:7-14
In precept and practice, the apostles tell us what it means to
deny self
II. ONE MUST TAKE UP HIS CROSS
A. WHAT IT MEANS...
1. To voluntarily and decisively accept the pain, shame, and
persecution that is going to be one's particular-note: his, not
someone else's-lot because of his loyalty to Christ and his
cause - Hendriksen
2. To cheerfully receive, and patiently bear, every affliction and
evil, however shameful and painful it may be, which is
appointed for him, and he is called unto; which is his peculiar
cross, as every Christian has his own; to which he should
quietly submit, and carry, with an entire resignation to the
will of God, in imitation of his Lord - Gill
3. The cross is to be born "daily", indicating Jesus was speaking
metaphorically - cf. Lk 9:23
To gladly endure whatever hardship one may receive in service
to Christ!
B. HOW IT'S MANIFESTED...
1. In the case of the apostles
a. What they all endured - 1Co 4:9-13
b. What Paul in particular endured - 2Co 11:23-29
2. In our case, it may involve being:
a. Ridiculed - 1Pe 4:4
b. Reviled (spoken evil of, excluded) - 1Pe 4:4; Mt 5:11; Lk 6:22
c. Reproached - 1Pe 4:14
All the while, rejoicing that one is honored to suffer for
Christ - 1Pe 4:16; Ac 5:40-42
III. ONE MUST FOLLOW JESUS
A. WHAT IT MEANS...
1. To become His disciple, seeking to become like Him - Lk 6:40;
cf. Ro 8:29; 13:14
2. To accept Him as Lord, doing what He says - Lk 6:46; cf. Col 3:17
3. To walk in His footsteps, even at great cost - 1Pe 2:21-25
To become a Christian, to let Jesus be your Lord and mentor
B. HOW IT'S MANIFESTED...
1. Obeying the gospel of Christ - Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38;
22:16
2. Observing all He and His apostles commanded - Mt 28:20; Ac 2:42; 1Co 14:37
3. Ever growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ - 2Pe 3:18
Putting Jesus on in baptism, and then living with Him - Ga 3:27; 2:20
CONCLUSION
1. The cost of discipleship may seem rather high...
a. One must deny self
b. One must take up one's cross
c. One must follow Jesus
2. But as Jesus explains, there are only two choices... - Mk 8:35
a. One can try to save his life himself, but will end up losing it
- cf. Jn 8:24
b. One can lose his life for Jesus' sake and the gospel's, and wind
up saving it! - cf. Re 2:10
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses
his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. - Mk 8:35
In view of eternity, there is only one viable choice: endure the high
cost of discipleship, and receive the blessings of eternal life...!
October 4 PM
"THE GOSPEL OF MARK"
The Value Of A Soul (8:36-37)
INTRODUCTION
1. After telling His disciples and others nearby the cost of being His
disciple, Jesus asked...
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and
loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his
soul?" - Mk 8:36-37
2. With these words of Jesus we are reminded of the value of the soul...
a. It is the most valuable possession one has
b. All earthly possessions, position, pleasure, and power are not
worth the value of one's soul!
I. WHY IS THE SOUL OF MAN SO VALUABLE?
A. IT IS MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE...
1. Man was created in the image of God - Gen 1:26-27
a. Yet God does not have a physical body like ours - cf. Jn 4:24; Lk 24:39
b. Therefore it must be our soul, or spirit, that is in God's
image
2. This is what enable us to comprehend abstract concepts as:
a. Life, death, eternity
b. Things of beauty
c. A moral sense of ought, right and wrong, good and evil
3. Making us more than just animal creatures - cf. Ps 8:3-8
B. IT IS THAT OVER WHICH WE HAVE MUCH CONTROL...
1. The body is mostly the result of genetics
a. We might be able to change a little through exercise,
plastic surgery, etc.
b. But we cannot stop the eventual aging and dying process
2. The soul, however, is different...
a. Despite one's genetics, there is much that can be changed
b. With God's help, we can change attitudes, character - Ro 12:1-2; Col 3:12-15
C. IT DOES NOT CEASE TO EXIST AT DEATH...
1. The body dies, and soon returns back to the dust
a. The soul, or spirit, returns back to God - Ec 12:7
b. Awaiting the resurrection of the body - cf. 1Co 15:35-58
2. After which comes the Judgment - He 9:27; 2Co 5:10
a. The soul, in its resurrected body, will bear the brunt of
that Judgment
b. Either eternal life, honor, glory, and immortality - Ro 2:7
c. Or indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish - Ro 2:8-9
3. Which is why we need to evaluate all things (possessions,
decisions, actions) from an eternal perspective, from the
soul's viewpoint - Mt 10:28; 16:26
D. IT REQUIRES A GREAT COST TO REDEEM IT...
1. What price is required to redeem our souls from the wrath of
God's judgment?
2. Nothing less than the blood of the Son of God! - 1Pe 1:18-19
3. Even if we cannot fully comprehend why Jesus had to die, we
should able to see that the souls of men must be extremely
valuable if His death was necessary
II. WHAT WILL ONE GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL?
A. FOR SOME IT IS EARTHLY RICHES AND FAME...
1. In their quest for riches, they neglect their service to God
- 1Ti 6:10
2. Yet they've traded their souls for what is corruptible and can
be stolen - Mt 6:19-21
B. FOR OTHERS IT IS THE PASSING PLEASURES OF SIN...
1. Like the young man tempted by the harlot - Pr 5:1-14
a. In a moment's passion, lives are destroyed (AIDS, unwanted
pregnancies)
b. Marriages and families are ruined
2. Young people in the Bible should inspire us to make the right
choices
a. Like Joseph - Gen 39:7-9
b. Like Moses - He 11:24-25
c. Like Daniel - Dan 1:8
C. FOR OTHERS IT IS CONVENIENT FALSE DOCTRINES...
1. Of which we need to beware - Col 2:8,18
2. For the devil is a master at this - 2Co 11:13-15
3. Through lack of Bible study, we can lose the most valuable
thing we have! - Hos 4:6
D. FOR MANY IT IS SIMPLE NEGLECT...
1. They will not use the opportunities the Lord has given them
- cf. Mt 25:24-30
2. They fail to apply the diligence necessary to grow spiritually
- cf. 2Pe 1:5-11
CONCLUSION
1. How valuable is your soul...?
a. Think of what the rich man in Hades would tell you - cf. Lk 16:22-24
b. Think of what the souls of the redeemed would say to you - cf. Re 7:13-17
c. Think of what Jesus and God have done to save your soul! - cf. Jn 3:16
2. Dear friends and brethren, you don't have to lose your soul...!
a. Humbly submit yourself to the will of God
b. Let His Word guide you, let no man beguile you of your reward
c. Overcome temptations, and suffer for His cause with rejoicing
Implied in all these words is that there will be the Day of Judgment (Ac 17:30-31), with possible consequences terrible beyond comprehension (Re 20:11-15; 21:8).
Are you willing to risk losing your soul...?
