Bible Conference 2009 Facing Every Comfort Zone Mark 8:27-33

This Morning What is the Center of Reality? What is the Center of Reality? The Presence of Jesus When He is Present Everything is Seen in A Different Light

What is the Purpose of the Cross? Finding the Meaning of True Personhood in the Passion of Jesus

Divisions in the Life of Jesus Passion Narratives with long introductions a) Infancy and Childhood (none here) a) Infancy and Childhood (none here) b) Early Galilean Ministry (Mk 1-4) b) Early Galilean Ministry (Mk 1-4) c) Later Galilean Ministry (Mk 5-8) c) Later Galilean Ministry (Mk 5-8) Pivot at Mark 8/Matt 16/Lk 9 d) Withdrawal and Special Training (8-10) d) Withdrawal and Special Training (8-10) e) Ministry in Perea and Judea ( none here) e) Ministry in Perea and Judea ( none here) f) Passion Week (Mk 11-16) f) Passion Week (Mk 11-16)

Caesarea Philippi as Pivot 1:14-8:30 Cause and He began to teach 8:31-16:20 Effect Person > Passion (cf. Mt 4:17; 16:21-23; Lk 9:20-22)

Background Materials Background Materials i) Galilee of the Gentiles i) Galilee of the Gentiles ii) The Disciples in Context ii) The Disciples in Context (1) Segregationists (1) Segregationists (2) Haters of Rome (2) Haters of Rome (3) Some Wealthy (3) Some Wealthy (4) Apocalyptic Jews (4) Apocalyptic Jews (5) Slow Learners (5) Slow Learners

The Way of Sorrows Begins The Way of Sorrows Begins i) Caesarea Philippi i) Caesarea Philippi ii) Two-Part Exam: Multiple Choice and Application ii) Two-Part Exam: Multiple Choice and Application (1) Pass – Who am I to them? (1) Pass – Who am I to them? Who am I to you? Who am I to you? And he began to teach them… And he began to teach them… (2) Fail – Why did I come? Whats my purpose?

Satan in Scripture Heb. satan = opponent, adversary, enemy Heb. satan = opponent, adversary, enemy or accuser Applied to humans and even to God (Num 22:22) Applied to humans and even to God (Num 22:22) Only in Job and I Chron 21 and Zech 3 does Satan appear as a proper noun Only in Job and I Chron 21 and Zech 3 does Satan appear as a proper noun No cosmic adversary until 2 nd century BC No cosmic adversary until 2 nd century BC

Dealing with a satanic mind Mind (Phroneo) – occurs in some crucial passages Mind (Phroneo) – occurs in some crucial passages Perspective Perspective Mindset Mindset Direction mind takes Direction mind takes To take someones side To take someones side To think in a certain way To think in a certain way Setting ones interest in a consuming direction Setting ones interest in a consuming direction Orientation, Way of thinking, Orientation, Way of thinking,

What the Disciples Lack: (1) Spiritual Understanding Mk.9:17-19 (1) Spiritual Understanding Mk.9: :34 Messiahship of Jesus 8:34 Messiahship of Jesus 9:2-6 Mt. of Transfiguration 9:2-6 Mt. of Transfiguration 9:10 Meaning of Resurrection 9:10 Meaning of Resurrection 9:11-13 Son of Man 9:11-13 Son of Man Comfort Zone #1 Life from My Perspective Comfort Zone #1 Life from My Perspective

What the Disciples Lack: (1) Spiritual Understanding (1) Spiritual Understanding (2) Spiritual Power Mk. 9:14-19 (2) Spiritual Power Mk. 9: :15 Appointed with authority 3:15 Appointed with authority 6:13,30 Experience and Express Authority 6:13,30 Experience and Express Authority 8:17-29 How long shall I put up with you? 8:17-29 How long shall I put up with you? Zone #2 Life Without Divine Vitality

What the Disciples Lack: cont. What the Disciples Lack: cont. (1) Spiritual Understanding (1) Spiritual Understanding (2) Spiritual Power (2) Spiritual Power (3) Love for Each Other (3) Love for Each Other Mk 8:31-32 Cross > Satan! Mk 8:31-32 Cross > Satan! 9:31-34Cross > Greatest! 9:31-34Cross > Greatest! 10:33-37Cross > Right or Left! 10:33-37Cross > Right or Left! Zone #3 Love that I define by my own desires

What the Disciples Lack: cont. (1) Spiritual Understanding (1) Spiritual Understanding (2) Spiritual Power (2) Spiritual Power (3) Love for Each Other (3) Love for Each Other (4) Love for Any One Else (4) Love for Any One Else Mk.10:48Rejecting the Infirm Mk.10:48Rejecting the Infirm Lk 9:51-55Rejecting the Confused Lk 9:51-55Rejecting the Confused Mk 10:13, Mt 19:13 Rejecting the Children Mk 10:13, Mt 19:13 Rejecting the Children Zone #4 Love defined by isms

What the Disciples Lack: continued What the Disciples Lack: continued (5) Love for Jesus Mk.14:31 (5) Love for Jesus Mk.14:31 Mk. 14: Mk. 14: How Many Crosses Ought There Have Been? How Many Crosses Ought There Have Been? Zone #5 Commitment based upon my security

Two major Emphases 8:31-16:20 Both are tied to the purpose of the Cross Both are tied to the purpose of the Cross Jesus Person, Passion and Resurrection Jesus Person, Passion and Resurrection Implications of these on disciples Implications of these on disciples Confronting Everyone of Our Comfort Zones

What Kind of Person does the Passion and Pentecost produce? What Kind of Person does the Passion and Pentecost produce? (1) New Spiritual Insight (1) New Spiritual Insight "Don't you understand" Acts 2:14ff. cf. to Mt.16:17 Acts 2:14ff. cf. to Mt.16:17 (2) New Spiritual Power "In the name of Jesus Christ" (2) New Spiritual Power "In the name of Jesus Christ" Acts 1:8 You shall receive power Acts 1:8 You shall receive power Acts 2:43 Wonders and signs Acts 2:43 Wonders and signs Acts 3:6,11In the Name of Jesus Christ Acts 3:6,11In the Name of Jesus Christ Acts 5:12-17 Many signs and wonders Acts 5:12-17 Many signs and wonders

Purpose of the Cross: continued (3) New Other-Orientation "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit..." (3) New Other-Orientation "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit..." Acts 1:14These were all of one mind Acts 1:14These were all of one mind Acts 2:44-46All together, had all in common Acts 2:44-46All together, had all in common Acts 4:32-35Not a needy person among them Acts 4:32-35Not a needy person among them Acts 6:1-7Choice of seven to serve Acts 6:1-7Choice of seven to serve Acts 1-12, 13-28Peter – Paul Paul – Peter Acts 1-12, 13-28Peter – Paul Paul – Peter

Purpose of the Cross: continued (4) Boundary-Crossing Love "Of one accord" (4) Boundary-Crossing Love "Of one accord" Acts 8:4-8, 8:25-38Ethiopian Eunuch Acts 8:4-8, 8:25-38Ethiopian Eunuch Acts 10:1-48 Cornelius and his house Acts 10:1-48 Cornelius and his house Acts 15:1-21 For all the Gentiles Acts 15:1-21 For all the Gentiles (5)Undying Commitment "They had been with Jesus" (5)Undying Commitment "They had been with Jesus" Acts 4:13-20 Uneducated, Untrained, Undaunted Acts 4:13-20 Uneducated, Untrained, Undaunted Acts 3:13-20 the Name Acts 3:13-20 the Name

His Passion, His Mind, His Cross Cross not a consequence but the goal Cross not a consequence but the goal Everything else is ordered by that end Everything else is ordered by that end This reality tells us something of Gods eternal nature – This reality tells us something of Gods eternal nature – Self-emptying is an expression of that Life Self-emptying is an expression of that Life Here is the only expression of God in the flesh we will ever have – He appeared in our humanness Here is the only expression of God in the flesh we will ever have – He appeared in our humanness Suffered out of His freedom in love Suffered out of His freedom in love

Has the Cross of Christ Met Its Full Purpose in Your Life? The very best are not one whit better than the very worst without the character of Jesus transforming their lives – And that can only happen when the Spirit of Jesus forms our perspective, our love