Abingdon Community Church Sunday 31st Jan 2016 Who is this Jesus ? An introduction to Mark’s Gospel & our Lent program!

BEING A COMMUNITY OF BLESSING IN Expecting God to come? How do we prepare? How do we wait? “LENT” ?

BEING A COMMUNITY OF BLESSING IN  SEE  SHARE  SERVE WHO? JESUS!

Why Mark’s Gospel? OR

Mark’s distinctives? Tyndale Application Study Bible, NLT version

Mark 1: The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way’ – 3 ‘a voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” ’ 4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the River Jordan. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

Mark 1: And this was his message: ‘After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’ 9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’

Mark’s purpose in writing...  REVELATION – of who Jesus is  RESPONSE – to who Jesus is WHO DO YOU SAY THAT HE IS? ARE YOU LIVING IN THE LIGHT OF THAT?

Mark 1:1  The beginning  of the gospel  of Jesus  Christ,  the Son of God; KJVNIV 2011  The beginning  of the good news  about Jesus  the Messiah,  the Son of God;

Why start here (with John)?  NEWyetOLD  ‘NOBODY’yetTHE ONE  ‘NATURAL’yetOF THE SPIRIT

 JOHN = THE “HERALD”  speaks TO us  sets an example FOR us  GOD SPEAKS = THE “SEAL”  Confirms Jesus IDENTITY  Provides a TEMPLATE for his brothers A punchy opening...

OUR RESPONSE?  Will we choose to refocus on Jesus?  With our HEAD(how we think)  With out HEART(in the core of our being)  With our HANDS(how we live)

PRACTICAL RESPONSE: LENT  Unsure of who Jesus is? Try Alpha – Thurs 25 Feb  Know Jesus, but want to refocus? Engage with Mark  Sign up for daily devotionals from Dave Perry: Mark 1-16  Engage on Sundays: Mark 1-11  Come to the Lent Course with Dave Perry: Mark No regular housegroups BUT talk with your group about how to engage together – at the pub? Sunday lunch? Reflection evenings? Also running in the period: The Marriage Course

HEART RESPONSE  Will you open your heart afresh to Jesus?  Have other things taken your focus?  Has you heart got a bit ‘encrusted’?  Have traditions & habits dulled your edge? 14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’