The Cost of Discipleship - Part 2
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Mark 8:34-38
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The Cost of Discipleship - Part 1
To be a disciple of Jesus today means we are learning, obeying, and living out His teaching. In short, His disciples are more like Him. If this is a goal for your life, then you are a disciple. Today, our lesson follows this topic, and our title is The Cost of Discipleship. As we sometimes do, this lesson is divided into two parts. Today, we will cover the first part, and next time, we will finish the topic of discipleship.
Who Do YOU Say I Am?
It is a privilege to open the Word of God and learn from its author. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit guides us, and we trust Him to show us what we need. Our title is a personal question. Who do YOU say that I am? The emphasis is on you. You probably recognize this line from the question Jesus asked His disciples, and you are right. This is the story we will be examining today from Mark 8.
Can’t You See?
Thanks so much for being with us as we look into the Word of God, which opens our eyes and helps us see what really matters. Our title today is, “Can’t You See?” Jesus healed a blind man, but He didn’t heal him completely the first time. Did you ever wonder why Jesus did this miracle in two stages?
The Benevolent Provider
Our study today brings us to Mark chapter 8. We are about halfway through this action-packed book, and in this chapter, we see Jesus feeding the 4000. Similar to his miracle of feeding the 5000, but this is not the same event.
He Does All Things Well
The title for our lesson comes from the last verse of Mark 7, where many were astonished and said, “He does all things well.” This was a fitting description for what Jesus was doing right before their eyes, and it is a fitting description for what Jesus is doing right now, for you and for me. And thankfully, praise God, we can also know this will be said of Him in the future. Jesus is supreme in goodness and power, so yes, He does all things well. He always has and always will.
A Mother’s Faith
Today, we look at the desperate mother who knew Jesus could heal her daughter. However, she was a Gentile, and to the Jews she was unclean. This is the third account in Mark 7 where Jesus takes on the Jewish idea of uncleanness. Should Jesus heal her daughter? Why is his response so unique? Did he actually call her a dog?
The Dirt is on the Inside
Today’s lesson is an example of when Jesus’ teaching caused many Jews to scratch their heads and wonder how this could be. Jesus tells His audience, “There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him.” This went directly against the Jewish understanding. The disciples even asked Jesus about this privately.
The Trouble With Tradition
Our title is The Trouble with Tradition, and we will look at Mark 7, where the Pharisees confront Jesus about His disciples not washing their hands. Jesus uses this moment to get to the heart of the matter, their hearts.
Sent Into the Storm
All of us face storms in life. They come in the form of illness or disease, broken relationships, a crisis of faith, the death of a loved one, and so on. These storms can destroy our faith or strengthen it. Much depends on our response.
Does Jesus Care?
As J Mark reads Mark 6, note the times Jesus noticed and cared for the needs of those around Him. Our title is “Does Jesus Care?” and we will look at three ways Jesus cared for those close to him.