Missionary Renegade: Grow! Pray! Study! Daily Guide from the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection - Monday, 27 January 2014

Monday, January 27, 2014

Grow! Pray! Study! Daily Guide from the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection - Monday, 27 January 2014 – "Take up their cross, and follow me"

Daily Scripture: Mark 8: Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel,[a] will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?

Footnotes:

a. Mark 8:35 Other ancient authorities read lose their life for the sake of the gospel

Reflection Questions:

In Jesus' day, people hated the cross as a symbol of Roman cruelty, coercion and death. Scholar Craig Evans wrote, "In that time there was no sentimentality attached to Jesus' death, and certainly not to the cross, a horrifying symbol in Roman antiquity." Yet Jesus saw a cross ahead for himself, a prospect Peter found appalling. Jesus himself seems to have used the cross as a positive (though hugely challenging) symbol of the cost of following him.

"Jesus said to them, 'All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.'" Did Jesus' words apply only to his first-century followers who faced Roman persecution, or do they apply to us in the 21st century, too? If so, what does "taking up your cross" look like in your daily life? In what ways have you found greater depth of life by saying no to yourself?

Peter's effort to deny Jesus' words about suffering and being killed fit with the disciples' belief that Jesus was the Messiah. Scholar David Garland wrote that "most Jews… hoped for a Messiah [who] would be a kingly figure who would reign triumphantly as David had." For what reason(s) do you think Jesus found it important to talk to his disciples in advance about his death? Had you been one of them, how easy or hard would it have been for you to accept what he said?

Today's Prayer:

Lord Jesus, your sense of mission, your commitment to doing what you had come to do, amazes and moves me. Grow in me a heart that is all-out surrendered to following you as I live out your mission for my life. Amen.

Monday, 27 January 2014 – Insight from Chris Holliday

Rev. Chris Holliday serves as the associate minister at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection West

As I reflected on Pastor Adam’s sermon and Mark 8:31-37, I created a playlist to help guide you through your devotional time today. These are songs that have touched my heart and helped me consider the meaning of the cross, the depths of God’s love for me, the freedom of redemption, and how I might take up my cross and follow Jesus. I hope they do the same and more for you. Thanks be to God for this amazing new day of life and breath. God bless you.

Lead Me to the Cross by Hillsong United

"Lead Me To The Cross"

Savior I come

Quiet my soul remember

Redemption's hill

Where Your blood was spilled

For my ransom

Everything I once held dear

I count it all as lost

[Chorus:]

Lead me to the cross

Where Your love poured out

Bring me to my knees

Lord I lay me down

Rid me of myself

I belong to You

Lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I

Tempted and trialed

Human

The word became flesh

Bore my sin and death

Now you're risen

Everything I once held dear

I count it all as lost

[Chorus]

Lead me to the cross

Where Your love poured out

Bring me to my knees

Lord I lay me down

Rid me of myself

I belong to You

Lead me, lead me to the cross

To your heart

Lead me to your heart

[Chorus]

Lead me to the cross

Where Your love poured out

Bring me to my knees

Lord I lay me down

Rid me of myself

I belong to You

Lead me, lead me to the cross

Amazed by Jared Anderson

“Amazed”

You dance over me while I am unaware

You sing all around

But I never hear the sound

Lord, I am amazed by You

How You love me

You paint the morning sky with miracles In mind

My hope will always stand

You hold me in Your hand

Lord, I am amazed by You

How You love me

How wide, how deep

How great is Your love for me

How wide, how deep

How great is Your love for me

And Lord, I am amazed by You

Lord, I am amazed by You

How You love me, Oooo

Oh, Lord, I am amazed by You

Lord, I am amazed by You

How You love me

Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave

"Redeemed"

Seems like all I could see was the struggle

Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past

Bound up in shackles of all my failures

Wondering how long is this gonna last

Then You look at this prisoner and say to me "son

Stop fighting a fight it's already been won"

I am redeemed, You set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains

Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be

I am redeemed, I'm redeemed

All my life I have been called unworthy

Named by the voice of my shame and regret

But when I hear You whisper, "Child lift up your head"

I remember, oh God, You're not done with me yet

I am redeemed, You set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains

Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be

Because I don't have to be the old man inside of me

'Cause his day is long dead and gone

Because I've got a new name, a new life, I'm not the same

And a hope that will carry me home

I am redeemed, You set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains

Wipe away every stain, 'cause I'm not who I used to be

I am redeemed, You set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains

Wipe away every stain, yeah, I'm not who I used to be

Oh, God, I'm not who I used to be

Jesus, I'm not who I used to be

'Cause I am redeemed

Thank God, redeemed

Take My Life by Chris Tomlin

“Take My Life”

Take my life and let it be consecrated to Thee

Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise

Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love

Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee

Take my voice and let me sing always, only for my King

Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee

Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold

Take my intellect and use every power as You choose

Here am I, all of me, take my life, it's all for Thee

Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine

Take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne

Take my love, my Lord I pour at Your feet, it's treasure store

Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for Thee

Here am I, all of me, take my life, it's all for Thee

(Take my life, Lord, take my life, take all of me)

Here am I, all of me, take my life, it's all for Thee

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United Methodist Church of the Resurrection

13720 Roe Avenue

Leawood, KS 66224 United States

(913)897-0120

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Missionary Renegade

Monday, January 27, 2014

Grow! Pray! Study! Daily Guide from the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection - Monday, 27 January 2014 – "Take up their cross, and follow me"

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