Unguarded Moments

Hey Harvest!
Thanks again for all of your great participation in our picnic last week! Hospitality is a key character quality in the kingdom (1 Tim 3:2) and you all served as warm hosts (it helped that it was a record breaking hot day, too!)

Here are the notes from last week’s sermon as we near the end of our study in the book of Mark! Have a great week!

Harvest South Bay

April 26th, 2009

Unguarded Moments
Great Expectations: Mark 14:43-52

Exposition
Background
This is the climax of Jesus’ predictions of His betrayal and arrest. The disciples now know how literal Jesus has been in telling them about His betrayal and arrest.

The Contrast of Jesus and His Attackers:
He is set up by a crowd with swords and clubs, while He Himself does not resort to attack. In fact, He does the opposite by actually healing the ear of the slave who is struck by Simon Peter.

3 principles to be able to submit in the face of persecution

1. Subdue our Impulses: work against our natural impulses to retaliate when we are oppressed or attacked.

2. Shadow Jesus: follow the example of Jesus in how He balanced the need to be graceful yet challenging.

3. See God’s Greater Plan: understand how the impact of not retaliating or escalating advances the cause of Christ.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. How can you be involved in the ministry of discipleship/mentoring either as an example or as a follower? If you have been involved in this type of ministry in the past, how has it impacted your life and the lives of those around you?

2. Argument and retaliation is the status quo of our interaction with others in the face of conflict. How would quiet submission transform your relationships at work, at home and with your friends? How can you work on being more quietly submissive like Christ?