According to many reports, apparently our feedburner is working and everyone who subscribes to the announcements are getting them fairly faithfully (keep our technology in prayer… yes, you can even pray for computers to work!).

FIRST OF ALL: Thank you ALL who made last Sunday’s picnic such a big success! Thanks for all of you who got food, got drinks, got disposables, got the park, got the cotton candy, got the bouncehouse, set up, cleaned up, went out of your way to speak to people you didn’t know, held other people’s children while they spoke to new people, planned, prepared, prayed and generally were agreeable and helpful! THANKS!!!!

Here are our notes from last week’s sermon. Can you believe that we’re coming to the close of our study in the book of Mark? What an accomplishment! May God bless His Word implanted in our hearts!

Byron

Harvest South Bay                April 19th, 2009
Take Courage
Great Expectations: Mark 14:32-42

Exposition
Background: We are coming to the end of the book of Mark. This study reflects the turning point where Jesus makes the final commitment to go to the cross. It is written to the heavily persecuted first century church who will need to learn what it means to have courage with their faith.

The Contrast of Jesus and Disciples: The passage reflects the strength of Jesus relative to the weakness of the disciples. Through the contrast, God shows us principles toward becoming strong and courageous with our faith.

3 principles to increase our courage

1. Find Strength in Compassion: that Jesus has endured far worse persecution than we will and He willfully met it.

2. Find Strength in Confidence in God: that if all things are possible with God, and yet we are in the situation that we are in with the choices that He has given, then we can stand firm knowing that He has prepared us for the test at hand.

3. Find Strength in Communion with God: Prayer empowers us because it draws us closer to a great God who is on our side.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. As our announcements suggest and as we’ve mentioned in the sermon, take some time in prayer to ask God who He would like you to invite to Harvest- either for Bring a Friend Sunday or some other time. Begin a discipline to pray for 2-3 people on a daily basis to ask God how He would want to use you in those people’s lives.

2. Reflect on what brave steps that God has called you to accomplish in recent memory. What is He calling you to do in life which require faith and courage in Him right now?