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On your Mark, Get Set. S.L.O.W.
This week, take time to read Mark Chapter 1. There will be time in space in Life Groups to read and dig in more around the table over dinner.
Every new year, things get off to a flying start all in the name of productivity. You have PERMISSION TO SLOW DOWN!
Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. Psalms 39:6
“Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life in our day.
You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”
Dallas Willard
Hurry causes us to miss what God is up to in the mundane moments of life.
A slowed-down spirituality is key to formation (becoming more like Jesus)
On Mark
- is (possibly) the earliest gospel written, probably - mid 50s AD from Rome
- He records Peter's accounts of Jesus
- Mark documents the things that changed everything for them because they knew that if others could read this, it would change everything for them too…
- The theme is about being a follower of Jesus - a way of life. He makes it clear that discipleship is about a relationship with Jesus that forms you you, not just following a bunch of rules
Don't settle for the title of "Christian", but the transformed life of a follower!
Reality Check: If our lives don't look different to someone who doesn't follow Jesus, why would anyone want to follow him because of us
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, Mark 1:1
The beginning of the good news
The "good news" is not just that Jesus died on the cross for your sins. The good news is that Jesus brought the Kingdom of God to earth. Mark 1:14-15
The invitation:
Repent - change the way that you think
Believe - Gk pisteuo - entrust your life
About Jesus the Messiah
Messiah = anointed one,
Jesus: Jeho-shua : Jehovah is salvation
Jehovah is a Tetragrammaton of YHWH
Jesus: Yahweh is salvation
The Son of God
In contrast to Augustus Caeser - son of the gods
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized 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.”
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. Mark 1:9-13
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs —heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:14-17
BE before do…
Before you do ANYTHING, God affirms His love and your identity.
Everything else must flow from this.
)n your mark. Get set. Slow.
Prayer:
Eph 3:14 — Eph 3:21
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
LIFE GROUP GUIDE
This week, set aside time to intentionally break bread together around the table.
As we break bread; our dining tables become sacred spaces of celebration and remembrance of our hope in Jesus. In order to facilitate a deeper conversation with your group members, consider using the SOAP.
Use the SOAP framework on Mark Chapter 1
Scripture - Read the chapter of scripture out loud (you can share the reading, a few verses each)
Observation - Have each person share an observation; something in the Scripture that stands out to them
Application - Discuss how you can apply what has been shared in your own life
Prayer - Pray with your group about what you have learned or how you can apply what you have learned in your life
Additional questions to discuss
Do you feel hurried / rushed most of the time?
Do you think slowing down is important to spiritual formation?
What one thing can you do to SLOW DOWN?
What stood out to you this evening?
What are you going to do about it?
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