Monday Matters: 05/14/07
May 14, 2007 7:57 amMark preached to us from Mark 8:22-9:13 yesterday about “The Divine Necessity.” The cross is a divine necessity:
- The Father requires it: it is the divine plan for the salvation of sinners
- The Son desires it: Jesus plans to go to the cross to give his life for sinners and redefines the expectations of even those closest to him, like Peter.
- The disciple (you and me) acquire it. We are each called to take up our own cross and follow the Savior. John Stott explains what this means:
“Self-denial is not denying to ourselves luxuries such as chocolates, cakes, cigarettes and cocktails (though it may include this); it is actually denying or disowning ourselves, renouncing our supposed right to go our own way.” Stott, The Cross of Christ, 279.
Some discussion questions for parents and teens:
- Where is one place in your life where you are struggling to deny/disown/renounce yourself?
- How does Christ’s finished work at the cross position you to make progress? In other words, how does justification help you in sanctification?
Categories: Thursday Thoughts For Parents, five15 blog
2 Responses to “Monday Matters: 05/14/07”
happy five 15 day 2007!
this sermon was incredible!! God is so kind to have blessed us with teachable pastors who hear and convey the Holy Spirit’s voice on issues so relevent to today’s worldly thinking!!
I am so amazed at the bombardment of “self” and “me” and “I” in practically every medium of communication! We parents really need to be on guard not only for our own hearts but those of our impressionable teens and pre-teens. Times have surely changed from whence I was a teenager and it was pretty bad back then!!! We really need to stay focused on the finished work of the cross lest we stumble and fall. I believe as long as we keep our eyes(and ears) focused on the cross and in the Word of God, we can and will see change in our way of thinking about our “needs and wants”. When we are focused on this I truly believe change -sanctification- is a natural occurance. This is so hard to do without Christ- but with Him, we can do all things, and in time, I believe our thought and desires will be like Christ’s.
Care to comment?