The Bumpy Road of Growth.

Introduction: In Week 1, we responded to the question, “Am I capable enough to serve God?” with the Story of David. Last week we explored the question, “Am I Worthy enough to serve God?” Two questions today, “How old can I be to serve?” And “How can I view the bumps in the road?

9 - The Young Want to Make a Difference.

John Mark’s Story:

Possibly the Young Boy in this Story...

Mark 14:51–52 ESV

And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

10 - 23 - Next We see John Mark in this story in Acts...

Acts 12:12–25 ESV

When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there. Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. But the word of God increased and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.

His Mom is Mary who housed the early Church in Jerusalem, where Peter was well known.

So He knew Peter from a fairly young age.

Already, we see that he is accompanying Paul and Barnabas in their work in Equipping the Newly formed church in Antioch. They were coming back with an offering from the Antioch Church to the Jerusalem church to aid in a famine in Jerusalem.

24 - He was Barnabas’ Cousin.

Colossians 4:10 ESV

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),

25 - 26 - He is Paul and Barnabas’ assistant on their first Missionary trip.

Acts 13:4–5 ESV

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.

We see here in all of these stories of Mark, that the earliest church led by the Apostle’s had a commitment to raising up Young Leaders in the Church.

Young People have an Energy and often a Can Do attitude that makes them want to make a difference, and if they are a believer or new believer that passion is often directed at making a difference for the Kingdom.

Imagine, potentially how fired up John Mark was about Jesus after, possibly seeing Jesus’ betrayal, but then knowing of his resurrection, and being in the midst of the Apostle’s, them miracles Jesus was doing through them. I can’t help but see the raw potential in this Young Man.

It would be dumb of the Church not to equip, empower, and foster young people in their passion to serve.

Growing Young: Key-Chain Leadership. -

“Keys refer to the capabilities, power, and access of leaders that carry the potential to empower young people.”

They are aware of the keys on their keychain; and

Intentional about entrusting and empowering all generations, including teenagers and emerging adults, with their own set of keys.

But in our mind we see the growth of young leaders as this Consistent straight-line to maturity, and that is not often the experience.

27 - Serving Involves Conflict. (Bumps in the Road)

28-31 -

Acts 15:37–40 ESV

Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

Mark was given an opportunity to be mentored by Paul and Barnabas and to join in their ministry. But something happened along the way, and for some reason Mark deserted his mentors.

32 - 33, 36 - Show Map to describe the Conflict.

What was the conflict? No one knows

Home Sickness?

Too Difficult?

I will give my thought a little later.

34 - It's #meme Saturday at Envision2bWell! This past week our #TodayIWill motivations were focused on growth so here's a funny meme ab… | Motivation, Funny memes, Memes (pinterest.com)

Bumps in the Road, actually help us grow.

35 - Serving Helps Us Grow. (Overcoming False Peaks and Valleys).

In Mark, we can see a young man who made mistakes but who later matured and was used by God in powerful ways.

1. Mark grew in maturity and favor with the apostles. Walter Wessel writes, “In the Epistles Mark is seen with Paul at Rome at the time of the writing of Colossians. Paul sends Mark’s greetings and adds: ‘You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him’ (Col 4:10; cf. Philem 24, written at the same time). Apparently, Mark was at this point just beginning to win his way back into Paul’s confidence. By the end of Paul’s life, Mark was back in full favor. From Rome Paul wrote to Timothy: ‘Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry’ (2 Tim 4:11). Peter also witnesses Mark’s presence in Rome about this time (1 Peter 5:13)” (Walter W. Wessel, “Mark,” in The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary 8 [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984], 607).

1. Church historian Eusebius gives some background about Mark. Quoting the early manuscript Papias, Eusebius states, “Mark, who had been Peter’s interpreter, wrote down carefully, but not in order, all that he remembered of the Lord’s sayings and doings. For he had not heard the Lord or been one of His followers, but later, as I said, one of Peter’s” (Eusebius, The History of the Church from Christ to Constantine, trans. G. A. Williamson [London: Penguin Classics, 1965], 103–4). Mark would eventually become a bishop of Alexandria: “In the eighth year of Nero’s reign Annianus was the first after Mark the Evangelist to take charge of the see of Alexandria” (Eusebius, History of the Church, 62). (Mark, John Mark, and Mark the Evangelist are all considered the same person in the New Testament and the early church.)

1. Even with his youthful mistakes, John Mark was used by God to write a Gospel. He served other leaders and eventually grew to lead the early church.

37 - 41 - The Square and the challenge at each point.

Growth requires other people.

42 - Serving Together Helps us Grow. (Everyone needs a Barnabas on the Road).

43

2 Timothy 2:2 NIV

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

Barnabas just gave more chances. He also realized that reliability can be something someone grows into.

Paul’s strength was his ability to reconcile....

Peter entrusted his story to Mark to write it down.

Young People need Barnabas leaders, encouragers, Key-Chain Leaders.

are mature enough to give over power, their keys.

Are Real, not just trying to be relevant.

Are warm, not distant;

Know what matters to people

Entrust and empower others; they don’t try to be the “Superstar.”

Take the long view, not shortsighted steps.

Conclusion: