Quitters Always Win

Good Morning & Welcome to New Hope

Verse 29 - Jesus asked, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.” Greek word Christos - Meaning “One who has been anointed”. They knew Jesus had been chosen/anointed by God to be their leader, deliverer, savior.

But here’s when it gets turned upside down - Verse 31 - “Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead.”

Unfortunately this didn’t fit in Peter’s narrative. A leader, A chosen one, An anointed individual shouldn’t be suffering many terrible things. He shouldn’t be rejected by those who should be his greatest supporters. He shouldn’t be killed for goodness sakes by those who should love him most.

So Peter had all this figured out in his head - how it was all going to work out. So he decides to take action and do something about it. So he strolls over by Jesus, and without breaking stride he puts his arm around Jesus and begins to pull him aside for a little “What for!” Peter begins to reprimand Jesus for saying such things. “Jesus, I don’t like very much what you’re saying. You’re starting to scare the children. You’re kind of raining on our parade here. This isn’t the way we saw things playing out and I just feel like I need to get this straightened out.

Can you imagine correcting Jesus…?

Jesus - This ain’t the way things are supposed to work

Jesus - This isn’t the best way to do it

Jesus - It sure makes more sense to do it my way

Don’t we do it all the time? Even though we don’t say it, the proof is in our actions. The proof is in our decisions. This proof is in what we choose to do and not to do. The proof is in our produced fruit. The proof is in our becoming or not becoming more like Jesus.

It’s like we want

Here’s what’s scary about this - How Jesus responds to Peter. He turns around and looks at the disciples. Can you imagine what they must be thinking? Jesus said this…but Peter said this. I know we’re following Jesus here, but now I’m confused because they don’t seem to be on the same page. Then Jesus reprimands Peter in this fashion...

“Get away from me, Satan! You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s”

Now, Jesus isn’t saying that Peter is Satan. (NLT) Jesus said, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” Peter is acting as an adversary. He’s rowing in the opposite direction. He’s not helping things, but hurting.

(NLT) “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

23“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

Jesus tells Peter that he’s seeing things from a worldly perspective. He’s seeing things through his world lenses. He’s being lead by his flesh and not by the Spirit. He’s mostly focused on self. He’s focused on building an earthly kingdom. He wants it his way.

The biggest issue we face today - inside and outside the church - is wanting things our way. That’s maybe not completely accurate, because I think we all could come up with “our way” - right - having, thinking, considering our own way isn’t wrong or unnatural. The issue becomes when we begin to act out on “our way”, believing it to be THE RIGHT AND ONLY WAY. We want to make the rules, to set the agenda, to chart the course. We want it our way. I feel like a fast food restaurant commercial.

Can’t we just quit? Can’t we just get a long? Can’t we just surrender? Because in God’s Kingdom… Quitters Always Win.

It’s the way the world conditions us.

Jesus communicates it another way...

(NLT) Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower…

Jesus invites everyone in. This isn’t just an exclusive club to be a part of. His calling is to the crowd.

34Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

And then he tells them 3 things everyone “must” do to be a disciple...

...you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

Give up your own way / Quit demanding your own way / Learn to be flexible

Give up your own way / Quit demanding your own way / Learn to be flexible

Point #1 here from Jesus is in direct contrast to the actions of Peter. You know that thing Peter just tried to pull…It might work in your earthly kingdom thing you got going on, but in the Kingdom of Heaven that don’t fly. The idea of you calling the shots - that’s a no go!

essentials: unity; non-essentials: liberty; all things: love

We re-categorize things. In our minds, “our ways” are all essentials. I think we have a tendency to think if we have liberty in some areas, that it means we are watering down the gospel.

essentials(unity) / message (non compromising):

We believe in one God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the Savior of all who put their faith in him alone for eternal life.

Take up your cross

We believe that those who are made new in Christ are called to be holy in character and conduct and can only live this way by being filled with the Lord’s Spirit.

We believe that those who are made new in Christ are called to be holy in character and conduct and can only live this way by being filled with the Lord’s Spirit.

We believe in the Bible and its sufficiency to establish our faith and conduct.

We believe in the Bible and its sufficiency to establish our faith and conduct.

We believe God wills for people everywhere to know him and be made new in Christ.

We believe God wills for people everywhere to know him and be made new in Christ.Take up your cross

non-essentials(liberty) / methods (can change):

Sacraments

Modes of baptism

Worship styles

All things(love)

2. Take up your cross

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.

And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple

(NLT) As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

17As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Follow Jesus

18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.

19But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”

20“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

21Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

3. Follow Jesus

Edwards, J. R. (2002). The Gospel according to Mark (p. 257). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos.

Because here’s what happens… If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.

One commentator wrote...

The one for whom the way of Jesus is more important than his own existence will secure his eternal being; but the one whose existence is more important than Jesus will lose both Jesus and his existence.

A wrong view of Jesus leads to a wrong view of discipleship. And we want to be a church of disciples who make disciples. We want to make the right kind of disciples - the kind that become more like Jesus.

Get behind me Satan / Get behind me adversary

Refighting the battle of temptations in the wilderness

Prayer time...

Whitko - Thursday, Aug 8; Columbia City - Wednesday, Aug 14

Bring in students & kids / teachers / aids / bus drivers / coach / administration / board members

Announcements during offertory - Shawn (She closes after announcements)