Message Preview from Shawn

We will continue our journey through the rough terrain of Mark taking time to view first hand the message, and ministry of Jesus. This week we will look a difficult passage in scripture found in Mark 8. The disciples are walking with Jesus twenty five miles from the boarder of Galilee. In Jesus fashion, he stops to ask one of the most loaded questions in scripture, "Who do you say that I am?" What follows is a heartfelt response from Peter, and some sobering words by Jesus. It is a scene that captures Jesus unplugged, pulling no punches, being straightforward, and in turn giving us some of the greatest insights into what it means to follow him. I think Eugene Peterson's Message captures the tones of Jesus words well when he phrases Mark 8:32-34 this way...
"Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?"

What does it mean to "deny yourself?" Would the disciples understand when Jesus said, "take up your cross?" If we are to take up our cross, what does that mean for us today? These questions and more will be unpacked and answered this week. Have a great day! We will see you on Sunday!

PS: I have a picture or two of our very own Josh Hotsenpiller to show you, you will not want to miss it!