MSG: Video Call - All In - Now or Never: Pack Your Coffin - Session 1
Oct
23
Details
Opening Prayer - Colossians 3:1-17
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Introduction
The Christian faith was never meant to be an easy road, a painless journey, or a simple three-step adherence to a set of beliefs. To follow Jesus demands we give everything and invest all we have, and are, for the One who has laid down everything for us. He gave His life for us.
View the Video - Discussion
1. If you packed everything you needed to follow Jesus for the rest of your life into a wooden coffin, what would you take with you?
Luke 9:23–25 NIV84
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
2. When Jesus spoke the words recorded in this passage, He had not yet gone to the cross to die for our sins.
What images and ideas must have gone through the minds of Jesus' followers when He invited them to live out the four distinct calls expressed here?
What images and ideas must have gone through the minds of Jesus' followers when He invited them to live out the four distinct calls expressed here?
3. In other words, what do you think they thought Jesus was calling them to do when He said:
- Deny yourself
- Take up your cross
- Follow Me
- Lose your life
How do most Christians interpret and understand these same four callings today?
- Deny yourself
- Take up your cross
- Follow Me
- Lose your life
How do most Christians interpret and understand these same four callings today?
4. What are some signs and indicators that Christians in our culture today are playing it safe and not counting the cost of really following Jesus?
When you are operating in "Safe Mode" how does your Christian faith change and begin to look too tame?
When you are operating in "Safe Mode" how does your Christian faith change and begin to look too tame?
John 3:27–30 NIV84
To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.
To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.
5. John the Baptist lived and died with a deep sense of commitment to keep Jesus supreme. His motto, "He must become greater; I must become less," said it all. When you look at the words, ministry, life, and death of John the Baptist, what do you learn from his example of being all in?
6. What are signs and indicators in our daily life that show us and the people around us that we have forgotten that Jesus is the center of the universe, not us?
7. Tell about a time in your Christian faith when you were all in, sold out, and unreservedly passionate about Jesus. What led you to that point?
8. Think of the days, weeks, or seasons you are not all in and sold out for Jesus. What leads to such times and what helps you rekindle the fire and get back to a place of full devotion to the Savior?
Matthew 4:18–22 NIV84
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
9. In this short passage four different men have their own moment of reckoning with Jesus. Each one leaves his nets (his vocation, the family business, his place of security) to follow Jesus. What does this kind of devotion look like today?
What is something you have left (or need to leave) as you follow Jesus with a heart that is all in?
What is something you have left (or need to leave) as you follow Jesus with a heart that is all in?
10. Joshua 3:5 says, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you." In the video teaching for this session Mark says, "Consecration means to be set apart. It demands full devotion. It is dethroning yourself and enthroning Jesus. It is the complete divestiture of all self-interest. In short, it is going all in and all out for the All in All." What does consecration look like in your life?
What is one step you need to take in the coming days to consecrate yourself to and for God?
What is one step you need to take in the coming days to consecrate yourself to and for God?
11. Mark shares an honest fear he faces as a pastor. He says, "I'm afraid we've cheapened the gospel by allowing people to buy in without selling out. We've made it too convenient, too comfortable. We've given people just enough Jesus to be bored but not enough to feel the surge of holy adrenaline that courses through your veins when you decide to follow Him no matter what, no matter where, no matter when." Offer some examples of how the church has allowed believers to be too comfortable and how our faith has become too convenient.
What can we do to become more engaged, invested, sold out, and dangerous for Jesus?
What can we do to become more engaged, invested, sold out, and dangerous for Jesus?
Consecration Evaluation
Mark talks about what consecration is not and what it is. He points out that there are many good things that are important, but they are not consecration. Here are some examples:
It's not going to church once a week
It's not daily devotions.
It's not keeping the Ten Commandments.
It's not sharing your faith with friends.
It's not giving God the tithe.
It's not repeating the sinner's prayer.
It's not volunteering for a ministry.
It's not leading a small group.
It's not raising your hands in worship.
It's not going on a mission trip.
The word consecrate means to set yourself apart. By definition, consecration demands full devotion. It's dethroning yourself and enthroning Jesus Christ. It's the complete divestiture of all self-interest. It's giving God veto power. It's surrendering all of you to all of Him. It's a simple recognition that every second of time, every ounce of energy, and every penny of money is a gift from God and for God. Consecration is an ever-deepening love for Jesus, a childlike trust in the heavenly Father, and a blind obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Consecration is all that and a thousand things more. But for the sake of simplicity, let me give you my personal definition of consecration: Consecration is going all in and all out for the All in All.
Mark talks about what consecration is not and what it is. He points out that there are many good things that are important, but they are not consecration. Here are some examples:
It's not going to church once a week
It's not daily devotions.
It's not keeping the Ten Commandments.
It's not sharing your faith with friends.
It's not giving God the tithe.
It's not repeating the sinner's prayer.
It's not volunteering for a ministry.
It's not leading a small group.
It's not raising your hands in worship.
It's not going on a mission trip.
The word consecrate means to set yourself apart. By definition, consecration demands full devotion. It's dethroning yourself and enthroning Jesus Christ. It's the complete divestiture of all self-interest. It's giving God veto power. It's surrendering all of you to all of Him. It's a simple recognition that every second of time, every ounce of energy, and every penny of money is a gift from God and for God. Consecration is an ever-deepening love for Jesus, a childlike trust in the heavenly Father, and a blind obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Consecration is all that and a thousand things more. But for the sake of simplicity, let me give you my personal definition of consecration: Consecration is going all in and all out for the All in All.
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