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Mar 04, 2012

Upside-Down Living (Part 17)

Passage: Mark 9:30-50

Preacher: Tim Badal

Series:Man at Work

Summary:

Mark is fascinated with two qualities of Jesus that he gives to us in the first words of this gospel: "The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mark 1:1). Jesus of Nazareth, a carpenter, the human Jesus—but also the Son of God, the divine one. Mark seems to be fascinated by that combination: the Ruler who manifests His ability to serve, and the Servant who knows how to rule.

Detail:

Upside-down living involves going against the flow for godliness.

Pursuing this type of living requires:

1.  Seeking significance through the Savior, not self (v. 35). 

     The selfish life:

          • Puts you first
          • Pursues popularity
          • Acquires possessions

     The significant life:

          • Humbling ourselves (v. 35)
          • Honoring others (v. 35)
          • Helping outcasts (v. 36-37)

 

2.  Cultivating contentment in an age of comparison (v. 35)

     Contentment comes through seeing that...

          • Working is a privilege (v. 39)

          And through...

          • Welcoming ministry partners (v. 39-40)
          • Waiting for our prize (v. 41)

 

3.  Fighting our flesh, not feeding it.

     This will involve:

          • Realizing our sin hurts others (v. 42)
          • Recognizing it's a heart issue
          • Rooting out the sin habit (v. 45-48)
          • Refusing to fight leads to hell (v. 47)