Sermons

Validate and Verify (Mark 8:27-38)

Gearl Spicer Gearl Spicer, May 2, 2021
Part of the Look Up, Lean In - Insights Into Vertical Living series, preached at a Sunday Online service

Mark 8:27–38 (Listen)

27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

(ESV)

Sermon Notes

Look Up, Lean In - Insights Into Vertical Living
Validate and Verify
Mark 8:27-38
5/2/21

How do you validate authenticity?

Vertical living aligns our hearts with the cross!

Vertical living calls on us to listen, act and surrender!

*Jesus went out, along with His disciples….."Who do people
Say that I am?" vs.27

*And He continued by questioning them, But who do you say
That I am? Peter answered and said to Him, You are the Christ. vs.29

*And He summoned a crowd with His disciples and said to them,
If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take
Up his cross and follow me. vs. 34

I. Clarifying questions are key to verification - vs. 27-30
A. He wants to distinguish so there can be impact
B. He personalizes in order to empower their hearts

II. Leaning in requires attentiveness - vs. 31-33
A. Suffering would lead to victory
B. Confusion would lead to a rebuke
C. Wrong thinking would lead to a reset

III. Choices verify core convictions - vs.34
A. Deny yourself
B. Take up your cross
C. Follow Him

IV. Life focus determines validity - vs.35-38
A. Loss is gain -
B. Questions lead to direction and eternity
C. Humbly identify in Him always

Can you note verifiable faith traits?

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