MISSION, MARK, & ME by Dr Ed Pousson

MISSION, MARK, & ME

John Mark the Assistant – Acts 13:5
What would it take to qualify for the mission team of the Antioch church? See Acts 13:1-5.

Barnabas and Saul had credentials as teachers. But what about John?
Who was he and why do you think he was he included on the team?
What lessons can we draw from this?

John Mark the Deserter – Acts 13:13
Why do you think he did this?
Put yourself in John Mark’s shoes.
Reflect on possible reasons why any of us might do just as he did, or perhaps worse, if we were in a similar situation.
John Mark the Deserter – Acts 13:13
Homesickness?
Culture shock?
Spiritual shock?
Theology shock?
Internal politics?
What lessons can we learn from Mark’s mistake?

John Mark the EVANGELIST
Paul and Barnabas later parted company over whether or not to give John Mark a second chance (Acts 15:37-40). What does this tell you about Paul?
What does this tell you about Barnabas?
Why would he ‘sacrifice’ a spiritual giant like Paul for a junior partner like Mark?
GREAT PEOPLE BUILD GREAT PEOPLE
So who was right? Paul or Barnabas?
What else does the New Testament tell us about John Mark?
What does Church history and tradition tell us about John Mark?

Who are the Barnabases in your life?

Who are the John Marks in your life?

Are you a “Son of Encouragement?”

Will you finish well?



PAUSE & PRAY
We need more sons and daughters of encouragement in the church today.
Who are the Barnabases in your life? Where are the John Marks?
Ask God to fill the Church with a spirit of encouragement.
Pray for mentors who use programs to build people, rather than using people to run programs (15:37).
Ask God to forgive us where we have slotted creative people into old structures, instead of creating new structures around gifted people and their gifts and calling, as Barnabas did.
Intercede for the “Marks” around you, young and old, who need to be given room to fail and grace in the form of another chance (15:37, 39).
Prayerfully determine to be a Barnabas to them however you can.

youth sunday video

http://www.sendspace.com/file/cdrvj1

Honesty that is good for the soul

Submission and Authority

Submission and Authority
YMMP 09

Freedom
For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Cor 3:17)
Freedom without authority?
Highest authority is that Jesus is Lord. Live it out.
You want freedom? Grab on to the truth

World today- Tolerant and Permissive society, lead to chaos
Every time we want something, we change the law
Freedom without restriction
Freedom seen as rejection of authority?

2 ways of looking at Freedom
External Freedom
Internal Freedom. (John 8:31,32,36)

Free not to be dominated by self
Free from guilt and power of sin
Free to love God and serve others
Free to do what is right
Free not to break moral law but to keep it
“and I’m free…free fallin”-Tom Petty

Submission
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” John 8:32
Cannot have freedom until we submit to God’s terms
Real freedom comes from Right authority

How did Jesus get all His authority?
John 8:38,4:34, 5:30, 6:38, 8:26, 12:49, 14:31, 17:4
He submits to the will of the Father

Generation Y
Lifestyle centered
Impatient
Very aware socially
Demanding of people, leaders
Hugely confident, educated
Ask questions and want flexibility and options
Greatest challenge: Fear and Unbelief

Answer to young people is not to entertain them
“I am what I own” generation
Not to give them everything but to empower them
2 Cor 5:15, 2 Peter 1:5

Do God’s will. John 17:13-19. Luke 19:10, John 3:16
Know Submission, Know Authority

World says:
-We come from nothing
-We don’t live for anyone,anything
-We’re going nowhere

Who is your Master? Saviour and Lord
Acknowledge His Lordship, Phi 2:9-11
Why are people not changed? Position @ altar
When we die, we find life, then we give it away! 2 Cor 4:7-12

Shut up and die(to self) Gal 2:20.
Are you truly dead?Don’t fight back
Get over yourself

Authority
Jesus
Acted with authority
Spoke with authority
Taught with authority

John 1:12. Exousia- “rightful unimpeded power or authority to act”
Authority
Matt 28:18. Jesus has authority from heaven
Luke 4:5-7. The devil has authority because we give it to him when making choices
Gen 1:26-28. We were given authority to rule.

God places value on authority for:
Order
Protection
Roman 13:1-2. Secular Authorities are put there by God
Bible is an authority 2 Tim 3:16
Authority
Governing Authorities
Government. 1 Peter 2:13,14
Families. Eph 6:1-4, 5:22-32
Church. Romans 8:14(HS), 2 Tim 3:16(Word)

3 Ways Walls of Authority can crumble
Poor leadership
Application
Rebellion

“Shut up, Grow up, Do as you are told!”

3 Types of Authority
1. Task
-opposite is Disobedience
2. Teaching
-opposite is Unteachability
3. Spiritual
-opposite is harden hearts

Submit- to arrange in order
Heart attitude and things you do with your body
Eph 4:26. Anger is an attitude and gives Enemy a foothold
Submission-know our place

Obedience means to hear(Greek)
When leaders ask of you, submit in heart attitude.

Why authority?
Grow in wisdom and character. Luke 2:49-52
Protection under it. 1 Sam 15:23, Prob 22:15
Receive direction because of openness to others

Non-submission in Bible
Gen 9:20-27. Noah and Ham. When leaders fail you, test of your rebellious heart
Numbers 12. Aaron and Miriam. Rebellion holds up the camp. Talking a lot
Numbers 16. Korah. Eyes of reason and not faith. 2 Cor 4:1-6
God will put up with your moaning but He will not tolerate rebellion
Numbers 16:41-50. Rebellion is contagious. Deal with things.Don’t build your own camp
2 Sam 15. Absalom.


Submission but disobedience in Bible
Daniel submitted to kings of Babylon but not always obeyed.Consequences.
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego not bowing to idol
Jesus in Heb 5:7-9

Submission brings God’s Power

Steps to Disloyalty
1.Inward attitude, independent spirit. Phi 2:20-21. List out your rights, expectations

2.Wounded spirit. When things don’t happen the way you want, you get into distrust. Luke 17:7-10, Col 3:23,24. Detailed instructions needed.

3. Alertness to discontent,taking up offence, vicarious anger. Ps 15:3

4. Judgmental Spirit. Magnify reports of discontent. Gal 6:1. Watch yourself.

5. Disloyalty

Principles of the Kingdom
Submission
Repentance
Forgiveness
Faith
Giving
Humility
Service

Principles of the world?

Summary
Phi 2:5-11. Jesus humbled Himself,even to death
After that, all authority is given to Him
Humility releases the power of God

Our role in life: Die, Find life, Bring life and authority to places of Death

Methodist Convenant Prayer
Christ has many services to be done:
some are easy, others are difficult;
some bring honour, others bring reproach;
some are suitable to our natural inclinations
and material interests,
others are contrary to both;

The Prayer
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

Questions to prepare before 3rd July session by Dr Ed

Missions, Mark, & Me

Reflections on the Spiritual Journey of John Mark

1. What would it take to qualify for the mission team of the Antioch church? See Acts 13:1-5. Barnabas and Saul had impressive credentials as teachers. But what about John? Who was he and why do you think he was he included on the team?

2. John Mark deserted the mission team and when back home. See Acts 13:13. Why do you think he did this? Put yourself in John Mark’s shoes. Reflect on several possible reasons why any of us might do just as he did if we were in a similar situation.

3. Paul and Barnabas later parted company over whether or not to give John Mark a second chance. See Acts 15:37-40. What does this tell you about Paul?

4. What does this tell you about Barnabas? Why would he ‘sacrifice’ an experienced spiritual giant like Paul for a junior partner like John Mark?

5. Who was right, Paul or Barnabas?

6. What else does the New Testament tell us about John Mark?

7. What does Church history and tradition tell us about John Mark?

8. Draw conclusions, principles, and lessons from all of the above.

New updates to schedule!

Session 8: 27th June Saturday 9am to 10pm	Submission and Authority plus YMMP Outing	Simon	Week 9 Yushan, Sherman,
Session 9: 3rd July Friday 730 to 11pm	Missions Homework: Questions by Dr Ed	Ed Pousson	Week 10 Samuel, Leslie,
Session 10: 17th July Friday 730 to 11pm	Repentance and Forgiveness	Simon	Week 12 Eliz, jasmine
Session 11: 7th Aug Friday 730 to 10th Aug Monday-National Day Long Weekend Make the dates available!! Our YMMP FINALE!	YMMP CAMP! - Repentance and Forgiveness(Ministry) -Spiritual Warfare -Relationships	Simon	Week 15 Pls pray that we can get Sentosa Cove!!!

Fruits and Roots of Pride

Fruit and Roots of Pride- Floyd McClung

Pride deceives us

James 4

God gives grace to those who humble themselves

It’s our responsibility to humble ourselves.

Humility is not humiliation. Sets us free

The work is ongoing. Thank God we have hope in Christ. We have a victorious and risen saviour. Jesus now lives in our heart. If we humble ourselves, we can receive all things

Pride

Job 35:12-

Psalm 12:3- cut off flattering lips

Prob 8:13

Prob 11:2- shame follows pride

Prob 13: 10 – by pride comes contention

Not honest when we say “we have personality clash”. It’s pride.

Point finger and blame instead of loving, accepting people

When we struggle, it’s not about the other person.

“You’re struggling and there’s something wrong with your heart”-God

Prayed to be more like Jesus? People and things are sent to mold our character

What’s on the inside comes out. Under pressure and conflict. God uses them to reveal what’s in our heart.

Prob 6- Pride comes before destruction.

God hates pride. Be on God’s side against pride.

If you are neutral and hardened, deception will come in.

It requires a response from us.

God doesn’t want to hurt your pride, He wants to kill it!

If you are committed to honesty, humility, God gives grace

Prob 28:25-stirs up strife

If there is conflict in ministry, someone is operating in pride

1 Peter 5: 5- “Be submissive to those older…

If we humble ourselves, we become like Jesus

It takes humility to receive. When you turn down offers, gifts, it’s pride.

Prefer others, by age, gender, and experience.

What is pride?

Thinking or pretending something we are not.

Humility embraces transparency. We can acknowledge our mistakes.

Pride is deception and self-deception.

Self-confidence, gratitude, initiative is not pride. False humility is pride.

Obey God above your culture.

Pride is choosing not to seek after God or acknowledge our total dependency on Him.

God has every right to rule our lives as created.

The fool says there is no God.

Every sin can be traced back to pride.

Even demanding what is yours can be pride.

Let’s do it when God calls with humility.

Pride is subtle.

Pride comes from inside.

“Pride- chief cause of misery. Enmity… As long as you are proud, you cannot know God.” CS Lewis

Satan, author of pride, Isaiah 14:13-14

“I” repeated. Self-centeredness. God is author of humility.

Pride is like cancer. Wake up and find something wrong. When awareness comes, they can choose 2 responses. Get help or ignore/pretend it’s not there.

Self-denial will destroy us.

Invite Jesus to be the heart surgeon and expose pride.

Do you want God to deal with you?

Proceed to watch part 2