RADICAL LIFESTYLE (Mark 1)

Mark 1:1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, ² as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

I. You Have a High Calling – Even Out in the Middle of Nowhere

“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— ³ “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” ⁴ And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

II. You Have a High Calling - Calling You to Become a Minimalist

⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

III. You Have a High Calling That’s Bigger Than You

⁷ And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 

IV. Your High Calling Will Be Confirmed by God

⁹ At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”