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.”