Memorize & Ponder for March 30
The Challenges of the Public Ministry
Mark 8:31-32
Then he began to teach them
that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering,
and be rejected by the elders,
the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and after three days rise again.
He said all this quite openly.
And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
Throughout 2014, the Christian community at Brentwood Presbyterian Church is getting to know Jesus, the Christ, in a refreshing and transformative way. We invite you to listen for what the Spirit is saying in the text, then question how those insights might change the ways you see things and act in the world. Share your thoughts during the week on the meaning the Spirit creates for you in this text by posting a comment here.
A Provocative Ponder
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us provoke one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together … (Hebrews 10:23-25a)
For those in authority in his day, Jesus was not a nice guy. His teachings were radical, in the original sense of that word – they got to the root of the truth and tested every attitude and behaviour by that root.
The root that Jesus drew his life and teachings from was the great summary of God’s will, found for Jews in Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) – love God with your whole being and, Jesus added, love all others as yourself.
Consider these questions this week:
• What is it about the kind of love that Jesus teaches that attracts and pleases you?
• What is it about the kind of love that Jesus teaches that offends and bothers you?
• What changes does the kind of love that Jesus teaches invite you to make in your own life?
And a reminder to invite your friends and neighbours to contribute suitcases and diapers to our community service projects.