Pastor Mark Mikels – September 7, 2008<\/p>\n
“BECOMING SPIRITUAL DECATHLETES – Part Eleven”<\/p>\n
(“Connecting With Christ” Series – Part 50)<\/p>\n
(Mark 16:1-8)<\/p>\n
Intro … Today, in this Communion Meditation, we conclude our journey
\nthrough the Gospel of Mark with a look at Mark’s account of the
\nResurrection.<\/p>\n
It’s the briefest account in any of the Gospels – the strongest textual
\nevidence supports the idea that verses 9-20 (included in most English
\ntranslations) were not written by Mark but were added later by someone
\nelse to “fill out the story”.<\/p>\n
There are two possibilities … the First is that Mark ended his Gospel
\nwith verse eight with the overwhelmed women leaving the tomb bearing
\nthe incredible news of the resurrection that would soon become known to
\nall.<\/p>\n
The Second possibility is that Mark actually wrote a more detailed
\nended but that it became separated from the rest of the manuscript
\nalmost immediately upon writing.<\/p>\n
I myself hold to the first possibility – that Mark ended his Gospel
\naccount – his no funny business, action focused Gospel) – with the
\ncryptic announcement made by the angel to the women at the tomb.<\/p>\n
We know that much more happened (of course) but for purposes known only
\nto him Mark chose not to tell us about it.<\/p>\n
Here then is the final chapter – the final challenge – in Jesus’
\nearthly life as Mark recorded it … Mark 16:1-8<\/p>\n
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James,
\nand Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.
\nVery early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were
\non their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the
\nstone away from the entrance of the tomb?”<\/p>\n
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large,
\nhad been rolled away.<\/p>\n
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe
\nsitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.<\/p>\n
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene,
\nwho was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where
\nthey laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, `He is going ahead
\nof you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”<\/p>\n
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb.
\nThey said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.<\/p>\n
Mark’s account zeroes in on the main thing – the thing that all who
\nwould follow after Jesus would need to know. He doesn’t tell us
\nanything about the 40 days of Jesus’ post-resurrection ministry.<\/p>\n
He simply concludes his Gospel with the announcement of the incredible
\nnews. And that “news” becomes …<\/p>\n
Today’s Key Scripture … Mark 16:6<\/p>\n
“You are looking for JESUS the Nazarene, who was crucified.<\/p>\n
He has RISEN – He is NOT HERE!”<\/p>\n
And in this “Key Scripture” is discovered …<\/p>\n
Christ’s Tenth Great Challenge (the final challenge of<\/p>\n
the Spiritual Decathlon that occupied the final<\/p>\n
eight days of Jesus’ earthly life)<\/p>\n
I’m calling it … “NEW LIFE GENERATING” that is,<\/p>\n
Generating LIFE where once there was DEATH.<\/p>\n
“New Life Generating” … what an incredible spiritual challenge – “to
\ngenerate life where once there was death” … what an incredible
\nspiritual achievement!<\/p>\n
Remember these words of Jesus we discussed last week (John 10:17-18)
\n…<\/p>\n
“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life–only to take
\nit up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own
\naccord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up
\nagain. This command I received from my Father.”<\/p>\n
In the wee hours of that first Easter Morning, Jesus Christ performed
\nthe unthinkable …<\/p>\n
By his own authority, drawing upon the awesome power that was His as
\nthe Son of God, he re-energized and re-organized his own broken body.<\/p>\n
Thus Mark says (identical to Matthew and Luke) “He has risen …<\/p>\n
Not “he has been raised” (as though he had been acted upon by some
\noutside force) but “He Has Risen” … He himself has wrought this
\nmiraculous thing!<\/p>\n
He confidently faced and then demonstrated total mastery of the tenth
\nand final Spiritual Challenge that made up his own personal Spiritual
\nDecathlon –<\/p>\n
NEW LIFE GENERATING.<\/p>\n
Thus I would have us come to Today’s Key Concept with a sense of
\nabsolute awe and wonder …<\/p>\n
Today’s Key Concept …<\/p>\n
There’s life-generating POWER and PASSION<\/p>\n
In the PERSON of Jesus Christ!<\/p>\n
He had demonstrated that fact every day of his earthly ministry –<\/p>\n
new life sprang up everywhere that he went.<\/p>\n
New life for his specially chosen disciples, new life for the sick and
\nthe weary, new life for those who were tormented by the demonic, new
\nlife<\/p>\n
for those locked in closed religious systems, new life for all who<\/p>\n
connected themselves to him!<\/p>\n
The culmination of years of such life-generating ministry came that
\nmorning in that Garden tomb.<\/p>\n
Jesus mastered the task called “New Life Generating” and in this final
\ntask (like in the nine that preceded it) he left a pattern for us to
\nfollow.<\/p>\n
Consider with me (even as we prepare for our communion meal this
\nmorning) …<\/p>\n
Today’s Key Reality …<\/p>\n
Those who are CONNECTED with Jesus Christ are continually EMBRACING and
\nGENERATING New Life!<\/p>\n
First and most importantly of all,<\/p>\n
* They Continually Embrace And Generate New (More Complete)<\/p>\n
Life In THEMSELVES. (John 14:19-20\/ Romans 6:4)<\/p>\n
Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.<\/p>\n
Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that<\/p>\n
I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.<\/p>\n
* * * * * * * * * * * *<\/p>\n
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order
\nthat, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the
\nFather, we too may live a new life.<\/p>\n
Newness is a way of life for those who are connected to Jesus. No two
\ndays are alike … no scripture passage can be read the same way twice.<\/p>\n
There is an understanding every day that this day has never been lived
\nbefore and that its unfolding will present opportunities that have
\nnever come before.<\/p>\n
It’s not a dissatisfaction with what is but an anticipation of what is
\nyet to be that opens us to all that Christ would have for us.<\/p>\n
Those who are truly connected to Christ are becoming more and more
\nalive until the very moment they draw their last breath.<\/p>\n
They are continually embracing and generating new (that is, more
\ncomplete) Life in themselves.<\/p>\n
But more than that (and actually as a direct result of the new life
\nthey continually embrace and generate in themselves) we see secondly
\n…<\/p>\n
* They Continually Embrace And Generate New (More Complete)<\/p>\n
Life In Their FELLOWSHIP. (Hebrews 10:24-25)<\/p>\n
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good
\ndeeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of
\ndoing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see
\nthe Day approaching.<\/p>\n
It’s an incredible thing when people who are individually connected to
\nJesus get together …<\/p>\n
There’s a tremendous recognition that we are all “in this together” and
\nthat we are all “in Him together”.<\/p>\n
There’s a desire to see each one of our number master the art of “new
\nlife generation” … to see each of them demonstrating the fullness of
\nthe life that Jesus came to provide.<\/p>\n
We become connected to one another just as we are connected to him and
\nwe discover that our connection to each other actually helps keep us
\nconnected to him!<\/p>\n
And so we eagerly meet together … our “new life” links us inseparably
\nto<\/p>\n
one another.<\/p>\n
And now there’s another most amazing thing …<\/p>\n
As those who are connected to Jesus Christ continually embrace and
\ngenerate new life in themselves and as they continually embrace and
\ngenerate new life in their local Christian fellowship …<\/p>\n
* They Continually Embrace And Generate New (More Complete) Life<\/p>\n
In The WORLD Around Them. (Romans 12:21\/1Peter 2:12)<\/p>\n
Here’s how the Apostles Paul and Peter directed us to express our “new
\nlife” in the word around us …<\/p>\n
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”<\/p>\n
(and)<\/p>\n
“Live such good lives among the pagans that … they may see your<\/p>\n
good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”<\/p>\n
Now there’s no guarantee that those around us will become Christians
\nbut<\/p>\n
I can guarantee that they will be powerfully influenced.<\/p>\n
Our “new life” brings hope and help wherever we go … things should<\/p>\n
“get better” and “go better” whenever Christians are added to the mix!<\/p>\n
Indeed it’s true that …<\/p>\n
Those who are CONNECTED with Jesus Christ are continually EMBRACING and
\nGENERATING New Life!<\/p>\n
For the past 41 years, it has been my privilege to watch someone do
\njust<\/p>\n
that … that “someone” is my wife, Linda.<\/p>\n
Today on our 40^th Wedding Anniversary, it seems fitting to acknowledge<\/p>\n
that fact …<\/p>\n
Linda has been in a constant state of personal spiritual renewal ever
\nsince<\/p>\n
I first met her on the campus of Wheaton College.<\/p>\n
In a place where students could easily put aside personal spiritual
\npursuits in light of many required and provided spiritual activities,
\nLinda faithfully maintained an early morning devotional time throughout
\nher college years. She impressed me with her faithfulness to and her
\npersonal walk with the Lord.<\/p>\n
During Seminary days she absorbed every class that I enrolled in; we
\ndiscussed together just about every book I read and debated every
\ntheological concept to which I was exposed.<\/p>\n
Her passion for the things of the Lord has continued to fuel her over
\nall the years since. Just this past month, she has been deeply moved
\nand blessed by her reading of the inspirational book “The Shack”. She
\nhas continually embraced and generated new life in herself!<\/p>\n
Linda has invested herself in helping to bring genuine life to every
\nfellowship that we have been involved in.<\/p>\n
In our first church in Durango Colorado, three days after a fairly
\nserious surgery, she was found teaching Daily Vacation Bible School …
\nsitting down, not chasing the kids around, but sharing her heart and
\nher life with those boys and girls.<\/p>\n
In our second church, here in Apple Valley, she took on the task of
\nteaching Bible to Middle Schoolers at Apple Valley Christian School –
\nopening up the Word of God to them in such a way that they came to see
\nGod’s Word as far more than simply another academic text.<\/p>\n
Her desire to see more than the “norm” and her encouraging of me to
\nseek it has led in no small part to the wonderful fellowship we call
\nSonlife Community Church.<\/p>\n
Over the past seven years Linda has given herself to generating life
\nwhere few would have believed it could be done … in the public school
\nsystem (of all places) and particularly in a local school that consists
\nof some of the poorest of the poor and the lowest of the low.<\/p>\n
Over these past years, Linda has brought Christ’s type of life to that
\nplace … first to her teaching staff and then to the parents and the
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
This past year her school scored third highest of all High Desert
\nSchools, more than achieved the State’s desired level of achievement
\nand became known in the Department of Education in Washington itself.<\/p>\n
And her teachers are excited about teaching and her students are
\nexcited about learning.<\/p>\n
How did I put it a moment ago?<\/p>\n
Our “new life” brings hope and help wherever we go … things should<\/p>\n
“get better” and “go better” whenever Christians are added to the mix!<\/p>\n
And when things start “going better”, we discover that a platform has
\nbeen built from which the fuller “truth of Christ” can be shared.<\/p>\n
And Linda has had numerous opportunities to do just that.<\/p>\n
NEW LIFE GENERATING … It’s an incredibly rewarding challenge!<\/p>\n
Final Thot …<\/p>\n
TRUE Christianity is evidenced by the LIFE it GENERATES!<\/p>\n
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Pastor Mark Mikels – September 7, 2008 “BECOMING SPIRITUAL DECATHLETES – Part Eleven” (“Connecting With Christ” Series – Part 50) (Mark 16:1-8) Intro … Today, in this Communion Meditation, we conclude our journey through the Gospel of Mark with a look at Mark’s account of the Resurrection.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"template":"","meta":[],"categories":[10,3],"archive_item":"http:\/\/archive.org\/details\/sonlifecommunitychurch.com--becoming-spiritual-decathletes--becoming-spiritual-decathletes-part-11","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonlifecommunitychurch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermons\/166"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonlifecommunitychurch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermons"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonlifecommunitychurch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/sp_sermon"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonlifecommunitychurch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonlifecommunitychurch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonlifecommunitychurch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}