Annual Spiritual Checkup
As an extra resource, we encourage you to read this piece by The C.S. Lewis Institute called "Obedience: The Key that Opens All Doors." The C.S. Lewis Institute writes: "Each year many of us will go through a physical checkup, perhaps do a financial checkup at year's end or at tax time, and perhaps do a performance review at our workplace. But how often do we take time to review our spiritual life?" As the fourth in a series of "spiritual checkup" topics, this piece addresses the obedience of faith. In John Stott's words, "The test of love is obedience and the reward of love is the self-manifestation of Christ." Let's examine our spiritual lives and prayerfully seek God's help and growth in the New Year. Read the article HERE.
Discussion Questions
“ “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.””
GENERAL BIBLE STUDY
The following questions are meant to facilitate a study of the passage. These questions are optional.
Observation - What does it say? When you hear and read this passage what do you observe? What do you see that particularly catches your attention or strikes you?
Interpretation - What does it mean? What is the importance of the Doctrine of the Cross? In the epic sweep of God’s eternal, redemptive story, why does the Doctrine of the Cross matter?
Application - What does it mean to you? What, if anything, about the Doctrine of the Cross, challenges or deepens your understanding of your faith or your relationship with God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
THE DOCTRINE OF THE CROSS
(Excerpts from To Be A Christian: An Anglican Catechism and The Book of Common Prayer*)
The Apostles’ Creed states, “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.” The Nicene Creed states, “For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures . . . .”
This leads us to consider several questions:
Why did Jesus suffer? “Jesus suffered as a sacrifice for our sins so that we could have peace with God, as prophesied in the Old Testament: “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 52:13–53:12, see 53:5; John 1:29; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4)
In what ways did Jesus suffer? “On earth, the incarnate Son shared physically, emotionally, and spiritually in the temptations and sufferings common to all people, yet without sin. In his agony and desolation on the Cross, he uniquely suffered in my place for my sins and, in so doing, revealed God’s love and compassion for fallen and suffering humanity.” (Psalm 22:1–24; Matthew 4:1–10; 27:26–50; Hebrews 4:14–16)
How do Jesus’ sufferings help you? “Jesus has experienced our sufferings, understands our sorrows, and is able to sympathize with our weakness. Therefore, I should bear my sufferings with perseverance and hope, for my Savior is with me in them, and through them I will come to know him more fully.” ( Job 9:32–35; Psalm 22:22–26; Isaiah 53:4–7; Luke 4:1–13; Hebrews 4:14–5:10)
What did Jesus accomplish on the cross? “Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures by dying on the Cross as a sacrifice for sin in obedience to his Father. He thereby showed the depth of the love of God for his fallen creation, satisfying the justice of God on our behalf and breaking the power of sin, Satan, and death.” (Leviticus 23:18–21; Psalm 34:15–22; Colossians 2:13–15; Hebrews 10:11–14)
What does Jesus’ death mean for you? Jesus bore my sins and died the death that I deserve, so that I could be saved from sin and eternal condemnation and reconciled to God. (Psalm 32:1–2; Isaiah 53:10–12; Matthew 20:28; Romans 5:8–10; 2 Corinthians 5:17–21)
MARK 8:31-38
“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks (Mark 8:29). This is the question everyone must answer. Is Jesus truly the way and the truth and the life? (John 14:6). Is he the risen Savior and Lord? Does he reign and rule? If so, what does that mean for you?
After Peter answers, “You are the Christ” (Mark 8:29), Jesus begins to teach them plainly, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31).
Jesus then takes suffering a step further. Those who follow him must also be prepared to suffer. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life, will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:34-35).
ROMANS 5:1-11
The apostle Paul wrote this letter “to unite the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome in the gospel.” He tells them that “in the cross of Christ, God judges sin and at the same time shows his saving mercy.” (See Introduction to Romans, ESV Global Study Bible)
REFLECTION
What does it mean to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus? What are practical ways you do this daily?
How does looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, enable us to “run with perseverance the race that is set before us?” (Hebrews 12:1). What is the race we are running? What or who is the prize? How does looking to Jesus enable us to endure suffering well?
How did God show his love for us (Romans 5:8)?
Because God showed his love for us in this way, we are now . . . . List the adjectives Paul uses to describe our relationship with God (Romans 5:9-10).
Because of this we “rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ . . .” (Romans 5:11). In what do we rejoice (Romans 5:2)? We also rejoice in our sufferings (Romans 5:3). Why?
What practical ways are you learning to rejoice in your disappointments, grief, hardship, and suffering? Who or what is the hope that enables you to endure?
Closing Prayer - Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany
O Lord, our heavenly Father, keep your household the Church continually in your true religion, that we who trust in the hope of your heavenly grace may always be defended by your mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Sources:
The Book of Common Prayer, (Huntington Beach, CA: Anglican Liturgy Press, 2019), pages 20, 127.
To Be A Christian: An Anglican Catechism, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020), pages 40-41.