LoginHome » Ministers' resources » Worship Resources » Preaching Kits » Year B Mark » Kit 3 » Lent Two - March 16th
'Dying to Life' (Lent, a journey to Easter & beyond)
Lent Two - March 16th
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Psalm 22:23-31
Romans 4:13-25
Mark 8:31-38
Covenant and relationship themes continue. There are questions of trusting in God's promises, as we reflect on the story of Abraham and Sarah and the birth of their son Isaac who became a child of the covenant through the rite of circumcision. There are questions about what it means to love in a covenant relationship - all love requires freedom to choose and the readiness to make oneself open and vulnerable to another. Jesus tells us in the Mark reading that one only finds real life in the giving up of self.
From God's encounter with Abraham and Sarah, through the struggles and joys expressed in the Psalms, to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and on into the life of the church, God is engaged with humanity. We are not witnesses to a God who set the world going in the distant past and left us to our own devices. We individually and collectively are witnesses to a God who loves us, communicates with us and willingly brings us into relationship.
To live in covenant, to live trusting in God's promises, to live as disciples of Christ we are called to live in the weakness of vulnerability.
Genesis....
Abram is asked to believe in a promise that strained his imagination. In this story, from the priestly writer of Genesis God Almighty [El Shaddai in Hebrew] promises to make Abram and his descendants God's people. This covenant is marked by a name change, Abram to Abraham meaning 'ancestor of a multitude' and also for Sarai - to Sarah. Together they laugh with genuine human laughter at the thought of a child, but from their union comes Isaac, whose very name means laughter. This story is foundational for both Judaism and Christianity.
Psalm....
Despair and assurance and the reminder that the promises of God will continue to be passed on, and will truly change the world forever.
Romans....
This passage contains most of the key themes of Romans - anticipation of Christ - the Messiah of the Hebrew scriptures, righteousness by faith, the priority of grace over law, the significance of promise. Paul the trained Jewish scholar, makes the remarkable leap of insight to see that God's promise is not dependant on the law but on faith in the promise itself and ultimately the promise maker.
Mark....
Peter struggles within this passage [as we can] with the juxtaposition of Jesus' powerful ministry of teaching and healing standing alongside the prediction of suffering. It is hard to reconcile suffering with power given by God. We want God to take our suffering away. Yet Jesus knows that if his ministry is to continue in obedience to God it will unavoidably bring him into conflict with the religious authorities. He struggles to help his disciples understand that what is true for him is also true for them and us.
Questions to consider....
- What are the marks of a covenant community? How do these relate to being church today?
- How do we respond to the demands of relationship with God? How do our lives reflect the promises of God?
- What thoughts are raised for you about the nature of discipleship, as you hear the words 'lose your life for Jesus sake' - 'take up your cross and follow'?
- Reflect on the use of the word `ashamed' in v38 - how do you hear this?
Prayer for today....
God of ancient wisdom, present faith and future hope,
we thank you for your covenant made with Abraham and Sarah
and with all the generations that have followed.
You have shown us the promise of life given to Sarah and Abraham;
and in Jesus you have shown us that even in death you are with us.
May your stories live in us as beacons of hope and faith,
may we be prophets of harvest hope,
help us to do your will and follow your ways. Amen.
Music....
- All my hope on God is founded - WOV 465
- Choose life - The Mystery Telling 5 [Hymns & Songs for the New Millennium]
- Great is your faithfulness - NJSB 48
- Jesus I have promised - WOV 514