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Following Jesus: Mark’s story of discipleship. (3) The Kingdom and the Cross. Confessing the Christ, carrying the cross. Mark 8.27-38; 10.35-45 Actions: Feel the roughness and the hardness of the wood. Make a cross with wood and string.
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Following Jesus: Mark’s story of discipleship (3) The Kingdom and the Cross
Confessing the Christ, carrying the cross • Mark 8.27-38; 10.35-45 • Actions: Feel the roughness and the hardness of the wood. Make a cross with wood and string. • Reflection: Think about the points in your life that challenge your discipleship to move to a deeper level. • Prayer: Thanks to you, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which you have given me, for all the pains and insults which you have borne for me. Most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother, may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen.
Claiming the Kingdom • Mark 11.27-29 • Reflection: Identify a person or situation “in the news” you would like to offer to God in prayer. • Actions: Write a short prayer (or just a name) on a ‘palm-leaf’ and “process” it up to the palm-leaf basket at the altar. • Prayer: Lord Jesus, you proclaimed the kingdom and restored the broken to wholeness of life: look with compassion on our broken world, and make whole both people and nations: we ask in your name. Amen.
Waiting in hope • Mark 13.32-37 • Actions: Light a candle, say a prayer • Reflection: “Waiting in hope” means waiting for the future which has already begun (Henri Nouwen). How do we cope as a church with the ‘now and not yet’ of the Kingdom of God? • Prayer: Heavenly Lord, you long for the world’s salvation: stir us from apathy, restrain us from excess, and revive in us new hope that all creation will one day be healed in Jesus Christ our Lord: Amen.
Remembering Jesus • Mark 14.22-26 • Actions: break off a piece of bread and share it • Reflection: Jesus “took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples.” Reflect on these four actions in the context of Mark’s story. • Prayer: Loving Father, thank you for feeding us at the supper of your Son: sustain us with your Spirit, that we may serve you here on earth and share in your eternal banquet in heaven: in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sent out into the world • Mark 16.1-8 • Actions: Blowing bubbles! • Reflection: Walk around the churchyard and enjoy the signs of life and growth — and lift your horizons to the distant hills. • Prayer: Send us out into the world, Almighty God, to live and work to your praise and glory: through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, Amen.
Discipleship as pilgrimage • The life of discipleship has the phases and rhythms of a pilgrimage: periods of intense, focused formation; periods of fruitfulness and joy; periods of questioning and doubt. In any given community, there will be disciples at different stages of their journey. • Discipleship requires persistence and courage; determination; faith. An ethic for a persecuted church.
Discipleship and worship • Gathering in God’s people • Baptism and repentance • The Word of the Kingdom • The work of the Kingdom • Confessing the Christ, carrying the cross • Praying for the world • Remembering Jesus • Sent out into the world