Lent 2 Weekly Study

Opening Prayer

Wonderful God, as we enter this season of Lent,
this time of preparation for the mystery of Easter,
help us to ready ourselves,
so that we can journey with Jesus through the wilderness,
to meet with him in resurrection joy.
Make us ready to fast from criticism
and feast on the good we see in others.
Make us ready to fast from inactivity
and feast on action for justice.
Make us ready to fast from greed
and feast on giving.
Make us ready to fast from conflict
and feast on peace making.
Make us ready to fast from selfishness
and feast on Christ-likeness
so that we might be changed to become more like your Son. Amen.

Reading

Mark 8:27-38


27Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” 30And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

31Then 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. 32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

34He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Time to Wonder


As you hear this passage what are the things;
  • you would like to ask
  • that you don’t understand or want clarification
  • that you never noticed before
  • that you can relate to in your life

Sermon

Listen to the Sermon from Sunday 25 February 

Sermon Reflection Questions
You can use the same questions that were suggested in the time to wonder section above.

Some Questions for reflection
  • What is your favourite cross and why?
  • "If you want to be a disciple you must be prepared to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus" Discuss
  • I think to "take up your cross" means to be willing to "bear the consequences of love"  Do you agree?  Discuss
  • Have you been aware in the last week of examples of the contradictory world of dispair and hope that we meet in the events of Easter?
  • What are the some of the things you wish God was like?