Stand by Me (Mark 8:27-38) -- Rev. John W. Armstrong

Sermon notes:

 

Stand by Me    (Mark 8:27-38)

I.     Rabbis teach by asking questions.

A.  The “___________________” question (v.27).

1.  Requires no personal commitment.

2.  “They” [all] answer (v.28).

B.  The “___________________” question (v.29a).

1.  The risk of a personal confession.

2.  Peter alone answers (v.29b).

 

II.    The Messiah’s work and our response.

A.  Jesus’ job description (v.31).

1.  Jesus _____________________ the Messiah’s role (cf. v.31, Isaiah 53).

2.  His _____________________ is the only way to break Satan’s hold on us (Matthew 26:52-56; Mark 1:24; 3:37).

3.  Peter gives Jesus the correct title (v.29b), but still has the wrong _________________________ (v.32), which is why Jesus commands silence for now (v.30).

B.  Our response.

1.  Confessing Christ.

a.  Confession has two meanings:

i.  to _____________________________ (2 Samuel 12:13; Luke 18:13);

Ii.  to _____________________________ (v.29b; John 1:20; Romans 10:9-10).

b.  Even bold confessors can be __________________________ (v.33).

2.  Jesus made the good confession before Pontius Pilate (Mark 15:2; 1 Timothy 6:13).

3.  Confessing Christ is ___________________ (1 Corinthians 12:3; 2 John 7ff.).

4.  Confessing Christ is ___________________ (vv.34-38; Mark’s context: Roman persecution).

5.  Luther’s great insight:  the Christian life is a flight from God the ___________________ to God the ___________________ (John 21:15-17; 2 Timothy 2: 11-13).