Virtual Service January 9, 2022
“Perspective for the Future” (Part 1)
New year series Frank W.R. Benoit
Introduction – When we’re going to unfamiliar places or times, we try to get some perspective to be prepared (i.e. look at a map or guidebook). That’s true for our life and our moving into the future of a new year. There’s a lot of unfamiliar territory ahead of us. We need to get a good perspective – then keep it all year! Will Christ come back this year? Will we have more tragedy or difficulty than the past 2 years of pandemic? Will we get a new job, new home, move to a new state?
This series will- give us a biblical perspective for the future. In 3 parts we’ll learn what we need for the road ahead: Part 1 – “Get Perspective.”; Part 2 – “Get More/Better Perspective!”; and Part 3 – “Keep the Perspective”.
Part 1 – “Get Perspective.”
1. Mark 7:14-23. Our main problem. In this passage of Mark’s gospel, Jesus shows the heart of the problem. We can’t forget the main thing!
2. Mark 8:27-30. Jesus identifies Himself. What does the world say and think about Him? What do we say/think about Him?
3. Mark 8:31-33. Jesus provides the solution. What do we need to know about Him, His work of salvation and God’s interests for all of it?
4. Mark 8:34-38. Our response to what God offers us in Christ. What should we do and need to remember as we face the year ahead?
What we learn from this perspective –
1. The heart of the problem (of all humanity) is the problem of the heart. SIN is what is destroying us and the world around us.
2. Jesus is the ONLY correct solution to the problem of the human heart, the problem of the sin nature because only Jesus is the promised Messiah. We can’t accept the world’s solutions.
3. Receiving and following Jesus is the MOST important thing in the world and worth more than everything else. Absolutely nothing is more important than a person’s ETERNAL DESTINY.
4. We have to REMEMBER that Christ is returning and be prepared for that – and all that goes with it.
Conclusion – Things are always harder when we don’t have enough perspective. As we face the unknown things that the future holds this year, we need to have the right perspective of who we are, who Jesus is, and what we need to do with what the Bible teaches us.