Core Values: Sacrificial Community
Aim
To consider the challenge of following Jesus in accepting the vulnerability and the necessity of
sacrifice as individuals and churches for the sake of the gospel, and working for the Kingdom as
yeast works in bread dough.
You will need
Bibles, paper & pen, - if you want to be very symbolic you could make some bread!
Starter: read Luke 13:20-21
Consider how yeast has an effect on bread dough. Can you see it in a loaf of bread? If you’re
making bread notice how the yeast disappears, or ‘loses its self’ to have a transforming effect on
the dough. If you can see yeast as a clump in the dough the bread won’t rise.
Prayer
In this study, we are looking at the call to follow Jesus in being an sacrificial community, let’s pray
that we will open to losing our selves in within the community we serve, that we may be better
agents of transformation.
Jesus challenges his disciples
“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, ‘The
Cost of Discipleship’ SCM Press
• What strikes you about Peter’s reactions and responses to Jesus’ words?
• How would the crowd have understood Jesus speech in vv34-38
• Is there a difference between a serving church and a sacrificial church?
Make a note in the space below:
Much of church life is about building up the church; about church growth; about succeeding as a
church. What would it mean for the church to lose itself?
Make a note of things which might change if we took Mark 8:27-38 seriously.
Practical Application
Consider how, as individuals, in the local church and in our denomination, we can be more of a
sacrificial community? (Do we need to be?)
Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Paul urges his fellow Christians to be generous, but it’s not just about money.
Should we be willing to sacrifice comfort, respectability and even unity for the sake of faithful
discipleship?
Should we be willing to take costly, non-violent action in the cause of peace, justice and freedom?
Closing prayers
Let us pray that we may reflect the generous, life-giving nature of God.