"Regular People"

5 April 2009

Sixth Sunday in Lent/PASSION Sunday

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

Fortress Chapel

Contingency Operation Site (C.O.S.) Sykes

Tall-afar, Iraq

BIG IDEA: One of the common themes throughout the Bible is that God uses regular people to do His work.

REFERENCES: Jeremiah 29:11 ESV (For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope); Judges 11 ( Jephthah); Lukes 28:2 (ESV) So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it."; John 13-17; Acts 12:12 ESV When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying; Mark 12:37 ESV (Whose Son is the Christ?) David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng – crowd, common people - heard him gladly; Luke 22:8 ESV; Psalm 31:9-16 (RSV); Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1-15:47; Isaiah 50:4-9a RSV; The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (ESV) Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall;

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Mark 14:12-21 (ESV)

II. READ THE PERICOPE: Mark 14:12-21 (ESV)

III. READ THE TEXT: Mark 14:13-14 (ESV) And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’

IV. PURPOSE: To inspire the hearers to affirm to others that God uses regular people to do His work.

V. SERMONIC THEME: “Regular People”

VI. INTRODUCTION:

Welcome to all of our Contemporary Worship Service visitors.

Today is the Sixth Sunday in Lent which is also known as Palm Sunday and the commencement of Passion Week.

Passion Week in the theological community is also known as Holy Week and is so named because Jesus Christ truly revealed His passion for us in what He willingly went through on our behalf.

As you may recall, Passion Week is described in Matthew chapters 21-27; Mark chapters 11-15; Luke chapters 19-23; and John chapters 12-19.

It begins with Jesus’ triumphal entry, (on Palm Sunday) on the back of a colt as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 (ESV) which says: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Therefore, as we commemorate the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior – on this Communion Sunday – it’s my prayer that our Christian Light and attitude will shine the brightest today, and during this upcoming week …

as we passionately display our love, and appreciation for our Savior’s ultimate sacrifice through our attendance in Bible Study, Praise & Worship Rehearsals, Good Friday Service, and Resurrection Sunday Services.

******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******

MOVE 1: Now, in our text today, we find ourselves two days before the Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread.

a. At this point, Mark suddenly has a need to reflect upon how our Lord spent his previous Saturday evening in Jerusalem and its surrounding areas.

b. A deeper observation shows that Mark candidly points out one of the common themes throughout the Bible, which is God uses common people to do his work.

c. “Like an artist, Mark begins by drawing together two lines of truth, taking the line of thought which centers around hate, …