1 of 1

In The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis says, "Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home." What happens when we get too comfy at Pleasant Inn? In this week's Key Study Passage, Jesus answers the question with a question: "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?" Let's focus on Christ and our eternal reward. In doing so, we will maximize the benefits in this life and in the life to come.

Key Study Passage:

Mark 8:34-38

1. According to verse 34, what does it take to be a true follower of Christ? Try to restate Jesus' words in a way that would be understandable to a non-Christian friend.
2. What are some ways people try to "hang on" to their lives (v. 35)? What are the consequences—in this life and the life to come—of doing so?
3. What does it mean to "give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News" (v. 35)? Think of someone who has done this. What impact did it have on this person's life?
4. What do you think verse 38 means? (See also Luke 12:8-9.)
5. List several benefits of following Christ. This would be a good exercise to do with some Christian friends, your wife, your small group, or Sunday school class.

Spend Time in Prayer: Confess times in the past couple of weeks when you've been holding too tightly to this life and/or times you've been ashamed of Christ or your faith; ask God to help you live less selfishly and follow him with greater passion.

Mark 8:34-38

34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 37 Is anything worth more than your soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Copyright © 2013 by Christianity Today/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

 1 of 1

share this page

Prayer for the Week

Dear heavenly Father, help me to keep focused on what really matters—on what will last long after my life on earth is finished.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip Email Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for Canadian Orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter (All fields required)    RSS Feed   RSS Help