CELL NOTES 8 JANUARY 2012 Reading : Mark 1 : 1 - 11  John the Baptist Prepares the Way. Icebreaker Who has helped prepare you for something in life?  A teacher, a friend, a parent etc?   Sermon Outline 1. Interregna's do not need to be negative, it provides us with an opportunity to step up to the mark and keep the faith! 2. Mark did not begin well, but he did finish well.  It is God's intention that we should start well, continue well, and finish well.   John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus' coming, he called for repentance through Baptism. 3. As Christians it is good to remember, particularly at times like Christmas, that we are not dealing with a fairy story, but rather with historical facts.  The New Testaments are the fulfilment of all that the profits had said.  It was always the eternal plan and purpose of God that Jesus should come. 4. Jesus came to do many things - to die on the cross, to rise from the dead, to ascend into heaven.   5. As Christians in the 21st century we need to know Christ the Lamb of God, but also need to encounter Christ the Baptiser in the Holy Spirit, so that we are empowered to live this new life.  6. Jesus split history, but was only on the world stage for 3 years.  He began at 30, died at 33, never went more than 40 miles from his home, never owned a home, never wrote a book. 7. Jesus went to the cross as a Lamb of God to free us from sin, to die in our place.  As a sinless son of God he was able to satisfy the demands of a holy God. He exchanged our sin for his righteousness! 8. Jesus said 'The things that I do you can do'.  We are empowered by his spirit and with his promise that he is with us, to change the world. Christians need to know who Christ is, and we are in Christ, Jesus will build his church on these people. 9.   Jesus received unconditional love from God.  God said, 'This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased'.  This was before Jesus had done anything.  Jesus could go from that affirmation of love to fulfil his ministry, he didn't need to seek the Lord's love as he already had it.  We already have God's love and acceptance, we don't need to seek it, but rather to use it to enable us to fulfil his ministry.  Questions of Application 1. What most struck you from the sermon on Sunday?  2. How do you feel about knowing you already have God's unconditional love and acceptance?  What does it mean to you that Jesus exchanged his righteousness for your sin?   3. When has repentance been particularly important to you in your life? 4. Do you know who you are in Christ?