Sunday, January 2 AM

Welcome to Sunnyside Baptist Church this morning and Happy New Year.

Announcements for the New Year and Ministry Updates

Welcome to 2022 if you were unaware by now. So that's news news to you now. Few announcements as we get started on this first Sunday of 2022. Looking ahead at this week's opportunities our evening service tonight at 530 starts back up regularly and then looking ahead to this Wednesday 545 we'll have our meals resuming in the fellowship hall together and then 630 prayer for the adults and tag for the kids will resume regularly.

Looking ahead to Sunday January 23rd truth group for our young adults is going to kick kick off again after the evening service that evening. Our fighter verse for this week comes from Isaiah chapter 40 verse 8.

The grass withers the flower fades but the word of our God will stand forever. Good verse to memorize. It is the new year so we've been saying it for the past month or so. New podcast is on its way as I've been uploaded and live now hopefully this week so keep your eye out go to Sunnyside's website to check that podcast out and be free to have some interaction you get to submit some questions and stuff for that podcast for the guys to discuss on there.

So that URL is in your bulletin. Also I wanted to mention Jana Brown mentioned to me right before service. We've been talking about the Wilcox coming. They'll be here the end of the month. They're gonna be staying with the Browns however in the church newsletter that gets sent out there is a link so check your email a link in there if you would like to host them for a meal while they are here in town for about a week you can sign up to host them either at your home or if you're like we want to take them out to eat on this particular day.

There's a couple of different ways that you can provide them with a meal but use that link in that newsletter and let's just extend some hospitality to our dear brothers and sisters the Wilcox and they'll be here at the end of January.

Lastly I just want to recognize one person who's had a fairly significant event in their life happened recently Brian Barcelo. I know he's surprised but if you know Brian at all it won't take you long to figure out that Brian is an extremely hard worker and Brian has just wrapped up his years of formal work he's had a variety of jobs over the years and he has so many great stories to go along with those but we're so happy for you Brian and so happy for this second act that you have in store for you and we are so proud to to be able to look at your example to know what it what it is to be a hard worker to work unto the Lord in all things.

So all right any other announcements before we get started with worship this morning. Okay we're going to have a time to prepare our hearts quietly for worship and then when once we're done with that Dwight will come up and open us in prayer.

Prayer for Worship and the Call to Praise

Father what a blessing it is to know your forgiveness and to be in fellowship with you and to know that we can always come into your presence through your son the Lord Jesus our faithful high priest who is always in sympathy with us who knows our weakness and our failings and deals gently with us.

We thank you and praise you for your son and as we come together this morning to offer up to you the sacrifices of thanksgiving and gratefulness for your son help us to do so in a worshipful manner to lift up your son the Lord Jesus our faithful high priest our savior our brother the one who gave his life for us.

I thank you for your word that you've made it so readily available to us and I pray for your servant Joe as he comes to share your word with us this morning that you speak your word in the power of your spirit that each of us would be blessed in the hearing of your word and that we might grow in the grace and knowledge of your son the Lord Jesus.

Thank you for your spirit who brings us into your presence thank you for your everlasting love.

In Jesus name amen. Would you stand with me for a call to worship. Cold temperatures and.

Windshield. There's some that are remaining at home to stay warm so if you're out there via the live stream invite you to read along with the scripture as well and sing praise and worship to our savior Lord Jesus Christ.

Our passage this morning is found in Psalms chapter 73. We'll be reading verses 7 through 12. Read with me together. Their eyes swell out through fatness their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice loftily.

They threaten oppression. They set their mouth against the heavens and their tongue struts through the earth. Therefore his people turn back to them and find no fault in them. And they say how can God know is their knowledge in the most high.

Behold these are the wicked. Always at ease. They increase and enriches. And we're going to sing this very song in our psalms for worship. Hymnal page 73a.

Sing verses 3 and 4 songs in our regular 76 and 277. Christ has made the sure foundation.

Take your bible and turn to Isaiah chapter 11. Scripture reading comes from Isaiah chapter 11. We'll be starting in verse 11 and read through chapter 12. Verse 6. I'll be reading from the ESV Isaiah 11 11.

In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people from Assyria from Egypt from Pathros from Cush from Elam from Shinar from Hamath and from the coastlands of the sea.

He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart and those who harass Judah shall be cut off.

Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah and Judah shall not harass Ephraim. But they shall swoop down on the shoulder of the Philistines in the west and together they shall plunder the people of the east.

They shall put out their hand against Edom and Moab and the Ammonites shall obey them. And the Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the sea of Egypt and will wave his hand over the river with his scorching breath and strike it into seven channels.

And he will lead people across in sandals. And there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant that remains of his people as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt. Chapter 12.

You will say in that day i will give thanks to you oh lord. For though you were angry with me your anger turned away that you might comfort me. Behold god is my salvation. I will trust and will not be afraid for the lord god is my strength and my song and he has become my salvation.

With joy. You will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day give thanks to the lord. Call upon his name. Make known his deeds among the peoples. Proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing praises to the lord for he has done gloriously. Let this be made known in all the earth. Shout and sing for joy. Oh inhabitant of zion. For great in your midst is the holy one of israel. Amen. Let us pray oh lord how we rejoice in this passage of scripture that reminds us of your faithfulness to redeem your people and to bring them safely home to be with you lord even as you brought together your people that had been scattered throughout the nations and you brought them together to be one people there in israel.

Lord we are reminded of that coming day when christ returns when you will gather together all your people who have been scattered throughout time and place and bring them to be in your presence forever.

The glory of your salvation will be seen in its fullness as your people are brought before your throne and declare the glory of christ and of our great savior. Lord. Thank you that we can as your word has reminded us today to with joy draw from the wells of salvation.

Thank you for inviting us to come to christ. Lord may we give you praise and glory and honor today for all that you have done and all that you will do. Lord you are worthy. And we give you praise and honor and blessing today in jesus name.

Amen. You may be seated. Our next song is on page 367.

Where he leads i'll go as we sing these next two songs. Think about it's this new year about how we're going to follow the lord jesus christ this year.

Following Christ in the Gospel of Mark

It's a joy to be with you all this morning. The gospel of mark is unique. All the gospels have.

Their own characteristics yet are unified and telling the story of jesus christ of his life death burial and resurrection. And the gospel of mark has many different characteristics to it. And it begins with christ coming and proclaiming the gospel.

The gospel of repent and believe the kingdom of god is at hand and throughout this gospel he's called many different disciples to himself. And we've seen many different stories that mark recounts in his particular gospel.

And we come this morning to mark chapter 8 and we'll be looking at verses 34 through 38. Just before this story we've seen that christ has fed the 4 000. He's healed a blind man. Peter has confessed him to be the christ.

And now we come to a call in this particular story christ calls out be my disciple and follow me. So we're in mark 8 verses 34 through 38. And i would encourage you to stand for the reading of god's word mark 8 34 when he had called the people to himself with his disciples also he said to them.

Whoever desires to come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels will save it.

For what will a prophet a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul. Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul. For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation of him the son of man also will be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his father with the holy angels.

This is god's word. You may be seated. Let's pray. Oh father. What is man that you are mindful of us that your son would be sent for us to take on human flesh to teach us many things to die for us to rise again to promise us eternal life with him.

What is man. That you are mindful to send your son. And your son calls out to us follow me and gain eternal life. Lord we thank you for your mercy and for your grace. We thank you for your providence and your sovereignty in our lives.

We thank you that through jesus christ we are justified before you. We are adopted into your family and we are safe in the hands of christ our good shepherd. And as we come to your text this morning lord may we listen to it.

May we listen to the words of christ. And we thank you for his words. And it's in christ's name we pray. Amen. Verse 34 says when he had called the people to himself with his disciples also he said to them whoever desires to come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me here during jesus's earthly ministry he gives a call.

A call that goes forth publicly. Not just one for his disciples close to him but he calls the people around to those nearby. His call goes out. It's public to all ears. Not just a call for the 12 or any spiritual elite.

Not a call to be whispered in the dark behind closed doors. But one that goes forth in the daylight that is heralded to all who will hear a message that is vital to hear. One that makes an eternal difference one that brings life to the dead.

And what is this call. It's a call to be a follower of jesus christ. For that is what christ says. Whoever desires to come after me whoever desires to be my disciple. And he lays out three requirements for those who wish to follow after him.

If you want this if you personally wish to follow after me these three you must do. And what are these three. First christ says let him deny himself. This word deny means to utterly disown to abstain.

And it's used in this story of jesus christ's life. And it's used in one other part of the gospel story. And that's recorded in mark 14. On the night of his betrayal jesus said to his disciples all of you will be made to stumble because of me this night.

For it is written i will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. But after i have been raised i will go before you to galilee. Peter said to him even if all are made to stumble yet i will not be.

And jesus said to him assuredly i say to you today even this night before the rooster crows twice you will deny me three times. And this is what peter would indeed later do. He would deny jesus. He would publicly and utterly disown any connection to the christ as a follower of jesus christ.

One must deny not another person not a group of people but must deny himself. You must disown your life who you are before coming to christ. You must disown your own your own nature your old identity.

You must abstain from what you're doing how you're living. You must deny your thoughts and your emotions. You must deny your idols what ruled you and motivated you before coming to christ. There's an idea that's taught in churches today.

And it is this that god accepts you as you are. You are perfect the way you are and he does not require change. This is false teaching. This is doctrine that is dangerous to the church. And it is not right for sinners do come to god as guilty as filthy and as needing help.

But they come to christ as repentant sinners. They are called to turn away from who they were and turn toward the savior. Therefore let the sinner deny himself. Let the liar cease from lying. Let the thief stop stealing.

Let the adulterer cease from wickedness. Let the homosexual deny sinful lusts. Let him who practices idolatry stop worshiping in this false way. Let the sinner stop sinning and come to christ. Let him deny himself.

This you must do. You must deny yourself. And you must also take up your cross having laid aside your old life. A disciple must take up a new life and must travel a new path following christ one that is represented by a cross a cross that very old form of severe and physical torment and brutal execution utilized by the romans.

The audience of christ's call would most definitely understand the heaviness of christ's picture of what it meant to be his disciple. Yet unlike those those prisoners who were forced to carry those their own instruments of execution disciples of christ willingly choose to pick up their cross and follow after the master to take up a new life that identifies with christ and identifies with christ in his sufferings.

The christian life is one that is marked with pain and suffering. It's a life that follows jesus christ who is truly man and truly god who was born of a woman born under the law to redeem those under the law.

Jesus christ who is the light of men who shines in the darkness and the darkness hates him. This present evil age. This world hates christ while he ministered on earth speaking nothing but truth healing the sick and proclaiming his gospel of grace.

There were those who hated christ. Some called him mad and insane some sought to stone him some others condemned him and his message both publicly and privately. Some said he had a demon some said he was an agent of satan.

And there were those who plotted against him and killed him. This is what the world thinks of jesus and his message will not also in like manner treat his disciples in the same way. For we follow after the one who the world hates.

Yes christians are called mad and insane. They are continuously condemned both publicly and privately. And there are disciples who have been killed for their faith. Followers of christ will face persecution and suffering for the sake of their master.

For they follow him who the world hates. And christ calls out take up your cross. Take up a new life that identifies with me and identifies with my suffering. Be ready to experience suffering for my sake.

We see that paul an apostle of jesus christ experienced severe trial as he followed christ. And in one moment in the book of acts in chapter 14 he and barnabas are combating idolatry in lystra and more persecution comes their way.

Chapter 14 of acts it says. Then jews from antioch and iconium came there and having persuaded the multitudes they stoned paul and dragged him out of the city supposing him to be dead. However when the disciples gathered around him he rose up and went into the city.

And the next day he departed with barnabas to derby. And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples they returned to lystra iconium and antioch strengthening the souls of the disciples exhorting them to continue in the faith saying we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of god.

Also in the first epistle of peter the apostle peter he writes to believers who are experiencing trial and difficult difficulty. And in the fourth chapter of his first epistle he writes. Beloved. Do not think it's strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you.

But rejoice the extent that you partake of christ's sufferings that when his glory is revealed you may also be glad with exceeding joy if you're approached for the name of christ. Blessed are you. For the spirit of glory and of god rests upon you.

To take up your crisis. To identify with christ. Take up your crosses. To identify with christ including his sufferings and even in his sufferings there is blessing for the christian. There is blessing.

For as peter says the spirit of glory and of god rests upon you. Christ also says. Deny yourself. Take up your cross and follow me follow me. That is to become come behind the master walk in his footsteps in his ways.

Having disowned your old life and your paths that you traveled so often come to new life in him. Come to new paths in him being led by the shepherd of your soul. To follow christ is to genuinely and sincerely believe him and believe who he says he is to trust him personally to obey his commands and to live a life with him as the absolute standard and example to live by.

Jesus says follow me. And these three requirements he gives out are not just one and done items for the christian to be done at the start of their christian walk but there to be continuously followed continuously day in and day out.

Moment by moment. The disciple must deny himself. He must continuously and utterly disown his old ways and those old temptations that visit his heart and mind. He must continuously live a repentant life ever turning away from his sin and dying to himself daily.

Moment by moment. He must take up his cross. He must ever be ready to face suffering and trial for the sake of christ. Moment by moment the disciple must follow his master. He must ever be walking in his savior's ways and living out his savior's word.

My call goes out. The message is there publicly for all to hear. Jesus christ calls out. Whoever desires to come after me let him deny himself take up his cross and follow me. And one can ask the question why must one follow christ.

Why must one be his disciple. And christ answers this in verses 35 through 38. To put it briefly to follow christ is to gain eternal life. It's to have your soul be saved. Verse 35 says. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it.

But whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels will save it. Christ says that if one tries to save his own life this is a hopeless cause. No one can save their own life. Not by any of his own strength or any of his own work or any of his own effort.

Not in any of this is salvation found. For the sinner his life his very soul itself cannot be saved by anything he does. If one tries to rely on something other than christ trying to save his life he will lose it.

He will experience both physical and spiritual death for the wages of sin is death. But he who loses his life for christ and the gospel will save it. He who submits in repentance and faith he will be saved.

His his soul will not die but rather be forgiven and cleansed. He who denies himself takes up his cross and follows christ his life will be saved. Verse 36. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul.

What would it benefit one if he were to gain the whole world and yet lose his soul to gain the whole world with all of its earthly treasures resources and wonders. None of that would make a difference.

None of the vast resources would help him in this matter. If he is without christ he is going to lose his very soul. Verse 37. Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul. What could be given for a soul a life.

What treasure on earth might be given to save redeem oneself. The answer is nothing. No treasure no possession no resource in this world. No sinful man can redeem himself. Doesn't matter what you've done.

It doesn't matter what you have in this world. You cannot save yourself. But there is one who can save you as jesus christ son of god and he calls out his gospel goes forth publicly to all. Come after me be my disciple follow me.

Let go of your life. Let go of your earthly treasures. Let go of your old ways let go of your sins. Let go of your false assurances of preserving your life and your soul. Follow me and you will be saved.

Christ and his words go forth. But but do those who hear him in his words. Do these respond in faith. Or they. Or are they ashamed of this man in his message. Verse 38. For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation of him the son of man also will be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his father with the holy angels.

If you have no life with the say if you have no part with the savior in this life he will have no part with you in the life to come. They'll be those who hear christ and hear his message. And they'll think to themselves.

That's too crazy. It's unscientific to believe that a man rose from the dead. I cannot believe this man. I will have no part of him or his message. They will be ashamed and turn away. There might also be those who come to him who are ready to be his disciple who seek eternal life.

But when they see the cost of following christ they will turn away. And this is what happened in mark 10. Just a page over from where we're at. A rich young ruler comes to christ and he asks them what must i do to attain eternal life.

And christ says have you followed the commandments. Have you kept the law. And the young man thinking to himself yes i have. He answers yes. I've done all this since my youth. And christ looking at him loving him says one thing you lack.

Go sell all you have. Take up your cross and follow after me. And the young man does not follow after christ but goes away sorrowful for he has many possessions. If you have no part with the savior in this life he will have no part with you in the life to come.

The call of jesus christ is a public one that goes out to all the call to come and be his disciple. Why must you be his disciple. Because to follow christ is to gain eternal life forevermore to be with him and to be his disciple.

The disciple must deny himself take up his cross and follow christ. For he cannot save himself. Nothing he does will matter. Nothing he owns here on earth will matter for his salvation for his very soul.

The thing that will matter is does he follow jesus christ. Does he have faith in him. And does he trust him personally. For christ is coming in his father's glory with the holy angels. The son of man is coming who reigns now for and forevermore.

This is christ. And after reading this text one has to ask himself. Do you know christ. Are you his disciple. Do you come after him. If you don't your your life will not be saved. Your soul will not be saved.

But if you do follow him if you deny yourself take up your cross and follow after him you will be saved. To be a follower of christ will cost you everything you have. But what you will gain is jesus christ.

And eternal life eternal life with him. And the father. Christ came to save sinners and he is effective and he has saved sinners and he will continue to save sinners. Let's pray father. We thank you for today.

We thank you for your word. We thank you for your son jesus christ. And we thank you that he has come down to us and he has saved us lord. We ask that we would take to heart this passage lord and live it out that we would continue to follow after christ and to know him lord the fellowship of his sufferings.

And to not be ashamed of the gospel. For is the power of god unto salvation. We thank you again for today and for jesus christ. And it's in his name. We pray. Amen.

Benediction and Closing Song

Would you stand with me for our song of benediction. Take your hma hymnal. Turn to page page 88. We'll sing. My heart is filled with thankfulness. Sing verses one and three.