Out of the Box
Remembrance Sunday - November 9th  

This Sunday, Simon Lace   brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC services. We encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.

 
Here are some questions to consider:

Readings
Mark 8:31-38 NLT
Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.
Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 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. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? 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.”
 
 Prayer
Loving God, we confess and say sorry for the times when we go against your will. LORD, HAVE MERCY
We ask your forgiveness for the times we have harmed your creation, harmed ourselves and harmed others. LORD HAVE MERCY
We ask that by your Holy Spirit you would strengthen us in the fight against the forces of evil a work in the world and in us. LORD HAVE MERCY
Lord Jesus we thank you for your great sacrifice for us and we pray your blessing and protection over all who follow you and all of those whom we love. LORD HAVE MERCY.
Amen.

Questions to Consider

1. Think about the words war, evil and sin. What, if anything, do you think connects these three things?
2. Do you think that war is evil, and can there ever be a justification for going to war?
3. Which areas of the world will you pray for especially?
4. When you experience conversations about war, how might you bring prayer into play?
5. Do you believe that we are in a spiritual battle against forces of evil, or do you not really take that idea seriously?
6. If you do take it seriously, how’s the battle going? Where are you winning and where are you losing?
7. What reinforcements might you bring in where you feel you are under pressure? Are you praying about this?