StoneBridge Community Church
Candidate Pastor Jon Saur
The Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) has been working hard to hire StoneBridge’s next Senior Pastor and is excited to announce our nomination - Pastor Jon Saur. In June of 2019, the PNC was elected by our congregation. Since then, the PNC created what’s known as a Ministry Information Form (MIF). The MIF outlined the position and described our church and congregation. The position was then promoted. The PNC received over 150 applications. Of those, 44 applications were reviewed and vetted. Multiple interviews were then conducted with 11 qualified applicants. Like many other areas in our lives, the Covid-19 pandemic inevitably prolonged StoneBridge’s hiring process. Thank you for your patience. This week in worship, StoneBridge Community Church gets to hear Pastor Jon Saur's candidating sermon!
Mark 10:35-40 NIV
What is it that you want me to do for you?
James and John are angling to get the best spot - the power, the glory, the honor. They simply don't understand. Jesus asks them, "Are you willing to suffer?"
When we don't get it, Jesus still accepts us.
When we don't get it, it really just blinds us to seeing who Jesus is and to seeing the ways God is at work in the world. We can take comfort that, in the same way James and John eventually understand the way of the cross, so too, through God's grace, will we also be led to Christian maturity.
The restoration of the world through the Kingdom of God breaking into the world.
Bartimaeus wants the world to look the way it's supposed to look. Bartimaeus simply wants things to align with God's hopes for the world.
GROWTH GROUP / PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. The Gospel of Mark often portrays the disciples as not getting it. Based on the extent of your Biblical knowledge, what are your impressions of the disciples? How might Mark's portrayals specifically, and the Bible's portrayals generally, inspire you? Why?
2. James and John asked Jesus for positions of power and glory. In what ways do people seek power and glory in our culture? In what ways do Christians seek power and glory? How might power and glory blind us?
3. Jesus restores blind Bartimaeus' sight. In what ways does God restore those who are blinded by power and glory? Specifically, how does that come about?
4. When you think about the world today, how might it better align with God's hope for it? What might that look like? Are you a willing tool in God's hands to help align the world towards God's hopes for it? If so, how? If so, to what extent does it involve suffering? If not, why not?
5. Where in the world do you see Jesus restoring communities, today? People's lives, today? How has Jesus been at work to bring restoration to your own life? How might you better come along Jesus' side to bring restoration to your community? To lives around you?
