The Eternal Value and Care of the Soul
Summary
In today's exploration of Mark 8:35-36, we delve into the profound significance of the soul, as Jesus presents it. The soul is our most valuable possession, and its care is paramount. Jesus challenges us with the reality that gaining the world is futile if it results in the loss of our soul. This prompts us to consider why the soul is so valuable and how it can be lost or saved.
Firstly, the soul's value is rooted in its divine origin. God breathed life into us, setting us apart from all other creatures. This divine breath grants us the capacity to know, relate to, and enjoy God, making our soul a unique and treasured possession. Secondly, the soul is the source of all our achievements. Every great work, whether in art, science, or business, originates from the soul's desires and aspirations. Thirdly, the soul is also the cause of our sins. Temptation sticks to our soul because of our inherent evil desires, making it crucial to guard our soul against sin.
Moreover, the soul's eternal nature underscores its importance. While our bodies will perish, our souls will endure forever, experiencing either everlasting joy or misery. This eternal perspective should guide our choices and priorities. Finally, the soul's destiny hinges on its relationship with God. A soul can be lost through neglect, being strangled by worldly cares, or surrendering to sinful passions. Conversely, a soul can be saved by surrendering to Christ, who nourishes, guards, and shepherds it.
In light of these truths, we are called to recognize the worth of our soul and take deliberate steps to ensure its salvation. This involves a conscious decision to prioritize spiritual nourishment, resist worldly entanglements, and seek Christ's lordship over our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Divine Origin of the Soul: Our soul's value is rooted in its divine origin, as God breathed life into us, setting us apart from all other creatures. This divine breath grants us the capacity to know, relate to, and enjoy God, making our soul a unique and treasured possession. [07:21]
- Source of Achievement: The soul is the source of all our achievements. Every great work, whether in art, science, or business, originates from the soul's desires and aspirations. This highlights the soul's creative power and its role in shaping our lives and the world. [11:36]
- Cause of Sin: The soul is also the cause of our sins. Temptation sticks to our soul because of our inherent evil desires, making it crucial to guard our soul against sin. Understanding this helps us address the root of our struggles and seek purity of heart. [15:34]
- Eternal Nature of the Soul: The soul's eternal nature underscores its importance. While our bodies will perish, our souls will endure forever, experiencing either everlasting joy or misery. This eternal perspective should guide our choices and priorities. [19:29]
- Path to Salvation: A soul can be lost through neglect, being strangled by worldly cares, or surrendering to sinful passions. Conversely, a soul can be saved by surrendering to Christ, who nourishes, guards, and shepherds it. Recognizing the worth of our soul prompts us to seek its salvation earnestly. [32:31]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - Introduction to Soul Care
- [00:54] - The Value of the Soul
- [01:29] - The Possibility of Losing the Soul
- [02:13] - Understanding the Soul
- [03:23] - Why the Soul Matters
- [04:01] - Divine Breath and Human Uniqueness
- [08:08] - The Soul as the Source of Achievement
- [12:08] - The Soul as the Cause of Sin
- [18:16] - The Eternal Nature of the Soul
- [20:49] - Everlasting Joy or Misery
- [24:07] - How a Soul Can Be Lost
- [25:03] - Starving the Soul
- [28:00] - Strangling the Soul
- [29:34] - Surrendering the Soul
- [32:31] - The Path to Salvation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Mark 8:35-36: "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?"
- Genesis 2:7: "Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature."
- Matthew 10:28: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Mark 8:35-36, what does Jesus say about the value of the soul compared to worldly gains? [00:34]
2. How does Genesis 2:7 describe the creation of man, and what does this imply about the uniqueness of the human soul? [06:10]
3. In Matthew 10:28, what distinction does Jesus make between the body and the soul? [18:38]
4. What are some ways mentioned in the sermon that a soul can be lost? [24:25]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus emphasize the futility of gaining the world at the cost of one's soul in Mark 8:35-36? How does this challenge our daily priorities? [00:54]
2. How does the divine breath in Genesis 2:7 contribute to the understanding of the soul's value and purpose? [07:21]
3. What does Matthew 10:28 suggest about the eternal nature of the soul, and how should this influence our fears and concerns? [19:29]
4. The sermon mentions that the soul is the source of both achievements and sins. How can understanding this dual role help in personal spiritual growth? [12:08]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there areas where you might be gaining the world but risking your soul? How can you realign your priorities to focus on spiritual nourishment? [00:54]
2. The sermon highlights the soul's divine origin. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with God, acknowledging this divine connection? [07:21]
3. Consider the eternal nature of your soul. How does this perspective change the way you approach daily decisions and long-term goals? [19:29]
4. Identify a specific sin that seems to "stick" to your soul. What steps can you take to guard your soul against this temptation? [15:34]
5. The sermon discusses the danger of neglecting the soul. What practical steps can you take this week to ensure your soul is being nourished and not starved? [25:03]
6. How can you resist the worldly cares that threaten to strangle your soul, as mentioned in the sermon? What changes can you make in your lifestyle to prevent this? [28:00]
7. Reflect on a recent decision where you surrendered to a passion of the flesh. How can you prepare to respond differently in the future, ensuring your soul remains aligned with Christ? [29:34]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Breath, Divine Value
The soul's value is rooted in its divine origin, as God breathed life into humanity, setting us apart from all other creatures. This divine breath grants us the capacity to know, relate to, and enjoy God, making our soul a unique and treasured possession. Recognizing this divine origin helps us understand the profound worth of our soul and the importance of nurturing our relationship with God. The soul is not just a part of us; it is the essence of who we are, created to reflect God's image and glory. [07:21]
Genesis 2:7 (ESV): "Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature."
Reflection: How does recognizing your soul's divine origin change the way you view your relationship with God today?
Day 2: The Soul's Creative Power
The soul is the source of all our achievements. Every great work, whether in art, science, or business, originates from the soul's desires and aspirations. This highlights the soul's creative power and its role in shaping our lives and the world. By understanding the soul's capacity for creativity, we can better appreciate the gifts and talents God has given us and use them to glorify Him and serve others. Our achievements are not just personal successes but reflections of the soul's potential when aligned with God's purpose. [11:36]
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
Reflection: What is one creative gift or talent you have that you can use to serve others and glorify God this week?
Day 3: Guarding Against Sin
The soul is also the cause of our sins. Temptation sticks to our soul because of our inherent evil desires, making it crucial to guard our soul against sin. Understanding this helps us address the root of our struggles and seek purity of heart. By acknowledging the soul's vulnerability to sin, we can take deliberate steps to protect it through prayer, accountability, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Guarding our soul requires vigilance and a commitment to pursue righteousness in all aspects of life. [15:34]
James 1:14-15 (ESV): "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."
Reflection: What specific temptation do you need to guard your soul against today, and what practical steps can you take to resist it?
Day 4: The Eternal Perspective
The soul's eternal nature underscores its importance. While our bodies will perish, our souls will endure forever, experiencing either everlasting joy or misery. This eternal perspective should guide our choices and priorities. By focusing on the eternal destiny of our soul, we can make decisions that align with God's will and invest in what truly matters. Our temporary struggles and achievements pale in comparison to the eternal joy that awaits those who remain faithful to God. [19:29]
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: How can you shift your focus from temporary concerns to eternal priorities in your daily life?
Day 5: Surrendering to Christ
A soul can be lost through neglect, being strangled by worldly cares, or surrendering to sinful passions. Conversely, a soul can be saved by surrendering to Christ, who nourishes, guards, and shepherds it. Recognizing the worth of our soul prompts us to seek its salvation earnestly. Surrendering to Christ involves a conscious decision to prioritize spiritual nourishment, resist worldly entanglements, and seek His lordship over our lives. By entrusting our soul to Christ, we find true peace and fulfillment. [32:31]
Matthew 16:24-26 (ESV): "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Quotes
Whoever would save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life, Jesus says, for my sake and for the Gospel's, will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? So Jesus confronts us then with four very profound realities. The first is that your soul is of great value. [00:00:27]
Your soul is breathed into you by God. Now friends, grasping this is so important to know who you are and to know why your life is of such value. The Bible makes very clear, Genesis in chapter 2 and verse 7, that Adam was created in two stages. There were two steps in the process by which God made him, gave him life. [00:03:55]
God breathed into Adam's nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living creature, a living soul literally. So God breathed into this corpse, into this body, and the breath of God, the life that comes from God into, is what makes him different from all the other animals. [00:06:18]
Your soul matters because your soul is the source of all your achievement. Think about anything great in your life, anything of value in your life. I guarantee you if you think about it for a moment you'll say, well, you know what, that actually came from my soul. Think about this in relation to the world. [00:08:16]
Think about music, think about a symphony. Where did a symphony come from? The answer is it came from the soul of the composer who wrote it. It was brought to life not only through the fingers but through the soul of the artists who performed it. Think about any great work of art. [00:08:45]
Your soul matters because your soul is the cause of all of your sin. Now let's answer this question directly: why do we sin? Where does it come from? How does that stuff that sometimes we hate come about? And James in chapter 1 and verse 14 is a very important verse in the Bible because it tells us how in fact temptation works. [00:12:12]
Temptation comes from the world, it comes from the flesh, and it comes from the devil. The problem is that wherever it comes from, when it comes to us, it attaches itself to the soul. I like to think of it this way, friend, it just helpful as a picture: our souls are sticky towards sin. Sin attaches itself to our souls. [00:12:43]
Your soul matters because your soul will last forever. Jesus says, and this is Matthew chapter 10 and verse 28, do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Now notice that phrase Jesus says cannot kill the soul. Someone can kill your body but if they do, they cannot kill your soul. [00:18:13]
Your soul will experience either everlasting joy or misery. Now this is very clear in the story of Jesus that was read to us a few moments ago. Jesus tells a story about two men who died. One of them, says Jesus, was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The poor man died and he was, isn't this a wonderful statement by Jesus, he was carried by angels. [00:20:37]
Death takes life from the body but it does not and cannot take life from the soul. When you die, your soul continues and your soul goes to one of two places. One is a place of great joy and the other, according to the words of Jesus, is a place of great torment. [00:22:46]
You can starve your soul. You can starve your soul. Is this rich man in Jesus' story? He lives well, he enjoys life, he dresses himself in purple. Jesus has never really thought about his soul, only lived for this world. And Jesus says man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. [00:24:51]
The soul that is saved is the soul that is given to Jesus Christ. And if you see the value of your soul today, here is how you will respond to Jesus Christ today. You will come to him and you will say something like this: you have called me to love God with all my heart and with all my soul and I haven't done it. [00:32:34]
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