When someone uses strong language, we may initially be caught off guard and wonder why they are so earnest. But often times, strong language is an indication of love, the other person wanting to protect us or keep us safe. In Mark 9:42-50, Jesus talks straightforwardly about sin and hell, giving us a warning so that we might not continue on a path that will lead us to destruction. “Tripping" language from RT France.

April 21, 2024

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, Mark by Kent Hughes, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns.

We all have ideas of what makes someone great. In Mark 9:30-41, Jesus continues to teach his disciples about what following him will look like, and starts to recalibrate their value system. He challenges conventional wisdom by redefining greatness, redefining who's important, and redefining who's on the team. Jason Meyer's "Mark for You" was particularly helpful in the composition of this sermon.

April 14, 2024

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, Mark by Kent Hughes, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns.

In Ephesians 6:12, Paul says, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (ESV). In Mark 9:14-29 Jesus will show and teach us that on our own efforts, we will never be able to overcome the spiritual forces of evil in this world. But, by faith in a powerful God who has authority over all things, we can find freedom.

April 7, 2024

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him to come and die." In Mark 8:31 - 9:13, we see that after telling his disciples that he himself came to die, Jesus calls them to do the same. And should they balk at such a cost, he gives a few of them an experience to show them that it will all be worth it. Title from Bonhoeffer.

March 24, 2024

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, Mark by Kent Hughes, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns.

As the apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 2:12, Gentile people were once "separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (ESV). In Mark 7:24-8:10, however, we see that Jesus goes to the Gentiles, bringing His Kingdom to them, so that those who were "far off" (Ephesians 2:17, ESV) might experience the blessings of that Kingdom.

March 3, 2024

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, Mark by Kent Hughes, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns, King's Cross by Tim Keller. "Rightless assertiveness" from Keller.

As the Pharisees and scribes gather to Jesus in Mark 7:1-23, Jesus answers their questions about external regulations, not in a simple straight forward way, but by answering the deeper question of what is going on in heir heart. In this passage, Jesus exposes the danger of traditions and the defilement of the heart, and shows that true guilt and defilement can only be dealt with in the heart, by the blood of Jesus.

February 25, 2024

Fresh off returning from a ministry trip, Jesus' apostles are invited by him to get away and rest, only to be interrupted by a crowd. In the scenes that unfold in Mark 6:30-56, Jesus reveals both his power to do anything he wants, but also his compassion and mercy; his willingness to act on behalf of those he loves.

February 18, 2024

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, Mark by Kent Hughes, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns, King's Cross by Tim Keller, Spiritual Depression by Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

In Mark 6:1-30, Jesus returns to his hometown. But rather than celebrating the arrival of their famous son, the town ultimately rejects him. Why? In this section of Mark, and the ones that follow, we examine some of the different ways that people reject Jesus and his followers.

February 11, 2024

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, Mark by Kent Hughes, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns, King's Cross by Tim Keller.

Have you ever been desperate? To where you feel you have no recourse except to cry out to God for help? In Mark 5:21-43, we meet a desperate man and a desperate woman and see how God meets them in their desperation.

February 4, 2024

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, Mark by Kent Hughes, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns, King's Cross by Tim Keller, Jesus Through the Eyes of Women by Rebecca McLaughlin. Point about God challenging and exceeding our expectations from Keller, as is quote about “unconscionable delays”. Emphasis on calling the woman daughter from Meyer.

In Mark 5:1-20, Jesus shows his power over evil as he frees a man from the demons that once possessed him. In this passage, we see how Jesus has the power to make an alienated and enslaved man become a reconciled man, who is created to do good works.

In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus puts his power on display as the sovereign Lord of nature. As we increasingly understand who He is we grow in being able to trust Him. Guest Speaker: Mac Matthews.

January 21, 2024

While they may seem mysterious and obscure on the outside, parables have a lot to teach people about the nature of God's Kingdom. In Mark 4:21-34, Jesus uses 4 parables to teach his followers 4 truths: that he will not remain hidden forever, that they ought to pay attention to God's Word, that God makes things grow, and that the future of God's Kingdom is spectacular.

January 14, 2024

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns. Cleaning your room illustration adapted from Francis Chan.

As a commentator asks, why is it that people respond so differently to Jesus? They all interact with the same person and the same teaching, but some reject him while others accept him. In Mark 4:1-20, Jesus tells a parable about different ways that people react to him and his teaching. Some reject his words because they are hard-hearted. Others respond positively to them at first, but then fall away because of persecution or distraction. Still others accept his words, and continue to, reaping the benefits for themselves and sharing it with others.

January 7, 2024

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, Mark by Kent Hughes, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns.

It's not just modern people who have different views of Jesus. Ancient people did too. Some thought he was just a popular healer, others thought he was crazy, and still others thought he was evil. Mark explores some of the different reactions to Jesus in Mark 3:7-35, showing how some people missed who he was, and others belonged to him.

December 10, 2023

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, Mark by Kent Hughes, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns.

Is your practice of religion marked by joyless drudgery, restless activity, and a striking lack of love for God and others? Why is that? Could it be that, as it was for a certain group of religious people in Mark 2:18-3:6, that in all of your religious activity, you have missed Jesus? He offers a better way: one marked by joy, rest, and love.

November 19, 2023

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, Mark by Kent Hughes, King's Cross by Tim Keller, Prodigal God by Tim Keller, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns.

What is Christianity about? And who is it for? Many believe that Christianity is about being moral and good so as to earn God's favor. And it is for the good people of the world. If you've messed up and failed, you best not come to a church because all you'll find there is rejection and judgment. Mark 2:13-17 challenges these assumptions, showing us how Jesus pursues a notorious sinner and his friends.

November 12, 2023

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, Mark by Kent Hughes, Prodigal God by Tim Keller, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns. Background on tax collectors from Hughes, background on Pharisees from Ferguson.

What do you believe your greatest need is? If you could ask God to do one thing for you, what would it be? In Mark 2:1-12, a man approaches Jesus with a pressing need, but Jesus' response to him is somewhat surprising: he forgives him his sins. In this passage, we learn that forgiveness is our greatest need and that Jesus has the power to forgive.

November 5, 2023

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, King's Cross by Tim Keller, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns

As Jesus interacts with different scenarios and different people in the book of Mark, we continue to see who he is. In Mark 1:35-45, we find out about 2 of his priorities, time alone with his Father and preaching, and we see his compassionate heart on display.

October 15, 2023

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, King's Cross by Tim Keller, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns

When we look around at the world in which we live, it is clearly a broken place. It is marked by darkness and disease. People are controlled by dark vices and we suffer from various illnesses. But what is the solution? In Mark 1:21-34, we see the Bible saying that the ultimate solution to these problems is found in a person: Jesus of Nazareth. He not only speaks with authority but has the power to drive out darkness and heal disease.

October 8, 2023

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, The Gospel of Mark by R.T. France, King's Cross by Tim Keller, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns

When a new leader comes to an organization, we have many questions: what is he or she going to be like? What are they going to be on about? And how will people respond to them? We learn early in the book of Mark that Jesus is the King, God’s Son, but we may be wondering, “What is he like?” In Mark 1:14-20, Mark starts to answer this question by telling us about Jesus' message, Jesus' leadership, and what it looks like to follow Jesus.

October 1, 2023

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, King's Cross by Tim Keller, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns

Who is Jesus? Is he a good moral teacher, a prophet, a revolutionary? And why did he come? To teach us to live our best life now, to overthrow political powers, to give us an example to follow? In Mark 1:1-13, we see that Mark tells us that all of these answers are ultimately incomplete: he tells us that Jesus is God's King, the very Son of God, and points to the fact that Jesus came to die on a cross, that he might deal with our filth and grant us his righteousness. Title from Tim Keller's book "King's Cross".

September 24, 2023

Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Let's Study Mark by Sinclair Ferguson, King's Cross by Tim Keller, Mark for You by Jason Meyer, Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach & Tim Hiorns.

As we come to study the book of Mark in the Bible, we may be asking this question: is Mark trustworthy? Did the things that he records Jesus saying and doing actually happen? Or did he make everything up? Or perhaps embellish things a little bit? These questions about the historical reliability and truthfulness of Scripture are important ones, for they determine whether we can read the Bible as history or must read it as legend. In this study, we will discover that non-Christian sources hold that a man named Jesus existed, and that the Christian sources are too early, too detailed, and too counterproductive to be fabrications. The first point of this sermon is taken from chapter 3 of "Is the New Testament Reliable?" by Paul Barnett, and the second is taken from chapter 7 of "The Reason for God" by Tim Keller.

September 10, 2023