Now as we turn to consider Mark’s Gospel, I want you to think of it as a photo album. That is the way Mark writes is to take several related events and teachings and to group them together like pictures in a photo album in order to show you a particular aspect of Christ and His gospel mission. In our text this morning we have the first set of pictures, the first page as it were in this Gospel photo album. This morning we turn to consider the beginning of the Gospel.   more...

This week, we turn to consider the second set of pictures, the second page as it were in Mark’s Gospel photo album. Here Mark shows us pictures of the deliverance that Christ has come to bring.   more...

Our text this morning turns to consider the third major section of Mark’s Gospel. Here Mark provides a picture of the citizens of God’s Kingdom. That is Mark shows us what the people of God look like and how we may become one.   more...

Mark is inviting us to walk with Jesus, to see and hear what His first followers saw and heard, and to believe as they believed. Now so far Mark has prepared us, he has shown us the King and His Kingdom, the deliverance the Kingdom brings, and the citizens of this Kingdom. In our text this morning we turn to look at the last three sections of this first half of Mark’s Gospel. Here Mark shows us the Kingdom Labor (what citizens do).   more...

First, it is vital that we remember that one of the primary functions of the Church calendar is to teach us the large motions of our daily walk. That is, our calendar reminds us of the major redemptive events of the Faith and how God’s people are to respond to them. Lent is no exception.   more...

Here Jesus begins to prepare His disciples for His death and resurrection. Importance: remember Mark is inviting us to walk with Jesus. That is, Mark wants us to share in the preparation that Jesus provided His first disciples.   more...

Here Jesus provides the second major teaching on His death. Now remember the pattern: each section in this portion of Mark’s Gospel begins with Jesus making a statement about His death. This statement is then followed by a series of reactions. As we watch these reactions and then listen to the way that Jesus corrects them, we come to see the difference between the Messiah’s mission and the world’s expectations. In our text this morning, Jesus contrasts the world’s notion of greatness with true greatness in the Kingdom of God. Listen.   more...

Now remember, throughout this portion of his Gospel, Mark is allowing us to receive the same preparation for Holy Week that the disciples received. In our text this morning Mark turns to expose our great need for the Messiah. How?   more...

As you all know Lent is a time of corporate preparation. It is a time when we as a church draw near to God for a period of quiet reflection upon Scripture, of sober self-examination, of repentance, and fasting. Not only that, as we do so, our corporate activity informs our individual devotion throughout the year. This morning, in keeping with the theme of Rose Sunday, I want us to look at 4 assurances that Scripture gives us that specifically address our preparation.   more...

Our text this morning continues our study of Mark’s Gospel. Here Jesus finally arrives at the city of Jerusalem and enters it. This morning I want us to take a closer look at the events of Palm Sunday in hopes that we may better understand exactly what they are preparing us to see in the coming week.   more...

Did you know that Scripture records some seven different instances of a person being raised from the dead? In the Gospel Jesus raises three people (the daughter of Jairus, the widow's son, and most notably, Lazarus). Elijah the prophet raised the son of a gentile woman. The bones of Elisha the prophet were responsible for bringing a man back to life. And finally, both Peter and Paul raise someone from the dead. Peter raises a woman named Tabitha (Acts 9:36-43). Paul raises Eutychus, who died after falling asleep during a sermon (Acts 20:9).   more...

Throughout Scripture, salvation is defined first and foremost relationally. In fact, the primary picture which God gives us to understand our salvation is that of domestic life. God has saved us into an eternal love relationship.   more...

Importance: it is vital for us to remember that just as the Lord’s Supper is not magic neither is it simply a bare memorial service. Instead, the Sacrament guarantees that the spiritual reality signified is truly and actually given. Listen 1 Corinthians 10:16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? In other words, God assures you that when you receive the Sacrament by faith, the grace signified is actually given and the fellowship with Christ that is depicted is truly and actually enjoyed. In other words, the grace is real and Christ’s spiritual presence is real.   more...

As we look at the Spirits work in each believer’s life what we come to find is the great assurance and security of knowing that the whole of our Christian life is in the hands of our triune God. At no point are we ever left alone. Rather at every step of the way God is present, providing for and protecting His people.   more...

Over and again throughout Scripture we see the Spirit depicted as hovering over God’s work. Remember, we saw that such a depiction is intended to illustrate three specific aspects of the Spirit’s work: (a) the Spirit identifies the work as belonging to God (b) He guards God’s work thus insuring that God’s plan is implemented exactly as God has designed, and (c) He provides for God’s work (nurtures and equips the work for the purpose that God has for it).   more...

The Ascension as administration- the ascension means that Christ, our sacrifice and new life, is continually before God on our behalf. The result is that God now responds to His people in light of Christ and His completed work. That is, at the heart of the Ascension is the idea that the new life presented is now administered to God’s people. The new life Christ accomplished is presented to the Father and applied to His people.   more...