Mark 10

The journey of Jesus’ earthly ministry is approaching its end. Mark has established that Jesus is God’s Son, the long-promised Messiah. But the message has taken an unexpected turn: The King is going to die, and He is calling for followers – men and women who will live their lives now in preparation for His future Kingdom. It’s radical…and rewarding!

[Learn more...]

Mark 9

Subtly but undeniably, Jesus’ ministry is turning a corner. While He still shows His power, He is refering more and more to His coming death and resurrection. Mark 9 records the supreme exhibition of Jesus’ divinity in His transfiguration. Here He is displayed in His glory – but why did He do it? Clues to an answer come in three events which followed it.

[Learn more...]

Mark 8

Mark’s account of Jesus’ ministry and miracles has demonstrated once and for all that Jesus is God: He is Lord over all – He feeds the hungry, heals the sick, raises the dead, and rules nature. Chapter 8 opens with more miracles, then Jesus suddenly reveals His coming death. This isn’t what His disciples anticipated! Will they follow Him now?

[Learn more...]

Mark 7

For six chapters, Mark has been presenting Jesus as the Messiah, God in flesh, with power over demons, over sickness, over nature. But this isn’t a divine side-show to make Jesus look good: It leads to a problem we all have – sin – and the only solution for it. In Mark 7, three encounters sum it all up. What makes our hearts dirty? What makes them clean?

[Learn more...]

Philippians 1:27-2:16

New babies being born; death of Osama Bin Laden; graduating high school and college; Steve Jobs; getting that long awaited job; Elizabeth Taylor; the uprisings in Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia; Hurricane Irene; 10th anniversary of 9/11; and the Tsunami that struck Japan. These are just a few of the events that we want to hold on to and others that we would want to let go of. That’s what happens at the end and beginning of a New Year, we hold on to some and let go of others. 

[Learn more...]