1 Timothy 6:6-19

“Lay aside every encumbrance;” those words from Heb. 12:1 correspond closely to “pursue holiness” (Heb. 12:14). One encumbrance that trips up many believers is money. A Christian who endeavors to pursue holiness must confront the lure of the ‘money god’. Here’s how…

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Philippians 1:19-26

Pursuing holiness is a great life goal. Seeking God’s best in life is never a bad path! But it isn’t easy, especially when the future is hazy. We live in uncertain times. World events are alarming; our own struggles can sap our spiritual strength and resolve. How can we pursue, if we don’t know where we’re going?! Time for some biblical ‘eye-salve’…

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Hebrews 12:14-17

Last week we focused on the phrase “Pursue holiness” – having a goal of pursuing godliness in every area of our lives. The context in Hebrews 12 gives us more to think about this morning: Is pursuing holiness related to our ‘horizontal’ relationships? Why…and how?

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Hebrews 12:14

What are you chasing in life? How would you feel if you reached your goal? Would you really be satisfied? Or would you start looking for a new pursuit? God has given every believer a goal to pursue, one which will never grow old or tedious…with rewards that are out of this world!

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1 Corinthians 12

Every believer is part of The Body of Christ – that’s how we’re identified in Scripture.   Christ is the head, and we all ‘follow His lead,’ and play a part in the functioning of this spiritual organism.  How is our spiritual body doing?  Is it in good shape?  How does it function?  What’s your role?  Lots of questions…1 Corinthians 12 has the answers!

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Mark 16

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the linchpin of both Christianity and all history.  Life moves from birth to death; resurrection turns this on its head, moving from death to life!  In Christ we have new life, and a new purpose in life: Follow Jesus!

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Mark 15

Less than 24 hours. Jesus went from washing the disciple’s feet to being arrested, tried, condemned, crucified, and buried. The author of life tasted what sin produced – death. It’s hard to watch. It isn’t pretty. But what He did, He did for me and you.

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Mark 14:27-72

One night outside Jerusalem the face of evil showed itself. Satan, master of disguises, was exposed. Sin ran rampant, and the sinless Savior faced its fury. It was dark, and dawn was coming… 

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Mark 14:1-26

The time is near.  Jesus’ final days reveal stark contrasts in hearts.  Some conspire to take His life; some put on a façade of morality.  One enshrines her memory in gospel lore.  And Jesus celebrates a final meal…with new meaning and significance, and hope.

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Mark 13

Jesus is about to go to the cross – the King will give His life for those He came to save.  First, it’s time for a look to the future.  Leaving the temple Tuesday afternoon, a casual comment from a disciple triggers a prophetic journey into the distant future – when Jesus will finally come to reign!

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Mark 11:27-12:44

It’s the middle of Passion Week, and tempers are high. This is Jerusalem, the Jewish religious leaders’ turf, and Jesus is upsetting them.  Crowds praised Him as He approached the city, then He chased the moneymakers out of the temple.  This couldn’t be allowed to go on – time to turn up the heat!  Jesus answers His critics…and His answers are still good today!

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Mark 11:1-26

No more than five miles from Bethlehem, where angels once announced His birth, Jesus now comes to die. It is the week of the crucifixion, and He has come to Jerusalem. Fulfilling prophecy, He is acclaimed as king in His “triumphal entry” into the city, but He’s not coming to reign. His actions and words reveal His ultimate purpose – to open the way for all nations to come to God.

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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!

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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.

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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?

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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?

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Christmas Service

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Scenes From a Nativity: The Magi

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Scenes From A Nativity: The Shepherds

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Scenes From A Nativity: The Angels

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What Jesus Wants You to Know About Giving

After a week of Thanksgiving, we now embark on the season for buying gifts! Over the next month, giving gifts will be on our minds. Jesus had more to say about giving than we usually think – and as we plan to give to each other, we ought to consider what He said about giving to God.

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Thanksgiving Praise Service

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Persevering Through Trials
Mark 6

Our perception of Jesus’ ministry is often surreal – like scenes from a stained-glass window. The reality is more down-to-earth. Rejection and danger surrounded Him, but did not curtail His work. Mark 6 contains six vignets from Jesus’ ministry. Together, they can help us trust in Him, even when trials come.

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Mark 5

I hate waiting. Impatience comes with the territory today, with fast food, 4G speed, and on-line shopping. We get Bible teaching when we want it, where we want it, instantly! But ‘faster is better’ wasn’t Jesus’ way, and in the real world, waiting is one way He teaches us.

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Mark 4:21-41

“The King is coming!” Throughout history those words have evoked joy and fear. The fact that Jesus Christ, King of kings, is coming again, also brings joy or fear to hearers. Jesus announced His kingdom, but few of those to whom He preached believed. To those who believe, He reveals hidden truths…and He teaches them lessons for the journey.

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Mark 4:1-1-20

Mark’s Gospel edits the life of Christ so that we are led to truth along the way. In chapter 3 he shows that following Christ – doing God’s will – is dangerous (but worth it!). Now he relates Jesus’ story about soil. In this parable, Jesus says we’re all like dirt: The question is, What kind are we?

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Mark 3:7-35

What will you do with your life? You get one trip from birth to death; you can choose safety, or you can pursue significance. But know this: A life of significance will cost you. It cost Jesus…as we see in today’s study.

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Mark 2:18-3:6

Mark has introduced Jesus as God in flesh (announced from heaven!), tempted by Satan, man of power and compassion who healed the sick and cast out demons. But in the first half of chapter two, Mark ‘raised the stakes’: Jesus could operate at a deeper level than any man – He could heal sin-sickness! This set the stage for a whole new way of looking at spiritual things… and Mark now shows how Jesus revealed that new way!

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Mark 2:1-17

“God whispers to us in our pleasures…but shouts in our
pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world” (C. S.
Lewis, The Problem of Pain). We hate physical illness,
and pray for healing. But what if our ever-loving Lord,
as we pray for physical healing, desires a deeper healing
for us? That’s exactly what Jesus reveals in Mark 2.

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Mark 1:14-45

In his book The Jesus You Never Knew, Philip Yancey asks, “What was Jesus like?” He imagined himself as a journalist in Jesus’ day. This morning Mark is our ‘journalist’! The man he describes isn’t how we often think of Jesus: a tough guy with a tender side! Let’s meet the Man…

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Mark 1:1-13

Hands up, every believer who faces temptation? All of
us! Hands up all who like talking about it! Not many.
Why? Too often it reminds us of our spiritual failures.
We think temptation is a sign of spiritual weakness, or
shows that we’re not saved! The truth? Temptation is
normal in the life of a follower of Christ. It happened to
Jesus. It will happen to you. Be prepared…

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Since the Church began, water baptism has been observed by Christians. Unfortunately, it also causes confusion and division. Some view it is an “optional extra” – with little or no importance in the Christian life. Jesus begs to differ…

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Genesis 12:1-5

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