Masterclass: The Book of Mark // Come, Follow Me
Introducing The Gospel of Mark As we set out on this journey through the entire Gospel of Mark, we should take a moment to put this book of the Bible into proper context. Mark is just one of four Gospels. Have you ever wondered why there’s more than one Gospel account? As it turns out,…
Read MoreEaster // Part 4: Jesus’ Invitation
The Stone was Rolled Away How do we know that Jesus conquered death? We read at the start of Mark chapter 16 that “Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise,…
Read MoreEaster // Good Friday 2022
It’s Good Friday, and it’s a day of remembrance and reflection. It’s the day that we recognize the death of Jesus – the day that Jesus took on our sin and shame and died a sinner’s death. But, Good Friday is not the end of the story. We celebrate this day, as we know that…
Read MoreEaster // Part 3: Jesus’ Sacrifice
Jesus Died For Us When you begin to understand the sacrifice of Christ, everything changes. And if we can feel the weight and significance of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we will be better able to celebrate His resurrection on Easter and every day of our lives. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice. He gave His life…
Read MoreEaster // Part 2: Jesus’ Death
Why Did Jesus Have to Die? Our celebration of Jesus’ resurrection is the most joyous time of the year in the church. But if we don’t spend some time in reflection of the pain and suffering that Jesus endured in our place, we will miss just how awesome the story of His resurrection on the…
Read MoreEaster // Part 1: Jesus’ Claim
Jesus Claimed to be the Messiah Names and titles can tell us a lot about people. The names we call people are how we acknowledge them; using them shows we recognize the people around us. The titles principal or doctor or your honor all tell us something about what people do for a living, and…
Read MoreRefine // Part 7: Pride – Humility
There are a number of different kinds of pride. For example, you can be proud of your spouse, which is really an expression of delight rather than a sin problem. Delight is others-centered, but sinful pride is self-centered. That evil kind of pride can lead to sin and hinder our walk with Christ. The sinful…
Read MoreRefine // Part 6: Envy – Contentment
The Cause of Envy A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30 Envy is one of the “Seven Deadly Sins.” All sin is deadly, but these seven are found at the core of countless other sins. One of the reasons envy is so dangerous and persistent in…
Read MoreRefine // Part 5: Wrath – Delight
What is Wrath? In Matthew 5:22, during the Sermon on The Mount, Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” Wrath is another word for anger– especially uncontrolled anger which boils over into vengeful actions and causes us to sin. Proverbs 14:29…
Read MoreRefine // Part 4: Sloth – Ambition
Where to Find Real Success Which of these is a better quality to have – laziness or ambition? You’re probably thinking, "Well, obviously, ambition is a better quality to have." Sure, we all know the "right" answer to that question, especially given the value that our American culture places on being hard-working, driven, successful, and…
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