Mark 16

Good morning church family! Yesterday was very special for me and a service I will never forget.  Thanks to all who helped make it special. Special thanks to Dell for preparing the Seder meal with thoughtfulness. May we never look at Passover and Communion the same...

Be praying, reading Scriptures and inviting people this week to our Sunrise Service at 7am followed by breakfast. Then at 10am we will celebrate the Resurrection!  We also will observe believer's baptism!!!  I

...
read more

Mark 15

Do you think it’s possible to change the world in one day? Not even a whole day – just the hours from the pre-dawn darkness until the skies are darkening again as the sun slips behind the mountains.

Jesus did.

Mark 15 covers a single day in history. Our attention is laser-focused on the once-in-a-lifetime, once-for-all-time event of the crucifixion of Jesus – the most pivotal point in humanity’s story. There are several players visible on the stage, but off-stage, unseen by

...
read more

Mark 14

Before we read Mark 14 and today's devotional, I want to remind us that this Sunday at 10am we will sit at tables and have a Seder Meal (symbolic presentation of the Passover Meal.) Come early and get a table for you, your friends and your whole family.  Your plate will be like a Jewish luncheable and we will describe what each item is and how it ALL points to JESUS as our spotless LAMB!   We have some larger tables set out for larger families so sit accordingly.  Our CARE...
read more

Mark 13

My friend and author Sheila Alewine writes:

 

How old were you when your parents decided you were mature enough to stay home by yourself? I think I was around 12 or 13. Both my parents worked, so during the summer months, my mom would leave my brother and me at home with a “to do” list. I’m sure the items on the list were important and helpful but looking back she probably agreed with that old adage, “idle hands are the devil’s work!” Without the accountability of expectatio

...
read more

Mark 12

My friend and author Sheila Alewine writes:

Are you ever accused of being old-fashioned, or out-of-date? To some people, that might be a derogatory term, but the older I get, and the crazier our world gets, the more I think it’s a great compliment! While I’m not anxious to return to some bygone clothing or hairstyles, there are a few “old-fashioned” things we need more of:

Old fashioned values.Old fashioned work ethic.Old fashioned morals.Old fashioned belief in the Bible.Ol

...
read more

Mark 11

Following the narrative of Jesus through the gospel writers is an amazing journey. Jesus often says things that make us really stop and think. When we read scripture, we have to keep in mind that it is spiritually discerned, and the meaning may not be obvious at first; we have to dig deeper and give God time to enlighten us.

We also have to read it with two non-negotiables in mind. First, God’s character is infinitely and innately righteous and good. Our inability to unders

...
read more

Mark 10

Sheila Alwine writes:

If I told you that I could give you something that is one hundred times better than what you have, would you take me up on my offer? Of course, you would! That’s what we call a “no-brainer!”

Did you know that Jesus made that same offer? The question is, do we believe Him?

In Mark 10:17-31, Jesus has an encounter with a rich young ruler. The young man asked a sincere question: What shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus answers by listing some of the t

...
read more

Mark 9

So, today’s topic: hell. In the last few verses of Mark 9, Jesus addresses the issue of stumbling blocks. Mark repeats the lesson we studied earlier in Matthew…to cause a little child to stumble (i.e. miss the truth of the gospel), the consequences are dire. It would be better to be drowned in the sea, weighed down by a heavy millstone. Then Jesus turns to our own stumbling blocks – those things that cause us to sin and ultimately reject faith in Jesus. Three times He stre...
read more

Mark 8

In Mark 8, our gospel writer describes two major events that are probably familiar to you. He performs another “multiplication miracle” by feeding four thousand people with seven loaves and a few small fish. Mark also shares of that special time when Peter declares confidently that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah, the Son of God – a fact that was spiritually revealed by God the Father (Matthew 16:17). Sandwiched in between, Mark describes an unusual healing encou...
read more

Mark 7

Jesus gets a lot of criticism for an encounter with a Greek Syrophoenician woman, a Gentile. The account is found in Mark 7 and Matthew 15. We read that Jesus was seeking a bit of rest from the crowds; He had hoped to go unnoticed as He took refuge in a house in the region of Tyre, a good distance from Galilee up on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. As we could expect, word got out that the miracle-performing Jewish teacher was in town. He is approached by a desperate mo...
read more

Mark 6

Do we really believe that God is able to take care of our needs? How many times does God have to prove Himself to us before we stop being amazed that He is able to provide for His children? Perhaps we can give ourselves a little grace; after all, the disciples who walked and talked with Jesus personally struggled to learn this lesson too! In Mark 6, we observe Jesus sending out His twelve disciples. By this time, they have watched Jesus teach multiple lessons, heal the sic...
read more

Mark 5

Is it easy for you to believe “unbelievable” things? How much stock do you put in your own understanding of reality, of history, of what you think is possible or impossible? Skeptics of the Bible often point to the stories about Jesus as simply unbelievable. Take Mark 5 for example.Mark relates three encounters Jesus had with people in impossible situations. First, the Gerasene demoniac. Here was a man possessed by many unclean spirits. He lived in empty tombs, had superna...
read more

Mark 4

Jesus used agricultural illustrations many times as He explained the secrets of the kingdom of God to His disciples. Because our world was created by God, everything in the natural world reflects Him. I’ve heard people say, when instructing someone who is creating something, they need to be able to put themselves into it. That’s what makes art impactful, whether it’s painting, sculpting, writing, or composing music. It comes from the heart, mind, and soul of the one creati...
read more

Mark 3

Reading through the gospels, I’m reminded again that Jesus has a way of producing strong reactions in people. You might think you can be neutral about Him, but you can’t.In Mark 3, we read about the same events we read in Matthew 12 (see my post on January 9). Incidentally, my Bible study group covered this same material in-depth in this week’s lesson. I think God must want me to pay attention! The Pharisees had a lot of opportunities to see Jesus at work and to hear His t...
read more

Mark 2

Good morning!  I love Mark because he gives us a highlight reel of Jesus' ministry!  Read Chapter 2 today...

Devotional:

Do you like to be the center of attention? I know several people who do; whether it’s due to an outgoing personality, a natural bent for leadership, or an innate need to aggravate and tease. When it’s on our own terms, we may choose to be in the limelight, but none of us like to have all eyes fastened on us at a time when we feel demeaned or embarrassed. T

...
read more