You Don’t Have to Prove What You Love
Love God and love others, and you don’t have to make sacrifices to prove it. Your life is proving it every single day.
Mark
Love God Uniquely
If you love God uniquely, you won’t need a reason for any other command that concerns Him. Since He has no rival, you should have no rival to where your affections focus.
Love You Like I Love Me
Loving others is what we are called to do, yet hesitant to obey. Not only did Jesus command us to love one another, but He included a unique qualifier that makes our task require more dedication.
You Lack One Thing
Each of us has that one thing that really has us. It is difficult to follow Jesus closely if you delight in something more than Him.
Willing & Able
Mark 1:40-45 – Not only is Jesus willing to meet us in our problems, but He is able to change our lives in the midst of them [Sermon at Anderson University Campus Worship].
Seeking Community
In our age of pseudo-community provided by digital technology, we are missing out on the connection we were designed to meet and need. If you struggle to find your footing right now, it may be because you aren’t standing beside others.
Turning Tables
Mark 11:12-21 – Jesus once rid the temple of those who used religion to take advantage of others. We must continually evaluate our character and congregations to see what tables Jesus needs to turn over among us.
Holistic Mission
Throughout the years, Christianity has struggled to maintain the proper balance of sharing both the gospel and compassion. As followers of Jesus, we are called to display His kindness in both word and deed.
I Am Barabbas
Mark 15:6-15 – Sinless Jesus went to the cross while guilty Barabbas went free. Barabbas is a physical representation of a spiritual reality for every one of us.
Sequential Steps
One of the things I think we do poorly in ministry contexts is motivating people to change without giving them clear steps to improve. When it comes to discipleship, people need more than abstract concepts; they need sequential steps.
How Should We Interpret the Gospels?
The four Gospels all tell the story of Jesus but are delivered to different audiences from different perspectives. To understand the truth contained fully within them, we must understand the context in which they were written.
Dismissing Jesus
When Jesus delivered a man from demonic possession, the people had less acceptance of the deliverer than they had for the demoniac. When Jesus threatens our comfort and convenience, we can seek to rid ourselves of His presence as well.
Distinctly Hopeful
You can be hopeful in the midst of suffering in this life. Your confidence can be in the fact that Jesus can handle any situation that you encounter.
Distinctly Forgiven
Many people come to Jesus for numerous issues. While He can and will help us in many ways, the greatest need we have is for forgiveness.
Distinctly Chosen
You might have a million reasons to why God shouldn’t use you, but He is not frightened by your insecurities or inabilities. Jesus is calling you to follow Him simply because He wants you.
Divorce-Proofing Your Marriage
No matter how challenging your marriage is, you can find help. Discover potential marriage separators, and do what you can to avoid them in your relationship.
Jesus Isn’t Looking for a Crowd
Many people claim to follow Christ, but they are actually only associating with the crowd. Discipleship is different. Following Jesus means you forsake the conveniences of this fleeting world to obtain the joys of this Kingdom’s lifestyle.
Identifying the Government’s Role
The United States of America is less than one week away from the polls closing on the 2020 election. Depending upon who wins, the administration will go in one of two very polarized directions. To what level should a Christian expect or desire?
What Causes Disagreeing Christians to Unite
What causes disagreeing Christians to unite is when we can agree upon a prioritized issue. While we often get sidetracked in inconsequential debates, a serious rallying cry often wakes us up. Maybe we need to keep that.
The Greatest Leaders Are the Sincerest Servants
Everyone wants to be considered a leader, but few are willing to be a servant once they are viewed as a leader. Jesus never got too big to live as a servant.
Disciples
Jesus’ calling of the disciples displayed the attribute of grace. When you look at this unique group of men he chose, there isn’t anything special about them. They weren’t obvious choices, and yet, they were Jesus’ choices. Due to that reason, they would develop into what Christ had called them to be. DOWNLOAD HANDOUT – 09 – Disciples Video Audio …
The 4 Gospels
As we study the New Testament, we must unpack the reasoning, audience, and direction of the 4 Gospels. Download Handout – 05 – The 4 Gospels Video Audio
The Timeline of Holy Week
Maybe you know about Jesus, but have you ever studied what the Bible says about the week leading up to his death and resurrection? Holy Week is remembered as the days when Jesus changed the world. Spanning from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday, here are the events and passages describing the days leading up to Jesus’ death and the moments …
God Has Not Retired
And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ All things are possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23). Do you really believe that God can fix that broken situation in your life? You know that one that you have tried everything and still run up against the wall? You believe that God used to do those types of miraculous things but …
Jesus Has Never Been Surprised by a Storm
I’m often surprised by storms. Whether they are unexpected turns in the weather or unanticipated changes in life, I am often taken aback and unprepared. Jesus has never been surprised by a storm. In fact, he always knows about them and sometimes leads us through them anyway. In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus encourages his disciples to get in a boat after …
It’s News Too Good to Keep to Ourselves
In the concluding comments of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus commissioned the disciples to take the gospel into all the world. If we continue to follow Jesus, He will lead us to people and places that need to hear the gospel. Options for Mark’s Ending Why is the ending of Mark so uncommon from the rest of his book and missing in …
The Tomb Is [Still] Empty
As the women came on Sunday morning to anoint the deceased body of Jesus, they were shocked to realize that the tomb was empty. All of our faith and purpose in life is wrapped up in the belief that the tomb is still empty today. Our lives will be determined based upon what we believe about the resurrection of Jesus. …
Why Jesus Died
When followers of Jesus sought to care for the body of Jesus, Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus died so early in the process. Scripture teaches us not only why He died so early but also why He died so willingly. Mark 15:40-47 40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary …
I Am Barabbas
Intending to rid himself of the responsibility of Jesus’ death, Pilate assumed the people would choose Jesus over Barabbas to be the one prisoner released at that year’s Passover. Instead, the people chose to free a sinful criminal and condemn the sinless Messiah. Mark 15:1-20 15 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the …
Why People Abandon Jesus
Judas betrayed, the disciples fled, the people accused, and Peter denied. After all Jesus had done for this world, the world abandoned Him. Mark 14:43-72 43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.44 Now the betrayer had …
Were the Whole Realm of Nature Mine
As Jesus prepares for His sacrificial offering on the cross, Mary prepared a sacrificial offering for Him through an alabaster jar. As followers of Jesus, there is no gift too extravagant to lay before our Savior. Mark 14:1-11 14:1 It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were …
No One Has Jesus’ Return Date on the Calendar
People have attempted to predict the end times, but Jesus assured that no one will know the precise time. While we don’t have the exact details of Christ’s return, we can hold the certain reality of His return by faith. Mark 13:24-37 24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give …
It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
Providing the people with signs of the times, Jesus prepared them for coming persecution. Jesus taught on the coming end times, not to increase our anxiety in the future, but to increase our activity in the present. Mark 13:1-23 13 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and …
The Two Most Important Tasks in Life
Out of the 613 commandments in the Old Testament, some religious leaders wanted to know which one that Jesus thought was the most important. Not only did Jesus provide His top two commandments, but He summarized them all and gave His followers a simple direction for all of life. Mark 12:28-34 28 And one of the scribes came up and heard …
In God We Trust
Trying to trap Jesus in His words, His enemies collaborated in an attempt to force Him to choose a side between God and government. Jesus’ response teaches us what our commitment to both should be. Mark 12:13-17 13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came …
Jesus Came to Turn Over Tables
As soon as Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, He intentionally targeted the religious community. Followers of Jesus must continually evaluate if we are fulfilling the call He has placed upon us. Mark 11:1-25 11 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to …
Surrendered for Service
As Jesus attempted to prepare His disciples for His death, their priorities were severely misaligned with His. Jesus came to serve, and we should seek to give our lives away as well. Mark 10:32-52 “And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. …
When Riches Rob You of Jesus
A rich young man wanted to follow Jesus, but he loved his possessions too much. We must be careful that our riches don’t rob us of following Jesus. Mark 10:17-31 17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit …
Start Acting Like a Child
In a time when people viewed children as distracting annoyances, Jesus intentionally prioritized them. Not only should we prioritize children, but we should start acting like them when it comes to the Kingdom of God. Mark 10:13-16 13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.14 But when Jesus saw it, he was …
What God Has Joined Together
Jesus was questioned regarding the nature of marriage and the opportunity for divorce. When an eternal God puts something together, it should last forever. Let Nothing Separate By determining what issues are worthy of divorce, many people attempt to discover a way out of their marriage. Due to the stubborn nature of people, God provided a civil manner through divorce …