Still to Come
This week, Mark takes us into one of Jesus' most challenging teachings. He wants his followers to think soberly about where all this life and world are headed. What can we be sure of, and what do we need to hold with an open hand? In Mark 13, we get glimpses of the seam between the temporal and the eternal and from Jesus himself, we are given amazing images of life beyond life. There is hope that something beautiful is coming, which means this life has meaning. Let's talk about what that means for us as people in step with a glorious God.
Topics: Future, Life Beyond, Little Apocalypse
Where Jesus Gets His Authority
We all have questions, right? We want to know things. That's not a new thing! It happened in Jesus' day, too! We'll see as we explore the account given by Mark that Jesus' teachings are peppered with questions and proof-demands from the smartest guys around. Join us as we explore what those questions reveal, and how Jesus chose to respond.
Topics: Questioning Jesus, Questions
The Meaning of Marriage
Relationships in a fallen world have never been easy, but it seems like they are more difficult than ever these days. In Scripture, God demonstrates what kingdom-centered relationships look like, and then calls us to imitate Him in covenantal love. Of course, the power for this love only comes from the overflow of the love we have in Christ. Join us as we learn to do relationships from the overflow of God's love and His community.
Topics: Covenant, God's Love, Love, Marriage
He is Enough
This Sunday, we get miracles! Big ones! And we'll learn through these powerful stories in Mark 6 that even when we don't feel like we are enough, Jesus is. We're excited this week to receive this message from Katherine Reiley, our summer intern. Katherine is headed to Asbury Seminary this fall, so we have the real joy this week of supporting her as she sticks her toes into the beautiful waters of her calling. Come and be blessed by a good word as you encourage a preacher-in-the-making ... and come ready for a miracle.
Topics: Enoughness, Miracles
Kingdom Reality
Jesus was always telling stories, always using everyday illustrations to span the gap between the reality of most humans and the "more real" of the Kingdom of God. This week, we look at Mark's take on those stories in chapter 4, and through them we'll learn what it means to walk in faith ... even in the storms.
Topics: Discipleship, Good News, Gospel, Life
What It Means To Follow Jesus
This summer, we're walking through the book of Mark and this week, we get to meet the Twelve - those faithful followers of Jesus who became apostles and eventually, martyrs. These were rare men of God, whose names are known and respected two thousand years later. We will learn from them what it looks like to take the gospel seriously and to follow wholeheartedly.
Topics: Following Jesus, The Call, Who Jesus Calls
How Not To Take A Day Off
You've had this experience, I'm sure. You are really looking forward to your next day off. You can hardly wait for it. You dream about all the things you plan to do with it. You will sleep late, eat bacon, lay on the beach, take five naps, run through strawberry fields, dine on a rooftop at sunset. You have it all figured out. Then the day arrives, and you blow it by sleeping till noon and spending the day scrolling social media feeds. This week, Mark wants to give us a better vision for a day off, by walking us into Jesus' teaching on Sabbath. I'll be ready to learn with you from the One who gave us the incredible gift of Sabbath. ~ Carolyn
Where the Gospel Begins (And Where It Leads)
Let's spend our summer exploring the earliest account of Jesus' life and ministry. Mark's gospel is full of energy, power, and a little humor. It begins like fireworks, with several explosions of supernatural ministry in chapter one. That's where we begin on Sunday. Here are two great ways to get ready for this summer study: First, watch the Bible Project's ten-minute overview of Mark here. Then, read the gospel of Mark out loud in one sitting.
Missional Presence
This week, we conclude our series based on Rich Villodas' book, The Deeply Formed Life, with a conversation about missional presence. I genuinely hope this series has given you a richer understanding of the connection between the journey inward and the journey outward. We're learning that our personal spirituality directly affects how we engage the world as followers of Christ. Let that fact challenge you toward practices that call out more faith and call you out into the world.~Carolyn
Sexual Wholeness
I hope you're reading the companion book for this month's series, because Villodas gets it so right in his chapters about sexual wholeness. He reminds us that we all possess what we call sexuality. It is a kind of longing, given to us by God himself, to remind us that we were not made to be islands unto ourselves. We were made for community. We were made to care emotionally, spiritually, even physically for each other, just as Jesus cared for those in his community. This week, we will talk more about what it looks like to cultivate a healthy sexuality that connects us to a deeper spirituality. And we'll end with communion as we celebrate the very body of Christ, given for us that we might be whole.
Topics: Body & Soul, Sexual Wholeness, Wholeness
