One of the more difficult things when preparing a message on a text of Scripture is deciding what details to leave out. Because Scripture is so rich and inexhaustive, it is tempting to include everything from my study notes in the final manuscript, but that would be unfocused, unwieldy, and uninteresting. So, when I prepare…
Category: Christianity
Mark 10:1-12: Lesson on Divorce and Marriage
Lesson on Divorce and Marriage Text: Mark 10:1-12 | March 8, 2020 Scripture has been twisted in many ways to accommodate the sins of man. This is accomplished through purposefully misinterpreting Scripture, adding to Scripture, or setting aside God’s Word. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for “setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep…
Mark 9:42-50: Lesson on the Seriousness of Sin
Lesson on the Seriousness of Sin Text: Mark 9:42-50 | February 23, 2020 Sin is not talked about very often, even in many churches, but our passage today highlights the seriousness of sin. Pastors and churches who eschew the topic of sin put their congregations in danger of neglecting our Christian duty to aggressively deal…
Mark 9:30-41: Lesson on Humility
Lesson on Humility Text: Mark 9:30-41 | February 16, 2020 In the previous passage, the disciples learned a crucial lesson on faith; in this passage, the disciples learn an important lesson on humility. Humility is not natural, but as Christians, we have a lifelong battle with pride. In our culture, pride is a virtue, but…
Mark 9:14-29: Lesson on Faith
Lesson on Faith Text: Mark 9:14-29 | February 9, 2020 The cross was less than a year away, and it was time for the disciples to learn some crucial lessons to prepare them for the time when Jesus departed. The first lesson was a lesson on faith. For over two years, the disciples had walked…
Mark 9:1-13: Christ Transfigured
Following Christ Text: Mark 9:1-13 | February 2, 2020 The transfiguration was one of the greatest miracles recorded in the Scriptures. The disciples struggled to understand why Jesus, the Messiah, needed to suffer, be rejected, and killed (8:31). In their minds, the Messiah would overthrow Roman rule and establish an earthly kingdom. Knowing how hard…
Mark 8:34-38: Following Christ
Following Christ Text: Mark 8:34-38 | January 26, 2020 In our text today, we studied Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, the cost of following Him, and the folly of not following Him. Unlike what many believe, following Christ comes at a high cost. In fact, it will cost everything. We are told that anyone who…
Mark 8:27-33: Confessing Christ
Who Do You Say that I Am? Text: Mark 8:27-33 | January 12, 2020 Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” (8:29). People give many different answers to that question, but there is only one right answer. Some say He was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets…
Mark 8:1-26: Spiritual Blindness
Spiritual Blindness Text: Mark 8:1-26 | January 5, 2020 The text this week contains four narratives. It begins with the feeding of the four thousand (vv. 1-10), followed by an encounter with the Pharisees and Sadducees (vv. 11-13), Jesus then teaches His disciples (vv. 14-21), and it ends with Jesus healing a blind man (vv….
Mark 7:24-37: A Syrophoenician Woman and a Deaf Man
A Syrophoenician Woman and A Deaf Man Text: Mark 7:24-37 | December 15, 2019 Having left Galilee, Jesus and His disciples embark on a circuitous journey into Gentile region (Tyre, Sidon, and Decapolis [7:24, 31]). This is the farthest He would travel outside of Israel during His three-year ministry. In this passage, Mark records two…