The question is: how can we be so sure? Surely, Israel was asking that question. How can we be so sure that we’ll build houses back home again? How can we be so sure that the temple will be rebuilt? That’s the question we often ask. How can we be so sure about forgiveness? About God’s care and guiding of our lives? About any of God’s promises? Consider this. If you can break God’s covenant with the day and night, then you can break this one. How’s that for certainty? Jeremiah 33:14-26.
Life in Babylon #5 - The Testimony of a Lived Faith
All the time we say, “We live by faith, not by sight.” But what exactly do we mean? What does it mean to look like to live by faith? It means that we’ll buy property when Nebuchadnezzar is coming to take over our homeland. It means that we’ll make our life in this world even though it is not our home. Next week, Jeremiah shows us through what it means to live by faith. Jeremiah 32:6-15.
Life in Babylon #4 - God's Firm Resolve
What do you do when your girl cheats on you with another guy? What do you do when she breaks your heart? There are two dominant metaphors in these chapters of hope within Jeremiah. The metaphor of a father/son relationship. The metaphor of a husband/wife relationship. Last week, we considered the father/son relationship. This week, we see God’s husband heart. He does not discard his bride, whom he draws with cords of kindness. Again, he makes their relationship/covenant new. Jeremiah 31:2-6, 31-34
Life in Babylon #3 - Fatherly Attention
Israel has been given a deep wound because of their own rebellion. That’s why they were in Babylon. But Jeremiah wants them to know that the Lord was not trying to get his pound of flesh out of him. This was discipline, discipling, not punishment. He was calling out to them as a father through the exile. Can we start to see our own waywardness as we live in the fallen world? Can we start to see how we have lived farther and farther from God’s way? Can we sense the Lord’s discipling hand in our life? “Our wound is incurable” (Jeremiah 30:12), but the LORD “will restore you to health” (Jeremiah 30:17). A look at Jeremiah 30:10-17.
Life in Babylon #2 - That Babylonian Life
As we make our way through Jeremiah, we’re moving into the counsel and advice that Jeremiah has for the exiles. Last week, the simple message of God was, “Surrender.” Surrender to the government that God has put over you. Surrender and submit to the people God has put over you in your life. Surrender to the circumstances in your life. At the end of the day, surrender your life to the God who has done so much for you. But the question is: What does that look like? What does a surrendered life look like? Today, Jeremiah tells us. He sends a letter to the exiles in Babylon and tells them all about that Babylonian life. This is an important message for all of us, and especially for you, young people. You’re on your way in this world. That Christian life here and now is yours to live. Jeremiah has something to say to you today. We’re looking at Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14.
Life in Babylon #1 - The Easy Yoke
We live in exile. We’re away from our home. Our home is in heaven. On top of that, it becomes increasingly clear that we are the outsiders here in our own homeland. Less and less do the laws of our country reflect what God’s Word says is good and right. More and more, there is a growing hostility toward those who faithfully hold to the Christian faith. We’re in exile. Away from home. In Babylon. But Jeremiah has a word. A word about faith. A word about submission and surrender. A word about living faithfully Christian lives. A word about hope. A word about our return home. It’s a powerful and important word that he has for us. The future belongs to us. Today, we get started in Jeremiah 27:1-15. It’s a difficult word, but an important one for us to consider - surrender! Or maybe the yoke is easy and the burden light. We'll see.
Waymaker #5 - Back in the Boat
There they were again. Out in the lake. Straining against the wind. Fighting against the saves. Afraid of what they thought was a ghost. There they were again, tired and afraid.
Oh, our Savior is mighty. The sea grows stormy again. We get out of one stormy sea, and the winds find us again, only too soon. But here comes Jesus with his calming words. Words that calm our hearts and make our courage like steel: “Buck up! Don’t be afraid. It’s me, Jesus!” Those same powerful words force all things to bow and bend to his almighty will. Yes, his voice sets our hearts and rest; it brings all our lives under his control.
We’re wrapping up our series in Mark’s gospel, during which we have considered the miracles of Jesus. Mark 7:45-56.
Waymaker #2 - Never Late
In this sermon, we’ll meet two people who were desperate and at the end of their ropes. We’ll meet two people who began to think that Jesus was late, that he was slow in keeping his promises. But, come and hear. Jesus is not late. He never is. He is not slow in keeping his promises, as some understand slowness. He is always right on time with the right help.
Can you see yourself in these two desperate characters? Maybe not today, but at another time, perhaps. Praying for help that never seems to come? Seeking solutions that never seem to find answers? Wondering to yourself, “Where is Jesus now?” Yet, in your desperation, you can be sure: Jesus is never late. He is always right on time with the right help just for you. We're looking at Mark 5:21-43.
Waymaker #1 - Three Lessons from the Storm
Whenever Jesus does something, whenever something happens, it is always an opportunity to learn. Whether it happens in the classroom, from the pulpit, or out on the lake, he is always seeking to take us deeper into the truth about God and into his Word. We're looking at Mark 4:35-41 and learning three lessons from the storm.
Storyteller #5 - The Mustard Seed
When Jesus came preaching and teaching, healing and performing all sorts of miracles, he made it known: “The kingdom of God is at hand!” And it was. Through his miracles, wonders, and works, he was giving people a glimpse of the rolled-back curse, a taste of the eternal kingdom that is surely to come. He was coming after the kingdom of darkness and exerting his rule over it. Through his preaching and teaching, he opened the eyes of people’s hearts to know the hope of their calling, their glorious share in the inheritance with Jesus and all the saints, and the great power of God who raised Jesus from the dead. God was indeed on the scene, and he was on the move.
Jesus wants us to understand more fully and more deeply what the kingdom of God is, how it works, and what it accomplishes. That’s he moved his Spirit to inspire Mark to record these parables that Jesus told. Yes, these parables in Mark 4 are meant to help us understand the kingdom of God, how it works, what it does, and even how we ought to respond to its coming. It’s an important chapter. It’s one of the few places in the gospel of Mark where he records the teachings of Christ.
We’re wrapping up this part of the book of Mark this week, and with Jesus as our teacher, we will ask the question: “What shall we say that the kingdom of God is like? What parable shall we use to describe it?” We’ll be considering Mark 4:30-34.
Storyteller #4 - The Growing Seed
Mark isn’t often much concerned with the teachings of Jesus. He is most concerned with the deeds of Christ and his working out the kingdom of God. He isn’t much concerned with his teachings, but when he is focused on the teachings of Jesus, he does it with focus and purpose. He has gathered together these parables of Jesus here in Mark chapter 4 with the express purpose of teaching us about the way that the kingdom of God moves and works.
The first parable teaches us generally about the kingdom and its movement and shows us that the life is in the seed. The second group of short little parables asks us the question: What will you do with the seed, i.e., the Word? Today, Jesus helps us to understand further the way in which the seed works. He teaches us how the kingdom grows. Next week, he will show us what the kingdom of God looks like.
Jesus is a different sort of King with a different sort of kingdom. This series of parables is meant to help us understand the way that his kingdom works and moves more fully.
Storyteller #3 - The Parable of the Lamp
This is important stuff. Jesus is pulling his disciples aside to teach them and to give them insight into what they will do with him and with his Word. He wants the same to you. Jesus is the Sower who casts his seed recklessly into your ears so that you might here and believe.
This is important stuff. What are you going to do with it? That’s what Jesus wants you to think about next. Will you put it under a bowl and harden yourself to it so that it doesn’t enlighten you or anyone else? Will you be stingy with it? What will you do with Jesus and his Word?
We consider the next little parables in Mark 4, Jesus encourages us: “Consider carefully how you hear” (Mark 4:24). We’re looking at Mark 4:21-25.
Storyteller #2 - The Sower and the Seed
This is one of the best-known parables of Jesus and is one of the few to which Jesus gives us the key and interpretation of the various characters within the parable. This is such a gift to us because it not only helps us understand this parable but also gives a key to unlock the other. The one who has ears, let them hear! Mark 4:1-9, 13-20.
Storyteller #1 - Why parables?
Jesus is our Savior. He is also our Teacher. He often told short stories, aka parables, that taught us spiritual truths through an earthly story. We’re starting a five-week series this weekend (July 2). During this series, we will sit at the feet of Jesus and learn important truths from him about his Word and about the Kingdom of God. We’ll be looking at the parables in Mark 4.
Mark doesn’t include a lot of teaching moments during the life and ministry of Jesus, so this is a big deal. It will be good for us to pay attention. Each week you might even ask each week: Why did Mark include this one?
Our goal for this first sermon is to understand why: Why did Jesus tell parables? More directly, why did Jesus tell these parables here? Mark is tightly tying the context together for us. This weekend, we’ll skip ahead in Mark 4 to hear Jesus’ answer to the question: Why do you speak and live in parables?
Matchless #4 - A Power worth Telling
In this sermon, we’ll remember how God has had mercy on us, and then we’ll go to tell the story. We’ll consider Mark 5:18-20.
Matchless #3 - A Scary Power
That’s what they saw when the whole town ran out to see what had happened out there on the cliffs. Then, the story was told. Perhaps, they told the story with staggered sentences and short-word gasps. Demons. Pigs. Cliff. Sea of Galilee. Look!
How would you respond? What emotions or thoughts would rush through your mind as you gazed out at the pigs floating in the Sea and the man sitting there, dressed and in his right mind?
This man was a peace and just glad to be with Jesus. He would follow Jesus to the moon. But the rest of the people had other thoughts. They were afraid and wanted Jesus to go.
What about you? Jesus is God in the flesh. They saw his divinity peeking from beneath his skin, and it scared them.
Today, we’ll consider the various reactions to God-in-the-flesh and to Jesus-with-skin-on (the church). We draw near to him like beggars. A sermon Mark 5:14-20.
Matchless #2 - The Stronger Man
It’s easy for us to forget where we live. But I’m not talking about your address. I hope that you remember the location of the place where you lay your head at night. I’m talking about this world and what faces us in this world. It’s easy to forget that we live in a world where the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. He is up to mischief and harm and murder and lies. We are his desired victim.
It’s good for us to remember this, to remember where we live.
More than that, we should know and be aware of his schemes and deceits. And that is exactly what we’ll do this weekend as we keep on wrestling with Mark 5:1-20. The sermon will be a military brief about the Enemy - his character and his tactics. It will be about our strength (or lack thereof). It will be about our Captain, our Savior Jesus, the right Man who is on our side.
Matchless #1 - Demons? Really?
So much is going on all around us. Most of it is easy to explain as physical problems. But what if there were more going on than we can see? What if there was a spiritual component to everything? The apostle Paul assures us that there is a spiritual component to everything. He reminds us that “our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against… powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6.12). Sometimes those spiritual forces inhabit and possess a person. We see it clearly in the Scriptures, but does it still happen today? Over the next month, we’ll spend our time in Mark 5:1-20, considering demon possession and spiritual warfare. More than that, we will fix our eyes on Jesus, the stronger man who has tied up the strong man (cf. Mark 3:27). A sermon on Mark 5:1-13.
Things Jesus Said #5 - About the Kingdom
This weekend, as we listen to Jesus teach us about the kingdom of God, we’ll have the opportunity to consider the gift that the Spirit gives as he gives us such faith that trusts Jesus alone. We’ll be looking at Mark 10:17-31.
Things Jesus Said #4 - About Following Him
You can’t be a Christian and not carry a cross. It is a part and parcel of following Jesus. It’s part of going after him. It is an essential part of being a Christian. The cross is not just something that we believe. It is something that we carry. It is something we pick up as we follow Jesus day after day. That’s why we aren’t just Christians, we are Crosstians – because that’s what we do. We carry a cross. Yes, Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, that when Christ bids a person come and follow, he bids him come and die. It’s a cross-bearing thing to which he calls us. He calls us to come and die. But in dying to ourselves, we rise in him.
As we listen to Jesus teach us about following him, we’ll make some special application of carrying our cross to our mission and ministry here. We’ll be looking at Mark 8:27-38.