When we think about poverty, it's easy to think only in material/economic terms. Very rarely, if ever, do we think there might be other forms of "poverty." In this passage, Jesus challenges us all to ask the question: "What is your greatest treasure?" But even more than that, he challenges us to consider that our pursuit of that treasure actually makes us poorer as a result. This week, we welcome guest preacher Dr. Vince Bantu to help us see all that Jesus has to show us here.
As the gospel of Mark moves along, things become progressively darker. At this point, Jesus begins his journey to Jerusalem, and, hence, to suffering, crucifixion and death. Things are getting dark. But right in the middle of the darkness comes the Transfiguration. The Transfiguration is one of the most famous, and mysterious, events in the life of Jesus. And when we understand what it's really showing us, it becomes one of the most precious and powerful resources we have for facing the darkness of our own lives and the darkness of the world.
Experiencing the delay of our most deeply cherished dreams can be on of the most painful and disheartening struggles we can go through. This passage explores God's timing versus our timing. But it also shows us how God deals with an even bigger struggle and an even deeper pain.
The gospel of Mark revolves around two huge questions: Who is Jesus, and what does it mean to follow him? This passage offers some of the most life-changing and powerful answers to those questions. And they are life-changing answers precisely because they are all about the power of Jesus.
We all know "the way things are" is not "the way things are supposed to be." And one of our most powerful yearnings is to see the world become the place we know it's meant to be. But what does that look like? How does it happen? Is it even possible? In this passage, Jesus answers our questions by teaching us many surprising and wonderful things about "the Kingdom of God."
This is one of the most famous healing stories in the gospels, and it's also one of the most startling. The things Jesus does and says here have confused and shocked people across the centuries, and for good reason. In this narrative, Jesus challenges us to consider what is the deepest need of our hearts and lives, and where the fulfillment of that need comes from.
One of the biggest questions in every heart is: “Do I matter? Does my life make a difference?” The story of Jesus calling his first disciples is a direct answer to that question. Not only did his call transform their lives, it changed the world and history. By understanding and responding to his call, it can change our lives also.
Who is Jesus - really? Why did he come, what did he do, and why does it matter? The Gospel of Mark is the first eyewitness account of the life of Jesus, and one of the best places to look for answers to these questions. Find out who he really is, and how getting connected to the real Jesus is the only way to find a truly transformed life.
What is God's answer to the biggest problems of the world? The harsh realities seem to stare us in the face, and it can be hard to know how to face them, much less how to make any kind of difference. But if we learn to see what the first Christians saw in the last two chapters of Revelation, we can get a living hope that not only enables us to face suffering and evil, but to live meaningful lives of good in this world.
Understanding Christmas means understanding grace. But understanding what grace really means holds many surprises for us. If we listen to the message the angel had for Mary, we come not only to a deeper understanding of grace, but also how we should respond to it.
"Faith" is a contested term in our culture, especially the nature of religious faith. But a healthy, mature faith can also form the foundation of a life of greatness. How do you get there? This passage contains aspects that might seem repellent or difficult for us on the surface. But when we dig down into what it's really showing us, we find the secret for a life of true faith, and true greatness.
One of the most painful and debilitating things you can experience is discouragement. When life doesn't go the way you hope, it is easy to become disillusioned and even depressed. In this encounter with Sarah, this passage shows us how God meets us in our discouragement and brings hope and renewal to our lives.
Understanding and growing in faith necessarily means wrestling with doubt. It seems like every morning we are confronted with something on the news that makes faith in God seem unlikely, or even ridiculous. This famous passage helps us by showing the true nature of our doubts and questions, and even more importantly, how God responds to our doubt to bring us into a deeper relationship with himself.
It is impossible to understand God's purpose for the world, and the meaning of the whole Bible, without understanding Abraham and especially God's call on his life in Genesis 12. His story also shows us the meaning of faith, and how to grow in such faith ourselves. As we begin the season of Advent, we continue our series in Genesis with the story of Abraham, the man of faith.
Where do you find hope for the world? One of the biggest challenges facing our society today is the tendency to be so focused on our own cultural identity that we end up in competition or even hostility with those of differing identities. Therefore, one of our greatest needs is to find a basis of hope that is big enough to include us all, but without erasing our own personal cultural backgrounds and identities. Fascinatingly enough, it is that challenge this passage addresses, and it is that need the gospel meets.
Apocalyptic language and imagery is pervasive in our culture, from film and tv (e.g. Hunger Games, Walking Dead), to all manner of public discourse (especially political). The question this passage addresses is: What do you do in the aftermath of an apocalypse? In other words, when the world seems to be falling apart at the seams, how do we respond? The amazing thing about this passage is that it shows us first how God responds, and how his response is an invitation for us to respond accordingly.
The story of Noah and the Flood is one of the most famous, and also most terrifying stories, in the Bible. Many feel the idea of a God of judgment is not just primitive, but reprehensible. But this narrative has some surprising things to show us, both about God and about ourselves. Not least is the reality that if we reject a God of judgment, it actually creates even bigger problems for us. Join us as we explore this paradigm-shifting passage.
Hope for the world is a deep yearning in our society, and also a challenging question. Many are optimistic about our power to fix the problems of the world (e.g. the exploding startup scene), while others are much more pessimistic (e.g. the prevalence of dystopian film and tv). Where do we find hope for the world, and what is the basis of that hope? This passage is about the birth of the city, and has much to show us about our social distortions, and the spiritual distortions at their heart.
Much of our cultural baggage with the concept of "sin" comes from a shallow understanding of what sin really is. Finding a solution to the problems of the wold requires a deeper understanding of this perennial struggle for humanity. This week we continue our study by seeing the dynamics of how sin works in our lives.
One of the strongest and most enduring experiences of human beings is the sense that this world is somehow not the world we were meant for. That sense of alienation extends to every sphere of our existence: spiritual, psychological, social, physical, etc. Why do we feel that way? Is there anything that can be done about it? The end of Genesis 3 has much to show us about these questions, and much to provide in the way of answers.