Dwell in the Word Mark 3:1-12
As we watch the story of Jesus here in the Gospel of Mark continue unfold, we get to an interesting story where the Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus. He enters a synagogue on the Sabbath and there's a man there with a withered hand. And are the Pharisees concerned about this man and Jesus being able to heal him? No, they're concerned about catching Jesus doing this work of healing on the Sabbath day. Now, we have sort of had the idea of Jesus and the Sabbath introduced to us already in the Gospel of Mark, because Jesus and his disciples were picking grain, remember?
The Holy Place | Hebrews 9:1–10 | Why We No Longer Need a Temple
In this sermon on Hebrews 9:1–10, Pastor Mark unpacks the Old Testament's Holy Place—what it was, why it mattered, and how it ultimately pointed beyond itself to Jesus Christ. The tabernacle wasn't just an ancient structure; it was a living symbol of God's holiness and the need for a true mediator. As the sermon explores the limitations of the old covenant and the fearful reverence of the high priest’s once-a-year entry, it leads us to the awe-inspiring truth that in Christ, we now have confident, daily access to the living God.
Dwell in the Word Mark 2:23-28
And so here we arrive in another passage that establishes the authority of Jesus. So, we know this story. This is rather well-known. If you've ever decided to read the Gospel of Mark, even if you didn't get all the way through, you probably got to this story, and it has some phrases that we know. So, what is happening here is the disciples are walking on the Sabbath day and they're going through some grain fields and they're hungry. Now, there was a provision in the law that said that people who were hungry, they couldn't just steal, but it wasn't stealing to pluck some heads of grain in order to eat.
Dwell in the Word Mark 2:18-22
As we arrive here in verse 18 of chapter two, we're seeing a theme continue to develop this idea that Jesus has come and something new is happening. Now Mark, as he is writing us this gospel, as he is telling this story, he's putting a story, the previous story that we read on Monday about Jesus eating. He's tying this story in with that story in a sense this idea that they've just been reclining at the table and eating. And now there's a question about fasting.
Dwell in the Word Mark 2:13-17
Here we find one of the better known stories from the early part of Mark, the Calling of Levi, or the Calling of Matthew. Well, what happens here? Jesus goes out and he sees this crowd and he walks by Levi and he's sitting at a tax booth. He was out collecting taxes and Jesus said to him, Follow me. And what does Matthew do?
What does Levi do? He rises up and follows Jesus. He does something. He gets up and goes after Jesus. He hears the call from Jesus and he follows him.
A Better Covenant | Hebrews 8:1-13 | Once for All
We all have an inherent desire for the "next big improvement," but in the spiritual life, there is nothing that can supersede the work of Jesus Christ. In this study of Hebrews 8:1–13, we explore why the New Covenant is described as "much more excellent" than the old.
The author of Hebrews makes a compelling case that while the earthly tabernacle and its sacrifices were important, they were merely shadows of the heavenly reality where Jesus now ministers as our High Priest. By looking at the prophecy of Jeremiah, we see how God has moved from a law written on stone to a covenant written on our hearts, ensuring that we can truly know Him and experience total forgiveness.
Dwell in the Word Mark 2:1-12
As we have seen already in just one chapter of Mark, this book, this gospel, is clarifying and helping to define who this Jesus the Messiah is. We've seen the authority that he has that he's able to heal, that he teaches in a way that the other people do not teach. He teaches with authority. And so we see that Jesus has returned home. He's returned to where he started out this whole ministry at, and people are coming and looking for Him, and what does he do?
Dwell in the Word Mark 1:40-45
Another story of something that Jesus is doing, and another story that is telling us about his authority to do his ministry. Now, this is a different one because it involves cleansing a leper. We see that Jesus does something that's rather outlandish. For us, we might jump over it because we just don't think this way. But when Jesus heals him, he touches him. That would have been outrageous. You weren't supposed to touch a leper in fear that you yourself will become ritually unclean.
Dwell in the Word Mark 1:29-39
As I start out today, I know that you know what I'm going to say first. The words immediately are here again. Right away, we see this idea of the urgency, the continued idea that the message of Jesus is of utmost importance. It is primary. And so, what is happening in this passage that is so important that we understand? Why did Mark include this in the Book of Mark? Well, Jesus goes to the home of Simon and Andrew, and they find that Peter's mother-in-law is ill.
To the Uttermost | Hebrews 7:11-28 | Once for All
Does the good news of the Gospel ever seem "too good to be true"? In our study of Hebrews 7:11–28, we confront the doubts we often have about our own salvation by looking to the indestructible life of Jesus Christ.
This passage details how the arrival of Jesus brought a new priesthood and a new Law, fulfilling the temporary "types and shadows" of the Old Testament. We explore why the earthly priests could never perfect God's people and why Jesus, our sinless and eternal High Priest, is able to save us to the uttermost.
Dwell in the Word Mark 1:21-28
So, as we start in the Gospel of Mark, we are seeing some themes develop and they're happening quickly. I've already pointed out the theme of the word immediately, the urgency of the preaching of Jesus, this idea that the kingdom of God is at hand, that this is going to be the message and we must get it out. Well, we see that again here. And if you're watching on video, I have highlighted in green the word immediately. Again, immediately.
Dwell in the Word: Mark 1:14-20
As we start out here we see the first words of Jesus, in the Gospel of Mark, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand Repent, and believe the gospel. This is important. This is what we are meant to see here in Mark's gospel, everything after this is going to be related to this message, right?
Dwell in the Word: Mark 1:1-13
As we start out in Mark's gospel, we get a sense right away of what we're going to be looking at and how the story is going to be told. As we look at verse one, it says, the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. So we have three things here that I want us to really see before we move on to some other stuff in this reading. First, the beginning, this is the start. This is the telling of the story of Jesus, very important thing to understand. Now, it isn't like some of the other gospels.
A Higher Priest | Hebrews 7:1-10 | Once for All
One of the easiest ways to explain the value of something is to make a comparison. We do this with food, with celebrities, and even with historical figures. In Hebrews 7:1–10, the author uses a comparison with the mysterious Old Testament figure Melchizedek to explain why we must remain faithful to Christ.
Early believers were tempted to return to the tangible "check-the-box" rituals of the temple sacrifices. This sermon explores why that would be a step backward. By looking at Melchizedek—a priest-king who had no recorded genealogy and who received a tithe from Abraham himself—we see a foreshadowing of a priesthood that does not rely on earthly markers, but on eternal appointment.
A Cave in Machpelah: Genesis 23:1-20 | A Deposit on the Promised Land
How do we grieve with hope? Abraham’s response to Sarah’s death is not only a picture of sorrow but also of faith. He secures a burial site in Canaan, trusting in God’s promise that his descendants will inherit the land. This passage reminds us that our hope is not in this world but in the eternal inheritance secured for us in Christ.
As Abraham looked forward to the fulfillment of God's covenant, we too live as sojourners, trusting in the resurrection and the new heavens and new earth. This passage teaches us to grieve with hope, to trust in God’s promises even when they seem distant, and to live with integrity in all we do.
December 20 Sermon: Made Known
News travels fast, doesn’t it? There are all kinds of ways that information can reach us these days and most of it is instant but even with our multifaceted forms of communication the truthfulness of what we are hearing can still be in doubt. In fact, we often receive some news and we are apprehensive to pass it on because we aren’t sure if it is true. You may get some information from multiple sources but you are still hesitant to share the news.
December 13 Sermon: He is Faithful
One of the draws of sports are the moments when the issue is in doubt and someone has to step up in a big moment. We love to see the clutch three pointer, the single to drive in that runner on second in the bottom of the ninth, and the long field goal that splits the uprights as time expires. If you are like me though you’ve been burnt before. The person at the plate has struck out and ended the game. The kicker that was reliable all season misses a chip shot field goal in the playoffs, and that last second shot hits off the back of the rim and bounces away as the buzzer sounds. As painful as some of those moments can be I think we like the tension that it creates.
November 15 Sermon: A Shameful Thing
With the holidays coming up it causes us to think about family doesn’t it. We go back to memories of gatherings when we were younger. While we tend to focus on the good memories it is likely that these get together’s exposed some of the issues in our families. You put a bunch of people in a confined space and mix in variables such as lost sleep or discussions on politics or religion and you had the potential for some fireworks.
While I’ve been stuck at home for the last week I have been re-watching one of my favorite sitcoms: The Middle. If you are not familiar with the show it is a lower middle class family in the middle of the United States and each episode we were invited into the lives of a regular family of five trying to make ends meet.
November 1 Sermon: Divine Rescue
There have been a lot of themes that have developed for us as we have been in the book of Genesis. We are familiar with the stories but if we weren’t there are narratives that would have us on the edge of our seat. Creation followed by rebellion against a holy God but even though they deserved punishment, God showed mercy. We see the first offspring of this couple who should be the one who will be in the line to the promised messiah but instead of being holy he murders his own brother. We see an unrighteous world and the people of the promise are being polluted by sin and so God is going to destroy the world but he keeps one of the promised ones safe from the waters of the flood. We’ve even seen recently how Abraham was in some sticky circumstances usually because of his own sin but still God rescues. It is what he does.
October 4 Sermon: The Intercession of Abraham
In an episode of my favorite sitcom the main character purchases a large television for himself. His logic is that the size of your TV should match your age so he wanted to have one that would last him for a few years. This purchase tapped out his bank account quite a bit so he has to start telling his closest friend, who has a tendency to mooch from him, that he can’t lend him any money. He also doesn’t want to tell this friend that he has a large TV because he doesn’t want to have him stopping over at all hours to watch TV with him.
As is customary with television comedies this leads to confusion and the friends starts to tell others in their small community that his friend is poor.