We are glad to welcome Mr. Kyle O'Donnell to preach God's word. Kyle is a recent graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary. He will continue in our series from Mark's gospel.  Join us as we look at the peace which surpasses all understanding.  

When Jesus comes down from the mountain where his divine glory was revealed for a moment, he finds his disciples and the scribes arguing over a ministry failure that has left a father and his demon-possessed son still in need of healing and hope.  Jesus uses this moment to reveal to this desperate dad as well as his discouraged disciples both the nature and necessity of faith. Here we look at what Jesus wants us to know and learn in the struggle to believe.  

God's word reminds us that pain, suffering, hardships we experience in this world are not the end of the story. Such things as like the pains of childbirth, that will eventually lead to a glorious life to be revealed (Romans 8:22). But how can we know?  Jesus' disciples were likely asking the same question when he began to tell them about his suffering and death. In order to encourage their hearts and strengthen their faith, God gives them a glimpse of glory as Jesus is transformed in glory for a moment on a mountaintop. Here we're given a glimpse of Jesus' (and our) future glory to encourage our souls.  

During this pandemic, we have seen great efforts to protect life, but often at the cost of truly living. In Mark 8 Jesus shows how the gospel turns our natural inclination for self-preservation upside down, calling his followers to deny and die to self in order to experience true life. We continue in Mark's gospel and hear Jesus' radical call to be willing to give up everything for his sake: dying to truly live.

If you've ever been to the eye doctor, you are familiar with what is usually the last test given in order to correct poor vision. The doctor puts the big goggle-like machine over your eyes and begins to flip different lenses asking "Which is better, this one or that one." And even though the differences may seem small, they help us to have the clearest vision possible. When the people brought a blind man to Jesus to be healed, he goes through a similar sort of test, gradually restoring this man's sight to see things clearly. In this miracle, Jesus is showing his disciples and us the need we have for our spiritual eyesight to be corrected such that we can clearly see and understand who he is and why he has come.  

As Jesus relates with different groups of people, we learn about Him and often ourselves. And sometimes the picture we see of ourselves isn’t that pretty.  But these passages give us want we all want and need - truth and hope.  Join guest speaker Don Knox in the next installment of the Mark series. 

Matthew 16:13-18. In these last few months we’ve thought about, maybe worried about, and had many questions about the church going forward.  In a time like this Jesus has the answer to our questions and fears when he says:  I will build my Church!  How wonderful for the church in all times, in all places and in all situations to hear Jesus saying: I will build my church! 

As Mark records Jesus' ministry spreading from the region of Galilee out into Gentile territory, his amazing works of healing the sick, casting out evil spirits, and caring for others, are well summarized in the statement of those who witness his healing of a deaf man with a speech impediment: "he has done all things well." Yet, the purpose of Jesus' miracles were not just to do things well or to gain a good reputation, but to point to the reality of who he is as the Son of God and what he had come to do as the savior of sinners. Jesus' approach to dealing with this deaf man teaches us about God's approach in dealing with our sin, and how we might approach others in pointing them to the God who does all things well. 

The dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile in Jesus' day was pretty high.  And Jesus himself acknowledged the priority and privilege which God's chosen people had in his mission as redeemer.  But even those on the outside religiously and socially, were recipients of Jesus' healing grace, as is demonstrated in his encounter with a gentile woman. Listen as we see Jesus go out of his way to bring outsiders in.