He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.”

Mark 14:36

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays his most desperate prayer.

His journey to the cross is nearly complete.

He knows the pain and anguish he will face, and asks God to remove it.

Prayer is powerful and leads to spiritual growth.

Jesus models a faithful prayer life for us, displaying vulnerability and honesty, while also seeking God’s will in a difficult situation.

Join us Sunday as we consider Jesus’ example and how we can all grow in prayer.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Jesus said to him, “If you are able! —All things can be done for the one who believes.”

Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:23–24

During the season of Lent, our focus is on spiritual growth, and the faith practices that lead to this development.

This week our focus is “growing in faith.”

Sometimes faith is equated with having the right beliefs about God, but can be better understood as developing trust in God.

How can we grow our faith by trusting God more in our life?

Join us Sunday as we begin the journey!

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves.

And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.

Mark 9:2–3

The Transfiguration of Jesus takes place at the midpoint of the gospel of Mark.

The supernatural transformation of Jesus’ appearance helps further empower and equip the disciples to follow Jesus.

This story is part of a recurring biblical theme of revelatory moments on mountaintops.

It seems that high places become the meeting point between heaven and earth, when people become most aware of the Divine.

Join us Sunday as we consider the power of God’s revelations for our life.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once.

He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up.

Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

Mark 1:30–31

In the midst of the disciples’ call stories, it is important to remember they all had previous lives.

Here, the gospel tells the story of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law being seriously ill.

Jesus heals her and then she began to serve or “minister” to them.

This amazing little story points us to the power of Jesus’ healing that not only makes people well, but empowers them to serve.

Jesus’ powerful proclamation and healing power truly transforms lives.

Join us Sunday as we dig deeper.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?

Have you come to destroy us?

I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”

But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”

Mark 1:23–25

The ministry of Jesus was filled with all different kinds of encounters.

In Mark chapter 1, Jesus is in the local synagogue teaching about the kingdom of God, when a man with an unclean spirit (demon) cries out to him.

The man with the spirit knows Jesus’ name, his power over evil, and his true identity.

This tells us a lot about Jesus and the forces he faced.

Join us Sunday as we consider the healing power of Jesus.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.

And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.”

And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Mark 1:16–18

One of the most commonly used words in the Gospel of Mark is “immediately.”

The repeated use of this word captures the urgency and power of the moment, and in the above situation, the visceral connection Jesus had with his disciples.

Andrew and Simon do not require a recruitment speech or even a plan, being invited by Jesus to follow was enough for them to change their whole lives.

The words of the story cannot capture the power of this moment.

Join us Sunday as we consider the challenge of following Jesus.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.”

Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

John 1:45–46

Philip had just met Jesus and began following him as a disciple.

This life changing experience led him to invite his friend Nathanael to do the same.

He shares his excitement about Jesus being the fulfillment of God’s promises but is met with skepticism from his friend.

Sharing our faith is hard because we put ourselves in a position of vulnerability.

Philip models for us an invitational response, “come and see.”

Will we follow Philip’s example and reach beyond ourselves and our own discomfort?

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Message delivered by Chris Christensen.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

Luke 2:25–26

When Jesus was eight days old, his parents brought him to the Temple for a blessing, per Jewish custom.

While there, they meet two remarkable people: Simeon and Anna, both of whom knew the truth about Jesus.

By the power of the Spirit, they speak a prophetic word to Mary and Joseph about the life journey their newborn child will have.

What an amazing moment and time the birth of Jesus must have been.

It was a time of God signs and wonders at every turn.

Join us Sunday as we explore this story and how God continues to work wonders in our lives today.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.