Biblical Literacy Podcast

Mark taught #15 in the series: Devotions from the Life of Jesus. Today’s devotions are themed around what Jesus said about worship. Mark explained the word “worship” comes from the Anglo-Saxon words meaning to “ascribe worth.” He expanded on these facets of worship: 1) Gratitude: Luke 17:11-19 teaches us that gratitude to God is worship and praise. 2) God-centered: Matthew 2:1-8 shows us true worship is centered on God. False worship is self-interested. 3) God-only: Matthew 4: 9-10 shows us our goal is to become like Jesus. True worship is God only. 4) Obedience: Matthew 7:6-7 teaches us that worship is obedience to God. 5) Reality: Revelation 5:11-14 emphasizes worship is rooted in the truth of who God is and what He's done. Listen to Mark detail and enlighten Scripture.

Devotions from the life of Jesus #14. Mark continued with his series showing how Jesus dealt with the interruptions or detours of life. Matthew 19:10 shows us that Jesus had time for children, the future of His kingdom. The disciples’ problem was not seeing an opportunity to practice Jesus' teachings. Luke 10:25 shows us who is our neighbor when life happenings disrupt our day, energies, money, and faith. Jesus said your neighbor is anyone in need. Matthew 9 is about needy people and how we can help them by having compassion. Matthew 12:9-15 deals with troublemakers, specifically those who opposed Jesus doing God’s work on the Sabbath. Real life isn't a straight road. Listen to Mark show us how Jesus’ instructions help us follow Him in obedience.

Mark continued Devotionals from the Life of Jesus #13 with a focus on Jesus teaching about the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit in one setting in John 14-16. Mark also looks at passages both before and after those teachings to see how Jesus' teaching of the Holy Spirit occurred.

Mark continued with his series: Devotionals from the Life of Jesus #12. This week focused on the sayings of Jesus from Revelation, as spoken to John on the Island of Patmos. The first topic is what Jesus had to say about fear in Revelation 1:17-19. What do you fear? Jesus is fighting for us and to help us overcome our fears. The second topic dealt with: Who is Jesus? Revelation 22:13 tells us Jesus is the great I Am, the Alpha and the Omega. The third topic dealt with the believer’s heart: Revelation 2:4 suggests the believer can slip into doing good works and abandon the most important characteristic: love of God. Listen to Mark passionately teach what Jesus said about fear, who He is, and the heart of serving God.

Mark shares how we can see ourselves in six of the stories of Jesus. Journey to: 1) Bethlehem - Our world is not at peace ...but we can have peace with God, 2) Capernaum - We are unclean, but we still need Jesus, 3) Caesarea Philippi - How does 1+1+1 = 1? , 4) Sea of Galilee - During the fears of life we need Jesus’s hand of help, 5) Gerasenes - Jesus touches us while we are a “Man of the Tombs”, and 6) Jerusalem - Jesus’s ‘favor’ of the cross as He took our sin and death.

Mark continued with #10 of  Devotions from the Life of Jesus. Today’s lesson focused on the sometimes confusing "say-what” sayings from Jesus; those sayings that deal with us in various circumstances. 1. When we are off track: Mark 12:26-27. When we aren’t authentic: Matthew 12:33-34. When we should stop complaining: Matthew 11:16-19. And when Jesus was humorous: Matthew 16:24, Matthew 21:31, Luke 8:44-45, Matthew 7:3-5. Matthew 9:15-17, Matthew 19:24, and Matthew 23:23-24. Listen to Mark explain the Greek translation of Jesus' sayings to better understand the context of His words and make godly commitments.

The story of the woman at the well in John chapter 4, gives Mark a chance to understand Jesus' interaction with the woman and his instructions to her. He gives devotionals for everyday living from the the interactions with the woman. She represents each of us and our sins and how much God cares for us.