Cape Elizabeth Church of the Nazarene - Weekly Sermon Podcast

Text: Mark 8:27-38
Who is Jesus for us? What do we see when hear or think about Jesus? Jesus asks His disciples this in today’s reading. Jesus reminds His disciples that who we are and how we live has everything to do with the God who has created us and the people He has put in our life, and while no life is without suffering, Jesus is there alongside us.

Text: Mark 8:1-26
Mark 8 begins with Jesus feeding another large crowd with only seven loaves of bread. Coming after the previous feeding of the 5,000 and the healing of the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter, this story is a continuation of showing that the power of God moves out in and among those in our world we are most likely to think are living outside of God’s treatment and care. We can be a part of this movement, as the Kingdom of God is wherever we take care of the needs of people with the faithfulness that God will provide.

Text: Mark 7:24-37
Pastor Amanda Lawton continues our study of the gospel of Mark with two stories where Jesus heals those outside the Jewish faith. These stories challenge us as followers of Jesus to be boundary breakers and engage in the transformation of the marginalized so that those around us who are “outsiders” are welcomed to become insiders, and that God’s grace extends to all.

Mark 7:1-23
When the Pharisees question Jesus about the practices of some of His disciples, He points out the ways in which their traditions are contrary to the commandments of God. Holiness is not a privatized concept about following earthly traditions or what we do or not do as individuals but instead is always about how we magnify God in our lives to those that God puts among us. Jesus invites us to be examples of this redefined holiness to the world.

“Provisions of Grace”
Text: John 6:24-35
Today’s sermon passage comes from shortly after John’s account of the feeding of the 5,000. Wanting more miracles to address more of their needs, a portion of the crowd asks Jesus what He is going to do for them next. Jesus responds to them by encouraging them to believe in Him to earn the bread of eternal life. In this time, eternal life was a concept reserved only for those with power; by using it, Jesus declares that each of us has worth to God and is worthy to receive this gift.

Text: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
In today’s passage, Paul uses the still-recognizable illustration of running to win the prize in a race. What is the prize in this race of faith? The prize we are seeking to win is to be faithful barers of the Gospel to a world which still needs to hear who God is. The race we are running is not just for ourselves; we should look to help carry others across the finish line.

Text: Mark 6:30-56
Following last week’s scripture reading about Herod’s feast that resulted in the beheading of John the Baptist, we encounter the familiar story of another feast; Jesus feeding the five thousand. Recognizing that the crowd is “like sheep without a shepherd,” Jesus acts in a completely different way from Herod. Rather than seeking a title or putting enemies in their place, Jesus’ actions are based on taking care of the needs of those around Him.

Text: Mark 6:14-29
Today’s passage from Mark tells of the John the Baptists’ death at the hands of Herodius and the powers of the world. Mark does this to foreshadow Jesus’ death, who, like John the Baptist, spoke prophetically and was not welcomed by the powers of the world. Pastor Tim also expresses some thoughts regarding the current world events of a recent assassination attempt and how the desire for power in this world does not follow the way of Christ.

Text: Mark 6:1-13
Having just been rejected in His hometown of Nazareth, Jesus sends His disciples out two by two with a warning that they also may not always be welcomed. As we live out our faith, we may also encounter rejection but Jesus tells us to not let those moments linger; we are to continue being faithful to the purpose that God has for us.

Text: Mark 5:21-43
Today’s passage from Mark has Jesus on a mission to visit the sick daughter of Jairus, a synagogue leader. Jesus’ trip is interrupted by a woman who touches His cloak without permission and is healed from a twelve-year illness. Despite the delay in arriving to Jairus’ home, Jesus is still able to raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead. This passage tells us that while life sometimes creates little hiccups and interruptions, God can still do amazing things and His power reaches out and calls us all sons and daughters.