CCF Sunday Messages

Jesus and His disciples have left the upper room and their Passover meal, crossed the Kidron Valley and have gone into the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus has an intense time of prayer with the Father. Judas is already unfolding the plan with the religious leaders to betray Him. In all of this we can learn about true surrender--surrender to the Father and His will over our own. Listen in and see three pictures of surrender in this next section of Mark chapter 14.

On this communion Sunday, Pastor Steve took a brief section of our continued study through the gospel of Mark, only looking at the few verses where Jesus predicts Peter's denial that night after the arrest. We, like Peter, can be overly confident in our strength and underestimate our lack of courage in the face of possible hardship. The good news is that Jesus already knew that he would return and be restored, just as we can when we are weak and stumble. We need to have the filling of the Holy Spirit and persist in "adding to our faith" so that we will not stumble.

On this communion Sunday, Pastor Steve took a brief section of our continued study through the gospel of Mark, only looking at the few verses where Jesus predicts Peter's denial that night after the arrest. We, like Peter, can be overly confident in our strength and underestimate our lack of courage in the face of possible hardship. The good news is that Jesus already knew that he would return and be restored, just as we can when we are weak and stumble. We need to have the filling of the Holy Spirit and persist in "adding to our faith" so that we will not stumble.

Romans 6 may not be a traditional "Easter Sunday" passage, but it is a powerful image of our being "united with", "joined to", or even "conjoined to" Christ in his death, resurrection, and glorification! It is both a mystery but a powerful truth when we realize that we are joined with Him, and that we have been raised to new life--to live in a new way! He is Risen!

Romans 6 may not be a traditional "Easter Sunday" passage, but it is a powerful image of our being "united with", "joined to", or even "conjoined to" Christ in his death, resurrection, and glorification! It is both a mystery but a powerful truth when we realize that we are joined with Him, and that we have been raised to new life--to live in a new way! He is Risen!

Continuing in Mark 14, we are within hours of Jesus's betrayal and arrest, but at this moment Jesus is preparing to share the Passover meal with his disciples. During the meal he announces the fact that someone among them will betray Him! The other gospels tell us that "Satan has entered into Judas's heart" already and he is looking for that right opportunity. Meanwhile Jesus shares the truth of the Passover to them--that He is the bread and His blood is the cup. He is our Passover lamb and the perfect sacrifice.

Continuing in Mark 14, we are within hours of Jesus's betrayal and arrest, but at this moment Jesus is preparing to share the Passover meal with his disciples. During the meal he announces the fact that someone among them will betray Him! The other gospels tell us that "Satan has entered into Judas's heart" already and he is looking for that right opportunity. Meanwhile Jesus shares the truth of the Passover to them--that He is the bread and His blood is the cup. He is our Passover lamb and the perfect sacrifice.

The opening of Mark chapter 14 begins with a huge contrast: the religious elite who are both ceremonially preparing to "worship" on the Passover, but inside are plotting the sin of murder compared with a woman, unnamed here in Mark, humbly coming and pouring out a significantly costly offering onto Jesus as an act of sacrificial worship. What is our worship costing us? What opportunities are we finding to either plot sin or humbly worship and do good to others?

The opening of Mark chapter 14 begins with a huge contrast: the religious elite who are both ceremonially preparing to "worship" on the Passover, but inside are plotting the sin of murder compared with a woman, unnamed here in Mark, humbly coming and pouring out a significantly costly offering onto Jesus as an act of sacrificial worship. What is our worship costing us? What opportunities are we finding to either plot sin or humbly worship and do good to others?

Pastor Steve finishes up Mark chapter 13 this week with Jesus's teaching on the tribulation and second coming via the prophecy from Daniel chapter 9. We took a detour to look back at this critical prophecy and its application to the current "church age" and how it relates to what we believe as the distinct events of the rapture of the church and the second coming of Christ. The most important application is that we are warned to "be ready" at any moment!