CCF Sunday Messages

Pastor Warren finished chapter 8 of Mark, looking at the serious call to take up our cross and follow Jesus no matter the cost. Warren used stories from around the globe on the persecution of the church to encourage us and challenge us to our own level of commitment to follow Christ no matter the cost.

In this section of Mark chapter 8, we have a healing that seems not to be complete initially, and then we have Peter calling Jesus the Messiah and then Jesus seemingly calling Peter "Satan" a paragraph later? What is this all about and why are some of these details that seem confusing recorded here? Listen in as Pastor Steve gives us some thoughts on this next section in our study of Mark's gospel.

In this section of Mark chapter 8, we have a healing that seems not to be complete initially, and then we have Peter calling Jesus the Messiah and then Jesus seemingly calling Peter "Satan" a paragraph later? What is this all about and why are some of these details that seem confusing recorded here? Listen in as Pastor Steve gives us some thoughts on this next section in our study of Mark's gospel.

It may seem repetitive that another feeding of many thousands miracle finds its way into the fast-paced gospel of Mark, but maybe it has more to do with trying to teach the disciples that He has the power to do miracles, not just once, but as many times as He desires? His point is only underscored by His response to the demands of the Pharisees for a "sign." They've already seen so many signs, and yet they still haven't believed. His signs are not meant to be "tricks" to be done on command, but rather as the outflow of His character: revealing God's love, compassion, and healing and saving power.

It may seem repetitive that another feeding of many thousands miracle finds its way into the fast-paced gospel of Mark, but maybe it has more to do with trying to teach the disciples that He has the power to do miracles, not just once, but as many times as He desires? His point is only underscored by His response to the demands of the Pharisees for a "sign." They've already seen so many signs, and yet they still haven't believed. His signs are not meant to be "tricks" to be done on command, but rather as the outflow of His character: revealing God's love, compassion, and healing and saving power.

Taking a break from our normal study through Mark on communion Sunday, Pastor Steve focuses in on the first few verses of our next section in Mark chapter 8 to share what it means to have the heart of compassion that Jesus had for the crowds. We looked at the impact of Christian compassion across the centuries and understood how we can build Christ-like compassion in our own lives.

Taking a break from our normal study through Mark on communion Sunday, Pastor Steve focuses in on the first few verses of our next section in Mark chapter 8 to share what it means to have the heart of compassion that Jesus had for the crowds. We looked at the impact of Christian compassion across the centuries and understood how we can build Christ-like compassion in our own lives.

In the final section of Mark 7, we are introduced to two miracles which both have puzzling content--Jesus ignoring a woman and then putting her down? Jesus using spit and touching ears and tongue? Listen in to find out what Jesus was trying to teach, both in the miracles and to His disciples, through these two interesting miracles.

In the final section of Mark 7, we are introduced to two miracles which both have puzzling content--Jesus ignoring a woman and then putting her down? Jesus using spit and touching ears and tongue? Listen in to find out what Jesus was trying to teach, both in the miracles and to His disciples, through these two interesting miracles.

The Pharisees think they can confront Jesus about the lack of traditional washing by His disciples, but instead Jesus turns it into a confronting of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees for only caring about the traditions of men over and above obedience to God's Word. Pastor Steve applies the opening scene of Mark chapter 7 to our own potential to get stuck in traditions and traditionalism, potentially over and above the clear guidance of scripture.