Common Church Marietta

In Mark 3:22–30, Jesus answers the accusation that his power comes from Satan with a picture of a stronger man entering the enemy’s house and setting captives free. But if Christ has set us free, why do we still feel divided within ourselves? Drawing on John Donne’s prayer to “break that knot again,” Russell explores the promise of forgiveness, the struggle against old patterns of sin, and the hope that Jesus holds on to us as his Spirit makes us whole.

As Jesus’ popularity grows, crowds press in around him—desperate for what he can give them. But Jesus isn’t simply gathering a crowd or producing something to be consumed. He is forming a family.

In this message, we explore the invitation to move beyond simply wanting something from Jesus toward a deeper relationship with him—one marked by both intimacy and partnership: being with Jesus and joining him in his work.

What happens when obedience becomes disconnected from love? In Mark 2:23–3:6, Jesus confronts a form of religion that carefully observes the letter of the law while losing sight of its heart. Whether we respond by becoming enforcers who measure everyone else or by collapsing under the weight of expectations, Jesus offers another way. He fulfills what we cannot and invites us into a life where obedience flows not from pride or guilt, but from love.

Jesus didn’t come simply to improve the lives we already have, he came to make us new. In Mark 2:18-22, Jesus uses the image of new wine and fresh wineskins to show us the difference between reformation and transformation. We can change our habits and reform our lives, but only the Spirit of God can breathe new life into what has become dry. What might happen if we remain open to the Spirit, allow ourselves to be stretched, and follow him into something new?