We know and remember through the body, not just our brains.

Chapters 12-26 invite us to know how we should live in the light of God’s revealed character and past faithfulness.  One of the primary ways we know and learn things is through our bodies. The instructions of 12-26 are meant to be lived, to become habits—ways of life. This would give the people of Israel a lens for understanding the world they were not even aware they were wearing.

We are no longer under the burden of the law; In other words, Jesus has freed us from the necessity of the ceremonies and sacrifices as a way to keep the covenant. We are now free, but we are free to live under the grace of Christ and to live for him instead of sin. 

We must continually remember what we have been saved from and what we have been saved into. Remembering what we were saved from reminds us of God’s incredible grace and motivates us to be just and graceful people. As we remember we more and more come to the knowledge of God and our place in his Kingdom. As dearly loved children, rescued by his grace and called to life with him. A life to the full—full of the joy of his presence where we enjoy him forevermore. 

You and I were created to worship; therefore, It is never a matter of if we will worship, rather it is always a matter of what we will worship. Worshipping God rightly is important; worship is a way to give God his deserved glory, but more than that, it is also the place we encounter God and are invited to know him more deeply.

One of the primary purposes of Scripture, A.J. Culp says, is “to produce a ‘world’ for the faithful to 'live in.'” Scripture is not simply a mine of information nor is it merely a thought for the day. Rather, it is the foundational story that one builds their life upon and imagines themselves in.

Chapters 1-4 of Deuteronomy are a deliberate travelogue that brings us to key events in Israels history from the Exodus until the present sermon. In particular it brings us to key moments of decision that demonstrate God’s character and also the character of Israel.

We remember in order to see ourselves in the story: Deuteronomy is our story too and finds its greatest fulfilment in Christ. In it we see God’s faithfulness to us and our welcome into God’s covenant people. We remember God’s New Covenant through the incarnation, death, and resurrection, of Jesus and our entrance into that covenant as we identify with Christ in baptism.  We see our failure to trust God’s faithfulness and love and yet we remember God’s continued faithfulness. Finally, we see How Christ bids us to come and die to our own selfish ways and to come and find life in him. To live with him now and someday in the land he has promised.

Jesus is most concerned about the condition of your heart.

Mark has been showing us that his statement in 1:1 is not hyperbole, but fact. Jesus may be like Moses and Elijah, but he is far greater than either of them. Only God has the power to order and tame the chaos. As the Spirit hovered over the waters and brought order out of chaos so too does Jesus.

Mark shows us that Jesus is the rightful king and the true leader of Israel, not evil Herod. The main motivations of the kingdoms of this world are pride and selfish gain but Jesus’ motivation was compassion. Jesus is the one who shows genuine hospitality to his guests. He rules with compassions and gives in abundance. 

The message of the Kingdom is good news that followers of Jesus should share with a sense of urgency. However, we see that this message will not always be seen as good news because it stands in opposition to the kingdoms we build on our own power.

None of us want to be people with whom Jesus is amazed by our unbelief. A good step in following Jesus is to ask the question, "in what ways is Jesus amazed by my faith?"

Desperation is often a catalyst for faith. In our story Jesus takes that which is unclean and makes it clean;  that which was dead now lives.

Jesus is a restorer of dignity and giver of renewal. Jesus sees people one at a time.