The greatest injustice in human history begins as Judas (one of Jesus’ closest friends) betrays him. As Jesus is about to be detained, the disciples are ready to fight. But Jesus calls them off. He will not resist his arrest. He knows that this is the very reason that he came. In this message, we focus on the courage of Jesus, who chose to do God’s will, resisting all temptations to flee. Based on Mark 14:43-52

Passion, Part 4: Discussion Guide

Passion, Part 3: Discussion Guide

For 2,000 years Christians have celebrated the Lord’s Supper. While traditions vary, the practice is always connected to the special meal Jesus shared with his disciples in the Upper Room. In the message we explore the last supper, what happened, what it means, and how it shaped 2,000 years of tradition.  Based on Mark 14:12-26

Passion, Part 2: Discussion Guide

With the plot to kill Jesus now in full motion, an unnamed woman comes to anoint Jesus with expensive perfume. The disciples object at the woman’s extravagant gesture, but Jesus doesn’t stop here. His time has come. He is ready to go to the cross and die, and the disciples have precious few hours left with Jesus. Life is fragile. None of us knows when our last moment will be. Jesus teaches us to embrace the extravagant gestures we can take to show others our love for them when it matters most. Based on Mark 14:1-11

Passion, Part 1: Discussion Guide

For centuries, human beings have been fascinated by the return of Jesus. When is he coming again? How will we know when he is coming? What will it be like on that day? In this sermon, we unpack Jesus’ most comprehensive teaching about the last days, focusing on what he did (and didn’t) say. Based on Mark 13:1-36

The old saying is that everything you need to know can be learned in kindergarten. Jesus would validate this truth. As Jesus was teaching in the temple courts he was asked to summarize the most important of God’s commands. His answer was simple: love God, and love your neighbor. In this sermon, we will see how these commands are easy to say, but much more difficult to do. Based on Mark 12:28-34

We typically think of Palm Sunday as happy parade in which Jesus is celebrated as king. Yet, as the gospel tells it, it was much more than a little parade. It was a statement about all that Jesus came to do and the kind of king he would be. In this message, we take a fresh look at the events of palm Sunday. Based on Mark 11:1-22

Journeys with Jesus, Part 7: A Tale of Two Parades

We live in a culture that tells us to strive to be first. We are always looking to move up, become better, and get more. Yet, as Jesus teaches his disciples, the best way to live is to seek to be last, not first. In this message, we explore the servant heart of Jesus and discover how we can posture our hearts to serve the world. Based on Mark 10:35-45

Journeys with Jesus, Part 6: Learning to be Last

We cannot survive the journey of life without materials possessions. Food, water, clothing, housing – there are many basic things we need to survive. Yet, if we are not careful, the material comforts of the world can become a major stumbling block in our faith. In this sermon, we explore Jesus’ encounter with a rich young man who was too attached to his worldly possessions. Based on Mark 10:17-31

Journeys with Jesus, Part 5: Threading the Needle

The death of Jesus wasn’t a surprise. Jesus predicted it was going to happen three times. The disciples couldn’t believe…or perhaps we should say they wouldn’t believe it. In this message, we see that the cross was God’s plan all along and that Jesus knew there was no way to save the world apart from giving himself on the cross. Based on Mark 9:30-37

Journeys with Jesus, Part 4: Calling His Shot