First Presbyterian Church of Evanston Sermon of the Week

Two major events are referenced in this chapter (often called the Olivet Discourse): the signs leading up to the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 A.D. and the signs leading up the second coming of Christ. Both events call for vigilance and readiness.

Following Jesus involves more than Sunday attendance at services; Jesus asks for everything!

The epicenter of God’s saving act will now be shown through the suffering and atoning death of his Son on the cross.

Central to any response that humans make toward God is the reception of God’s word and the exhibition of the fruit of obedience to God.

The coming of the kingdom of God is the central theme of Mark’s gospel. The coming kingdom is the reign of God, not in a spatial sense but a dynamic sense in which God intervenes powerfully in human lives to achieve his unfading purposes. Mark 1 gives several examples of the coming kingdom of God.

Being with God has a transforming effect on people. No one who meets God by faith is ever the same again, because when we see God as he is, we become like what he is. In the same way that the moon shines with the light of the sun, the glory of God shines from us. Indeed, this is why we were made: to give glory to God by reflecting his beautiful light. God made us to be glorious.

Jesus talks about the negative reasons for fasting; but what are the positive reasons for the church to fast?

“The early Church didn’t have a prayer meeting; the early Church was the prayer meeting. In fact, in the early Church every Christian was a prayer-meeting Christian.”

Jethro’s advice saved Moses and the people from burnout.